Proposal

Narrative

In this proposal faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry are requesting funds for the acquisition of an automated, computer-driven microwave synthesizer to enrich student education and training in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Drug Discovery.

At FAU we strive to deliver laboratory courses of high quality and sophistication starting from the undergraduate level. A well-equipped teaching laboratory is needed to provide students with hands-on participation in real world research using state-of-the-art technologies and equipment and offer the best possible science education. Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratories serve a broad community of student population including pre-med, biology, neuroscience, as well as chemistry and biochemistry majors. The acquisition of this new, state-of-the-art instrument at an estimated cost of $74,800 will bridge existing departmental teaching computer and technology network (initiated and established using funds from three previous FAU Tech Fee grants in 2012, 2013, and 2014) and will greatly enhance students’ learning experience and training in synthetic chemistry with the connection to biotechnology and drug discovery. Acquiring and implementing these new synthetic technologies will further enhance the training, skills, and marketability of all majors taking courses in the chemistry and biochemistry curriculum. Moreover, such new synthetic technologies will help students to be better prepared for graduate programs or compete in the Biotech/STEM related job markets.

 

The request for this instrument purchase is perfectly aligned with the FAU strategic pillars and platforms:

1. Drug Discovery program is a part of Healthy Aging and Neuroscience pillars.

Microwave-assisted synthetic technologies offered to FAU students can enrich their modern and effective synthetic skills essential in today’s organic, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery programs.

2. Distinction through discovery and research experience as a part of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry platform.

As FAU puts more effort on participation of undergraduate students in research and inquiry activities, addition of new microwave synthesizer will not only improve synthetic organic and biochemistry teaching, but also will help to attract and retain more undergraduate students willing to perform research projects.

 

The benefits of using microwave technology, including access to elevated temperatures and pressures, have allowed microwave-assisted synthesis to become the standard synthetic technique used in modern laboratories. Most people think of a microwave as a convenient way to pop popcorn or reheat leftover pizza, but relegating this technology to the kitchen deprives chemists of one of the most useful laboratory tools of the past 30 years! Microwave energy is a very efficient means of driving chemical reactions. It is fast becoming the method of choice for both industrial and academic chemists for driving reactions to completion, as it offers the safest, most effective way to increase reaction rates and improve product yields, while promoting green chemistry. Reactions that previously took hours, or even days, to complete can now be performed in minutes! Decreasing reaction times offers teaching opportunities: students have more time for design, optimization, characterization, and analysis of reaction processes and products. Additionally, microwave-assisted reactions are often performed in aqueous solutions or neat, minimizing the need for organic solvents, simplifying the work-up process, and providing “green” reaction conditions.

The BenchMate Discover System with the Liberty Blue module (CEM Corporation) is the most affordable computer driven industrial microwave system specifically for use in the undergraduate organic laboratory as well as research laboratories. The compact size and simple setup enables the system to be physically moved when necessary around teaching laboratories. The flexibility of this system allows for the synthesis of various organic compounds ranging from small molecules to peptides and small proteins using the Liberty Blue module.

This versatile, multifunction equipment will serve several laboratory courses offered to many students. This new synthetic technology would impact the teaching of laboratory courses such as Organic Chemistry Lab (CHM 2211L) and Biochemistry Lab (BCH 3103L). Additionally, all Directed Independent Study (DIS) undergraduate student researchers (for example students taking CHM 4905 and BSC 4905) in any Department in any program in the entire University will be able to use the microwave assisted synthesis technologies for their research projects. The estimated yearly total number of undergraduate students who will be positively affected with respect to their learning and research experiences at FAU by these new microwave assisted synthetic technologies will be + 700 per academic year.

FAU currently does NOT have such a compact, modern, and easy to use microwave-assisted synthesizer system that can provide research quality data to our students. This proposal aims to change this situation and enable as many undergraduate students as possible to have access and experience in using this very important synthetic technology.

As the chemical synthesis is one of the key steps in teaching chemistry and one of the first steps in drug discovery process, the requested instrument will greatly complement analytical instrument portfolio previously funded through FAU Tech Fee funding (NMR, IR, and UV-VIS spectroscopic technologies). It will also enable Chemistry curriculum students to gain excellent hands-on experience in modern synthetic technologies being part of FAU continuous efforts towards excellence in undergraduate education and the student experience.

Facilities

No renovations or upgrades are needed.

Hardware Requirements

This instrument is self contained. No extra hardware is required.

Software Requirements

The instrument comes with the PC computer (included in the quote) and specialized software (permanent licenses, included with the quote)

Personnel Costs

This instrument comes with a free on-site training of instructors and teaching assistants with the field application scientist, and will be operated by the instructors and/or teaching assistants. Dr. Maciej Stawikowski will be in charge of this instrument. No extra personnel is required.

Other Costs

Timeline

Within 30 days of fund approval, the automated microwave synthesizer will be ordered. Standard delivery time for this instrument is 28 days. Within a week of its arrival, it will be set up by CEM Corporation field engineer, and on-site training for teaching assistant/instructors will be provided. Dr. Maciej Stawikowski will be overviewing  the setup, installation and training. Minimal assistance from Information Technology (IT) staff in the College of Science will be required. The instrument will be tested and ready to use for summer semester of 2016.

Sustainability

Dr. Maciej Stawikowski will train all Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Lab Teaching Assistants in microwave synthesizer hardware and software operation, who then in turn will train students during Lab sessions. All other faculty and undergraduate student researchers will be trained by Dr. Maciej Stawikowski upon request.

Resource Matching

There will be no recurring costs after initial procurement.

Implementing Organization

Department of Chemistry and Chemistry will implement project in with minimal assistance Information Technology staff from the College of Science. Dr. Maciej Stawikowski will train all faculty, teaching assistants and undergraduate student researchers.