ANALYTICAL SERVICES LABORATORY TO ENHANCE THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAM
OBJECTIVES: The objectives are to defray the cost of operation by extending its service-base to extra-mural projects; assist the faculty in pursuing extra-mural research funding; provide the high-end instrumentation technology that attracts progressive faculty to the school; strengthen the Masters programs throughout the School by furnishing students with "hands-on" experience with advanced analytical instrumentation; continue to function as an Evans-Allen research support facility for the entire School; help lay the groundwork for Ph.D. programs in the School; and assist the School in securing additional state funding for the agricultural programs at A&T.
APPROACH: The approach will be to continue functioning as ASL has done to date: 1. Receive samples from the School Evans Allen projects, analyze by an acceptable method or develop methods as necessary. 2. Analyze samples received from non-Evans Allen projects for the investigator’s partial support of the laboratory. 3. Consult with and execute "proof of concept" studies for faculty seeking non-Evans Allen funding. 4. Make current and future instrumentation available to the existing faculty. 5. Continue to mentor and supervise MSc. candidates in their experimental designs, sample preparation and analysis, and data interpretation. 6. Continue the acquisition of state of the art instrumentation by extramural funding and self-generated funds.
PROGRESS: 1999/01 TO 1999/12
The total number of samples prepared and analyzed was 12,694 either done by the Analytical Services Laboratory (ASL) staff, graduate students or undergraduate students with estimated commercial value of $306,537. The major part of non-Evans Allen work done in exchange for support was for the U.S. Air Force and SARE-USDA. The extent of support is unknown. The ASL has collaborated with six faculty researchers in their efforts to secure non-Evans Allen. Results of these efforts are pending. Constant efforts are made by the staff to get new customers for the ASL services. Two MSc candidates graduated, one finished her project, three students began their theses research in the fall of 1999. The laboratory manager served on the committee of one MSc candidate. Two new instruments were brought online - IC/FIA and the ICP/AES. They were utilized quite heavily - accounting for 66% of the analytes quantitated in ASL during 1999. A Tekmar Purge and Trap unit have been donated by a local company. A HPLC has been donated to ASL. It is useful for charged and/or large or thermally unstable organic species not suited for gas chromatography. An additional goals for the year 2000 is to obtain state certification for selected analytical methods.
PUBLICATIONS: 1999/01 TO 1999/12
No publications reported this period
PROJ NO: NCX-158-5-99-130-1 AGENCY: CSRS NC.X
PROJ TYPE: EVANS-ALLEN PROJ. STATUS: NEW
START: 01 OCT 1998 TERM: 30 SEP 2001 FY: 1999INVESTIGATOR: Shirley, V. B.
PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
NATURAL RESOURCES & ENV DESIGN
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 27411