Biology Facilities

Undergraduate Research Facilities

 Cell Culture Lab

• Small specialized research laboratory for growing animal or plant cells in vitro
• Allows study of cellular and molecular biology with medical relevance (e.g. cancer cells, regeneration/healing).
• Also used for student projects in cell & molecular biology classes.
  
• Features special hoods and incubators required to maintain ultra-clean conditions required by cultured cells.

Large Saltwater Aquarium

• 1500-gallon saltwater aquarium and attached maintenance room.
  
• Marine fish and other organisms on display for visitors, faculty and students.
  
• Tank is large enough to hold a diver for cleaning and educational programs.  Speaker system allows diver to speak with guests outside aquarium.
  
• Maintained by students in the aquarium & zoo science and marine biology programs.

Greenhouse

• Allows controlled experiments examining plant growth conditions (e.g. invasive species research).
  
• Also used for maintaining plants for use in teaching and ongoing research.
  
• Temperature and humidity controls.

Multidisciplinary Environmental Research Lab (MERL)

• Multidisciplinary research lab used by biology and environmental engineering faculty and students.
  
• Studies in ecology, animal behavior, environmental degradation and remediation are conducted here.

Student/Faculty Research Lab

• Large research laboratory for molecular and cellular biology, animal physiology, and microbiology.
  
• Used for Student/Faculty Research Projects.
  
• Specialized equipment for quantitative analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein samples.  
  
• Includes rtPCR machine that can directly measure gene expression.

Dark Room

• Small laboratory to accommodate fluorescence microscopy, which can be used to cause living cells to glow based on their components.
  
• Also used for reflectance spectrometry experiments, which permit measurement of reflectance spectra to quantify and evaluate animal coloration.

Teaching Spaces and Student Zone

Biology Student Zone

• A dedicated student zone for Biology students to relax, study, share ideas, discuss research.
  
• Located close to offices to facilitate student access to faculty.
  
• Swipe-access granted for all Biology students.

Anatomy Lab

• Teaching lab for comparative vertebrate anatomy, human anatomy, physiology, and vertebrate physiology courses.
  
• Serves majors in sciences and health sciences.
  
• Stainless-steel counters and bright overhead lights to aide dissection.

Aquatics Lab

• Combination teaching and specialized research laboratory for marine and freshwater biology experiments.
  
• Facilities designed to withstand corrosion and water damage.
  
• Accommodates up to 16 students for lecture, teaching labs and research projects.

Ecology Lab

• Dual-use facility, used as both a small lecture room and a laboratory for ecology, animal behavior, and advanced botany.
  
• Storage facilities for a variety of field equipment used to get students out of the building and into the outdoors.
  
• Ample space for behavior experiments with live animals.
  

Freshman Lab

• General-purpose teaching laboratory for general biology courses and course projects.
  
• Serves students in science and health science majors.
  
• Includes a bank of high-quality compound microscopes for examination of prepared slides.
  
• Storage for a large diversity of preserved specimens exemplifying the diversity of animals, plants, and fungi.

Genetics Lab

• Teaching lab for genetics, molecular & cell biology, and  developmental biology courses.
• Adjoining room to cell culture research lab, which facilitates use of cell culture for classroom projects.
• Well-equipped space with modern molecular biology equipment.  Students learn skills needed to perform many of the key techniques required in cell & molecular biology research positions.

Microbiology Lab

• Teaching laboratory for microbiology courses.
  
• Serves students in various majors in both sciences and health sciences.
  
• Students learn to safely handle, culture, and dispose of microorganisms in a clean, modern facility.
  
• Modern audio-visual design so that students can view Smart board projections as well as whiteboard material.

Teaching Classroom

• 30-seat classroom with comfortable seating and large tables.
• Modern audio/video station with computer projector
• Extensive whiteboard space spanning two walls to facilitate active learning.