Proposal

Name:

NMR Automation: Autosampler for high-throughput NMR data acquisition to enhance STEM learning

FiscalYear:

2017

Audience:

Science, College of

Submitter:

West, Lyndon

Budget Manager:

Blanchard, Dominique

Project Manager:

West, Lyndon M.

Proposal Approvers

Dept. Chair:

Fields, Gregg

Local IT:

N/A

Dean:

Sarajedini, Ata

Facilities:

N/A

OIT:

Bagdonas, Joseph A.

Proposal Funding

Year 1:

$ 0.00

Year 2:

$ 0.00

Year 3:

$ 0.00

Total:

$ 0.00

Proposal Funding versus Average

Questionnaire

Narrative
To provide FAU students with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation for a more innovative curriculum and enhance the problem-solving and analytical skills of students, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is committed to modernizing its instrumentation for use in instructional and research laboratories. In 2016, the Chemistry Department was awarded an FAU-Tech fee grant ($147,800) for the acquisition of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer to help train STEM students graduating from FAU. These funds and additional departmental funds ($43,000) were used to purchase a new Bruker Avance III 400 MHz spectrometer for training students at the interface between analytical and medicinal chemistry. NMR spectroscopy, an essential tool in science, is taught to undergraduates primarily on a theoretical level. The newly installed Bruker NMR spectrometer will provide FAU students “OPEN” access to instrumentation relevant to present day industrial sectors such Biotech and Pharma and will afford them invaluable practical experience. To maximize usage of the NMR spectrometer, we are requesting funds to purchase a 24-tube autosampler, which can insert, analyze and process samples automatically. This will allow more efficient use of instrument time (24 hour) and expand access to high-resolution NMR data sets for analysis in teaching and research laboratories involved in training both undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, we are requesting funds for three new computer workstations for teaching laboratories dedicated to spectral data analysis. The incorporation of the new autosampler and NMR-technology into teaching and research training will be achieved as follows: STEM EDUCATION. Organic Chemistry I and II (CHM2210/2211) is taken by ~500 students every semester. In these courses, students learn the theory and basic knowledge of NMR, one the most important instruments in organic and medicinal chemistry. Mastering the use of NMR to discern structures of small molecules requires hands-on problem solving. Example problems found in textbooks are limited. The addition of the autosampler to the Bruker NMR will allow the rapid generation of an in-house database of small molecule (<500 MW) NMR spectral data (1D and 2D NMR spectra) complete with impurities, noise or other issues that will provide real-world NMR data and facilitate optimal student learning, giving FAU graduates a competitive edge in the workplace. Students in Organic Laboratory (CHM2211L), which serves ~200 students per semester, use NMR spectroscopy on a regular basis and such a large cohort requires an efficient, logistic approach in teaching laboratories. The purchasing of an autosampler will substantially improve student experience and allow these budding scientists to characterize their compounds in a high-throughput manner. For example, a synthetic product obtained by students one day, can be run overnight and analyzed the very next day. This will enable students to analyze high-resolution spectroscopic data individually, improving critical thinking exercises and overall course experience. Students in Biochemistry Lab (BCH3103L) will utilize the autosampler during phosphorous NMR experiments characterizing and quantifying ATP, allowing for more discussion and other group learning activities. Organic Spectroscopy (CHM6380/4399), offered each year (~10-15 students), covers intermediate-level NMR theory and principles for structural elucidation of organic compounds (‘unknowns’). The autosampler will enable rapid generation of both 1D and 2D NMR spectra databases for teaching and provide students the ability to generate independent NMR data sets. UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH. Automation of our recently acquired NMR spectrometer will facilitate both undergraduate and graduate research projects. At present, the ability of our Departmental faculty to accept increasingly larger numbers of talented students into their research labs and provide them with cutting-edge training is limited, in part, by the availability of instrumentation. With the proposed autosampler, the current NMR-access bottleneck will be alleviated, allowing more students the opportunity to gain invaluable, career-enhancing research experience. CROSS-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH. Students in the Biology Department’s Life Science lab for non-STEM majors (BSC1005L, ~1200 annually) are identifying new antibiotic-producing bacteria from soil as part of the global Small World Initiative (SWI). SWI students have isolated and analyzed thousands of bacteria from Palm Beach county soil samples and identified 111 new antibiotic-producing bacteria. In an inter-departmental collaboration, our faculty and students will utilize the proposed NMR autosampler to analyze these extracts in a high-throughput manner and facilitate scientific learning amoung FAU’s non-STEM majors.
Facilities
The Chemistry Department has an instrumentation room PS-123 already fully equipped with enough space to receive the autosampler.
Hardware Requirements
Quote for Autosampler (AH0171 SampleCase). Company: Bruker AH0171 SampleCase (Autosampler). Type A POM Spinner standardbore shim systems (5 mm) $ 26,700. Quote for Computer Workstations. Company: Dell Bundle: 3 OptiPlex 7050 Tower w/ SSD and 22" Monitor $ 2,700. TOTAL: $ 29,400
Software Requirements
Included.
Personnel Costs
Not required. Dr. Floyd Russell, instrumentation specialist in the Chemistry department will oversee the instrument purchase, installation and maintenance along with Dr. Lyndon West.
Other Costs
None.
Timeline
In the event of this proposal being funded the installation of the NMR autosampler will be completed by the Bruker Instrument specialist after delivery. Dr. Lyndon West will coordinate the installation process (spring 2018).
Sustainability
The instrument specialist (Dr. Russell) and Dr. West will perform on-site training and maintenance. Dr. West, Dr. Roche and Dr. Russell (Instrumentation Specialist) will be in charge of coordinating usage of the NMR and autosampler by undergraduate student researchers (DIS students) at FAU.
Resource Matching
N/A
Implementing Organization
The Chemistry Department will implement the project with the assistance of an IT staff from the College of Science.

Proposal Budget

Fiscal Year 1 Fiscal Year 2 Fiscal Year 3 Total
Hardware One-Time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Hardware Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Totals $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00

Supporting Documentation

Filename Size Description
ACCY-FAU-Russell 2017.pdf 122,431b Autosampler Quote
Computer .pdf 102,135b Computer Workstations Quote