This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
This award will provide funds to renovate three Biotechnology and Chemistry research wet laboratories in the Science building of the Chemistry, Computer and Physical Sciences Department at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SEOSU), Durant, OK. These laboratories were designed in the 1960s for inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry research, before the dawn of modern biotechnology and molecular biology, before the common use of computers and automated equipment, and before the evolution of current safety and access standards. The proposed renovations will greatly improve the suitability of the labs for current research and instrumentation placement, while retaining flexibility for future projects in other areas. Research topics that will be pursued include biosynthesis, insect development inhibitors, and biofuel production from agricultural waste.
EOSU is a predominantly undergraduate institution in rural Oklahoma, with a strong tradition of involving undergraduate science majors in hands-on research. The majority of the students are first-generation college students from rural and low-income areas, and a large percentage (30%) are of Native American descent or from minority backgrounds underrepresented in STEM fields.
This award provided funds to renovate three Biotechnology and Chemistry research wet laboratories in the Science building of the Chemistry, Computer and Physical Sciences Department at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SEOSU), Durant, OK. The laboratories (originally completed in 1967) were designed for inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry research decades ago, before the dawn of modern biotechnology and molecular biology, before the common use of computers and automated equipment, and before the evolution of current safety and access standards. The 40-year old wooden benches, fixtures, de-ionized water supply and chemical fume hoods were inadequate for the modern biotechnology, molecular biology and bioanalytical research projects which are currently being carried out in these labs, and limited the development of new research and research training activities. Prior to the award, two faculty members had been successful in recent years in obtaining state and federal funds for research and instrumentation for projects involving identification and quantitation of natural products, characterization of glycoproteins, bioassays, gene cloning and recombinant protein expression, biofuels, and fermentation or bioconversions, as well as funding for undergraduate research workshops and internships. A new Chemistry-based Biochemical Technology degree program was initiated in 2002, and revised in 2011, which requires research experience for graduation, and many other Chemistry and Biology majors choose to participate in research for credit, for pay and to gain experience for future careers. The funded renovations were designed to greatly improve the suitability of the labs for current research and instrumentation placement, while retaining flexibility for future projects. In all 3 labs the major proposed work was to remove the existing wooden benches with multiple condition issues and replace them with much more suitable metal benches and chemically inert counter tops. This required demolition and removal of the old wooden casework, moving of the water, electrical and gas connections, resealing of the floors and windows, installation of new casework, adding additional electrical outlets and power, and painting of the finished labs. The renovations also included replacing 4 old chemical fume hoods with safer and more energy efficient models. An aging minimal de-ionized water system was replaced with a new recirculating reverse osmosis water system, to greatly improve the water quality and reliability. The renovations were justified by several research needs and also improved the safety features and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in each of the labs. The funding allowed for major modifications in over 1,860 sq.ft. of laboratory space on the Science Building second floor, plus the addition of the reverse osmosis water system in the basement, new hood ventilation fans on the roof, and additional high efficiency heat exchangers in the building ground floor courtyards. In addition to NSF ARRA funds, although no match funds were required, SEOSU also provided over $100,000 to upgrade the ceiling lights from fluorescent to high-efficiency LEDs and to greatly improve the air conditioning system and efficiency beyond what was afforded by grant funds alone. These upgrades were in keeping with University and State of Oklahoma's Sustainability Initiatives and the goal of reducing the amount of energy used on each campus. The renovation project will contribute to the success of future research and will also aid in the continued recruitment and training of culturally and ethnically diverse students pursuing science degrees. SEOSU is a predominantly undergraduate institution in rural Oklahoma, with a strong tradition of involving undergraduate science majors in hands-on research. The majority of the students are first-generation college students from rural and very low income areas. Approximately 30% of SEOSU students are of Native American descent, and, although a relatively small school, SEOSU ranks among the top schools in graduating Native American students with Chemistry, Biology and other undergraduate degrees. All of the demolition of the old lab fixtures and construction or installation of the new lab features were completed during the first half of the 3-year award, employing many local architecture and construction contractors. Since that time our main goals were to carry out undergraduate research and research training in the renovated spaces along with the other facilities in the building. We have continued to obtain research funding for projects providing experience for undergraduates, hosted summer interns, and trained undergraduates enrolled in research training courses. The majority of the many undergraduates participating in research or research training have been Native American, Black or Hispanic, all ethnic minorities underrepresented in STEM fields, and many were also female, a gender underrepresented in most science and technology fields, especially at senior levels. The renovations have strengthened efforts at our institution to prepare students to participate in future analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology and other research programs, and to understand the applications of these technologies in modern life, and should allow the continued used of the renovated labs for decades.
