Proposal

Narrative

Acquisition of this multi-purpose digital imaging system will fulfil the long sought instrument upgrade for teaching labs, to replace our decades-old, chemical-using and polluting X-ray film developing machine in Sanson Science Building at the Biology Department. This instrument will be used by at least 6 lab courses, and provide potential teaching benefit to more than 600 students and 7 faculty members and many graduate students annually. It will broaden the choices for students to design and execute experiments in areas of genetics, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, neuroscience and biotechnology, and enhance their overall learning experience. With this instrument, students can learn hands-on skills in detecting, monitoring and measuring proteins, DNA, or cell activities. This instrument provides robust capability for real time image capture and data analysis in fluorescence and luminescence in a wide range of light wavelengths, all important biological processes that biology students should learn. It is versatile in any biological systems (microbes, animals or plants) and easy to use. Its benchtop size suits current lab settings. This instrument will also help undergraduate student researchers doing DIRs generate publishable data and improve their projects. Overall, addition of this instrument at a moderate cost will catapult our imaging facility to the 21st century, increase the sophistication of lab teaching and OURI-supported undergraduate research, and help students learn better. Upgrading obsolete lab equipment will also help recruit and retain bright and motivated students in STEM and achieve FAU’s strategic plan of becoming the fastest-improving university in the nation.

Facilities

No renovations or upgrades of facilities are required. Just plug and play! This instrument will be placed in the lab that allows easy access to lab courses and faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Hardware Requirements

The existing power outlets are suitable for this instrument. No extra hardware is required.

Software Requirements

This instrument comes with unlimited access to analysis software. No extra software is required. This instrument is a self-contained, but can be connected to any other computer loaded with the supplied software.

Personnel Costs

No personnel expense is needed. Dr. Zhang will be in charge of its installment and testing, and will train and supervise first-time users (TAs, instructors and undergraduate students) and co-ordinate its usage and maintenance.

Other Costs

None

Timeline

March, 2023, awards announcement Within one week of award announcement, updated quotations are requested from three vendors (LI-COR, Azure and Thermo Fisher). April, 2023, release of the fund The purchase order is sent out. May-December, 2023, arrival, setting up and testing of the instrument Within days of its arrival, the instrument will be set up and tested. On-site training is arranged. It will be first used for the summer courses Plant Physiology Lad (BOT 4503L and BOT 6506L). Then, it will be put into full use for fall semester for courses BOT 4734C and BOT 6736C (20 students), MCB3020L (~120 students per semester), BSC 4403L and BSC 6408L (18 students), PCB 4067L and PCB 5064L (18 students), and Tiny Earth Labs (~ 200 students each for fall and spring semesters). January, 2024, completion of the project Once the instrument is up and running, it will be introduced to other applicable lab courses across Biology Department. Other departments may also gain access, with the approval of Biology Department Chair.

Sustainability

This instrument is a low maintenance system with a high level of safety, self-explanatory operation and flexibility. It comes with 4-year warranty. Afterwards, any maintenance cost will be shared by individual course instructors and faculty members who use it. There is no cost for consumables. This instrument is expected to be used by lab courses for many years.

Resource Matching

Not applicable. There is no need for resource matching.

Implementing Organization

The shipping cost is included in the request. There will be no additional cost associated with implement of this instrument. Biology Department will put Dr. Zhang in charge of this instrument for training and managing its usage and maintenance. It will be placed in a lab in Sanson building that allows easy access to faculty members and teaching labs.