University of Richmond chemistry professors awarded NSF grant for instruments; tools will be shared with local high schools, universities
July 31, 2007
University of Richmond chemistry professors Lisa Gentile and Jonathan Dattelbaum have been awarded a three-year, $309,737 grant from the National Science Foundation to purchase three instruments-a differential scanning calorimeter, an isothermal titration calorimeter and a time-resolved fluorometer.
Three biophysical chemistry research teams at the university and students studying biochemistry and molecular biology will be primary users of the equipment, but in an effort to establish a regional undergraduate biophysical chemistry research cluster, access will be extended to faculty of Hampton and Virginia State universities and Randolph-Macon College. Local high school teachers and students involved in research at the university also will be encouraged to use the equipment.
Richmond faculty will conduct summer workshops on use of the instruments, as well as research collaboration and curriculum design.
Gentile and Dattelbaum will lead the acquisition of the equipment, with support from chemistry professor Ellis Bell and Timothy Smith, director of chemistry instrumentation.