Proposal
Name:
Instrument replacement for microbiology teaching laboratories
FiscalYear:
2020
Audience:
Science, College of
Submitter:
Binninger, David
Budget Manager:
Blanchard, Dominique
Project Manager:
Scheurle, Daniela
Proposal Approvers
Dept. Chair:
Milton, Sarah
Local IT:
N/A
Dean:
Wilcox, Teresa
Facilities:
N/A
OIT:
Bagdonas, Joseph A.
Proposal Funding
Year 1:
$ 73,482.00
Year 2:
$ 0.00
Year 3:
$ 0.00
Total:
$ 73,482.00
Proposal Funding versus Average
Questionnaire
Narrative
We are requesting $73,482 to purchase 40 microscopes and 2 spectrophotometers that are essential for the undergraduate microbiology laboratories. Each year, nearly 1,000 students will benefit from this new equipment.
Biology is one of the largest undergraduate programs at FAU with 2,465 undergraduate biology majors enrolled in 2018 (SWAT database). Seven different lab courses will use this new equipment with three labs being very high enrollment - General Microbiology Laboratory (MCB 3020L), Microbiology for Health Services Laboratory (MCB 2004L) and Life Sciences Laboratory (BSC 1005L). Enrollment in MCB 3020L will continue to increase with a new BS degree for pre-med students anticipated for fall 2020. MCB 2004L is required for the BA in Health Sciences that already has 678 majors. BSC 1005L is a non-majors course. We offer eight research-intensive (RI) sections (192 seats) each fall and spring. We would like to expand the number of sections we can offer.
The microscopes and spectrophotometers currently being used are more than 15 years ago. Replacement of these instruments is now a critical need.
The lab fee that students pay when enrolled in these courses provides consumable reagents. However, State law mandates that these funds cannot be used for repair, servicing or replacement of any lab equipment. Therefore, there are no sources of funds to replace these essential instruments.
These lab courses are frequently taught concurrently in adjacent teaching labs because of the high student enrollments. Therefore, both rooms must be equipped to teach any of these undergraduate laboratory courses. More specifically, twenty microscopes and one spectrophotometer are needed for each room.
If we are unable to replace the microscopes and spectrophotometers, we will be limited to demonstrations by a teaching assistant or a computer-based virtual experience. Neither option is desirable and greatly diminishes the training and experience for our students.
Facilities
No renovations or upgrades are needed.
Hardware Requirements
No computer hardware is needed.
Software Requirements
No computer software is needed.
Personnel Costs
There are no OPS or other personnel costs.
Other Costs
There are no additional costs associated with this project.
Timeline
The new instruments will be purchased and placed in the teaching laboratories as soon as the funds are available.
Sustainability
The anticipated service life for the requested instruments is at least 10 years.
Resource Matching
No matching funds have been requested.
Implementing Organization
The instruments will be used for the teaching laboratory courses offered by the biological sciences department.
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 |
$ 73,482.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 73,482.00 |
| Other Recurring |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
| Totals |
$ 73,482.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 73,482.00 |
Supporting Documentation
| Filename |
Size |
Description |
| Microscope quote.pdf |
285,839b |
The microscope is the single most important instrument required for the three large enrollment undergraduate laboratory courses. It is common for a job interview to be followed up with a hands-on evaluation of lab skills. It quickly becomes clear whether t |
| spectrophotometer quote.pdf |
328,565b |
Along with the microscope, the spectrophotometer is one of the most frequently used instruments in these lab courses. A few of the most common uses are quantification of bacterial cell density, measurement of DNA, RNA and protein concentration and determin |
