CSM Research Facilities at Kennesaw State University
The College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) is committed to providing students, faculty,
and external users with state-of-the-art, research-grade equipment to enhance both
learning and research. Learn more about the facilities listed below.
The College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) Microscopy Core (MC) provides access to confocal, deconvolution, super-resolution, and other optical microscope systems that are useful for multi-color imaging of live and fixed cells and tissue samples, and high-content screening.
This state-of-the-art microscopy facility serves Kennesaw State University (KSU) and
external researchers by providing microscopy-related expertise, training, and assistance
for advancing their projects on various model organisms. Additionally, MC offers software
packages on high-end workstations for image processing and analysis.
The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Core Facility at Kennesaw State University (KSU)
is part of the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM). It is the only high-resolution
NMR facility at KSU; researchers are welcomed from throughout the University. We also
provide services to other local universities and external clients.
KSU’s Histology Core Facility houses the latest specialized equipment needed to prepare high-quality histological sections for molecular, cellular, and anatomical based research projects. The facility is housed in the 300-square foot research Science laboratory and includes aLeica CM180 Cryostat, a Microm 650V Vibratome, and a Microm 360 Rotary microtome. This suite of equipment allows for the preparation of sections from frozen, paraffin, and agarose-embedded specimens, as well as both fixed and unfixed specimens.
In addition, the facility houses paraffin incubators, slide warmers, wet bench workspace,
ample storage space, a fume hood, and a dedicated workstation.
The greenhouse is 600 square feet and has 8 wire-top benches that are 8 ft x 4 ft
(256 square feet of bench space total). The greenhouse can be environmentally control;
it has a full wall of negative pressure evaporative cooling and external shade cloth.
This allows temperature in the greenhouse to stay below 30.5 degrees C maximum on
the hottest summer days. There are two gas heaters in the greenhouse to keep it at
desired temperature during the winter. The greenhouse has concrete floor. The greenhouse
is located on the Kennesaw campus adjacent to the Science Laboratory building.
Kennesaw State University (KSU) is located at the intersection of an ecological hotspot in the southern Appalachians and one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the southeastern United States — the Atlanta metro area.
The core of the Mountains-to-Metro Specimen Collection includes plants, insects, fish,
mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds collected across this region. The collection
supports active research on local species as well as educational initiatives focused
on living organisms and urban ecology.
The Oasis, a hands-on outdoor classroom, is one of most unique and innovative laboratory
spaces on campus, that will enable biology students to study native Georgia plant
life.
The Oasis was built in the unused courtyard space between the Science building, the
Science Laboratory building and the Clendenin building. This initiative, which includes
a water basin containing and surrounded by a variety of plant species, was funded
by a generous donor, Dr. Joseph Cook, and named "The Oasis" by the College of Science
and Mathematics students in the CSM Courtyard naming contest. Construction for Phase
I was completed in the Summer of 2014.
The Tescan VEGA3 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is fully PC-controlled and equipped
with a tungsten heated filament. It has back-scattered electron (BSE) detection capability.
In addition, the Tescan VEGA3 is fitted with a Thermo Scientific UltraDry x-ray detector
to carry out Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental analysis.
Listed below are the various spectroscopy instruments housed within CSM:
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometer: The Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer is a Bruker EMX running at
X band (9.2GHz), equipped with an ER 083 electromagnet capable of reaching fields
of 13 kG. Available cryogenics allow studies down to a few degrees above the boiling
point of liquid helium, 4.2K. This allows studies of rapidly relaxing metal centers.
EPR is a spectroscopic technique that provides information by detecting transitions
between electron spin states. It is useful for studying molecules with unpaired electrons,
including free radicals and metal centers. Paramagnetic probes (spin labels) and spin
trapping reagents have greatly extended its usefulness.
Jasco 1500 Spectropolarimeter: The Jasco 1500 spectropolarimeter is capable of measuring circular dichroism spectra
on proteins, nucleic acids, and peptides. This CD signature is diagnostic of secondary
structure formation and can be used to identify folding properties of biomolecules.
The instrument is equipped with both fluorescence and absorption optics/light paths
and has temperature stabilization via a circulating chiller.
The Kennesaw State University (KSU) Field Station, managed by the Office of Research,
is a 25-acre property located along a tree-lined road parallel to Interstate 75 approximately
two miles from the Kennesaw Campus. Field Station projects span multiple colleges,
allowing faculty and students to engage in interdisciplinary research projects.
