Instrumentation

A key aspect of catalyzing interdisciplinary interactions around the theme of Molecular Communication and Signaling is to enhance availability of high end instrumentation. Because of the wide array of approaches used by participants, it is very important to have sophisticated analytical equipment available across the institution, including the research core labs present within Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.  Faculty across departments and campuses with common interests in signaling have already begun to work together to be competitive for external instrumentation support.

The Biology Department’s  microscopy facility is managed by Dr. Glen Marrs.  This facility houses a recently purchased Zeiss 710 laser scanning confocal microscope, which is currently undergoing expansion with the support of a CMCS supported NSF proposal.  Similarly, the Chemistry department’s NMR and Mass spectroscopy facility run by Dr. Marcus Wright is currently adding an Orbitrap Mass spectrometer.  The purchase of this instrument comes from a recent NSF grant submitted in collaboration between chemistry and CMCS faculty.