This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
Lincoln University, Jefferson City Missouri, is a historically black, 1890 land-grant, public, comprehensive institution. Lincoln's mission is to provide excellent educational opportunities including theoretical and applied learning experiences to a diverse population within a nurturing, student-centered environment. Lincoln University's Department of Life and Physical Sciences has expanded its research program and is renovating Founders Hall, the science building, to upgrade existing space to accommodate research activities and undergraduate research training. The proposed renovations would convert the current spaces into fully operationally wet labs for research and also to upgrade two previously converted spaces housing research. Renovations will include electrical and plumbing installation and upgrades, installation of permanent bench tops and cabinets, asbestos removal, and the addition of new fume hoods. These spaces are currently allocated to five research areas supported by the Department of Life & Physical Sciences including: (1) arthropod vectors and disease ecology (2) adaptive interferometry using photorefractive multiple quantum wells (3) bioenergy production from algae (4) nanotechnology and biosensor production and (5) synthesis of metal complexes of quinone-based compounds. Renovation of these spaces will increase the quality of space for research activities and student projects while providing increased access to research equipment and resources.
The Renovation and Upgrade of Research Space grant allowed Lincoln University to turn five existing research spaces into modern wet lab facilities which greatly expanded the ability of the university to provide research experiences to undergraduate students as well as expanding the ability of faculty to secure research funding. Improvements to the research spaces in Founders Hall include new casework, new plumbing, gas, vacuum, compressed air and distilled water were added to all. Electrical capacity to these research spaces was increased and one area received independent supplemental air conditioning due to the climate control needs of the research. All spaces received additional telephone/data jacks and restricted access door hardware. The newly renovated spaces provide increased opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate research on campus. The science metrics outlined in the proposal have been successfully achieved during the year following laboratory renovation. The renovation allowed separation of insectary space providing opportunity to run multiple environmental chambers simultaneously. New extramural funding has been secured relying on the resources provided by the renovation. Room for a campus SEM has been provided through this grant and Lincoln University now has the space and resources necessary to manufacture some unique scientific materials necessary for research goals. Please see the included images of some but not all of the research space renovated through this grant opportunity.
