ELECTRON MICROPROBE LABORATORY

The OSU Electron Microprobe lab contains a JEOL 733 Electron Microprobe generouslydonated to the School of Geology byConocoPhillips. The analytical instrument can image and analyze materials that are stable in a vacuum. The machine is used to identify elements present in a substance as small as 5 thousands of a millimeter with a small degree of error and photograph specimens beyond the capabilities of ordinary microscopes. The analysis is non-destructive and is used for detailed impurity analysis. It is available for use at cost to any individuals at academic and public institutions, non-academic organizations, and the general public.

E.V. BENTON RADIATION PHYSICS LABORATORY
DR. ERIC BENTON

Dr. Eric R. Benton is a  world expert in the field of Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors and, together with Japanese colleagues, carried out pioneering work on the analysis of nuclear track detectors using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).  He is now using AFM to detect extremely short-range secondary particles produced in nuclear collisions between protons and heavy nuclei in proton beams used for cancer therapy.  Benton’s most recent work has focused on developing and characterizing novel multifunctional materials for use as space radiation shielding aboard future human exploration spacecraft for the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. 

INORGANIC COATINGS AND CORROSION PREVENTION LABORATORY
DR. ALLEN APBLETT

Allen Apblett’s research is focused on the application of metallo-organic chemistry to challenges faced by our society in the areas of protection and clean up of the environment, improvement of industrial processes, and the development of novel routes to advanced materials including nanomaterials. The research tackles many significant problems including corrosion, flame-retardants, counter-terrorism products and sensors, and catalysis. The laboratory has state of the art corrosion testing equipment that is used for developing the next generation corrosion inhibitors (including nanoparticle-based systems) and coatings. Non-toxic metallo-organic flame retardants are being produced for the protection of paper, fabric, and polymer foams. Novel approaches to the large-scale synthesis of nanoparticles are leading to improved catalysts, systems removal of harmful materials from drinking water, sensors for peroxides and terrorist explosives, and the means to neutralize explosives. Corrosion sensors are being developed in collaboration with SensorCorr, LLC for the detection of corrosion of highway infrastructure, aircraft, and pipelines.

INSTITUTE FOR PROTECTIVE APPAREL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY (IPART)
DR. DONNA BRANSON
DR. SEMRA PEKSOZ
DR. HUANTIAN CAO
MS. DIANE RICORD

Established in 2007, the IPART laboratory is the culmination of award-winning protective apparel research adesign of body armor and micro-climate cooling systems. Advancing the protection of men and women in harm's way through innovative design of garment systems remains the institute focus.

Core competencies include: rapid design, fabrication and testing of wearable prototype apparel systems; development of "smart" fabrics and other high-tech materials; and technology transfer of newly developed products and technologies to industry. An OSU expert research team typically works in collaboration with public, private and/or governmental sectors as well as with other academic institutions to create wearable solutions. The institute laboratory houses two Convirens thermal environmental chambers, a sweating thermal manikin, a Human Solutions Vitus XXL 3D body scanner and Anthroscan Professional Software, and other specialized textile and apparel equipment, and provides research and learning opportunities to students at all levels.

MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS AND BIOSENSOR TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
DR. JERRY MALAYER

The laboratory is involved in basic and applied research aimed at development of biosensor technology for detection of molecular targets, including targets specific to agents involved in biowarfare/bioterrorism, contamination of food products, and antibiotic resistant infections; characterization of mechanisms and processes employed to modify bacteria, including resistance to the effects of therapeutic antibiotics; and the development of platform technology for multi-locus assay of biosignature or biomarker targets for molecular diagnostic applications. These programs have applications in food safety and agricultural bioterrorism defense, as well as medical diagnostic and biosurveillance applications.

MOLECULAR MICROBIAL ECOLOGY LABORATORY
DR. ROBERT MILLER
DR. MOSTATA ELSHAHED

Dr. Elshahed’s laboratory at OSU studies the phylogenetic diversity, metabolic capabilities, and ecological roles of microorganisms in a variety of environments with specific emphasis on anaerobic habitats and soil. The laboratory utilizes, develops, and evaluates a variety of procedures to achieve these goals. An integrative approach that combines large-scale, culture-independent phylogenetic surveys, environmental genomic (metagenomic) approaches, and isolation and characterization of novel microorganisms is used to study an ecosystem and/or a microbial group of interest. Currently, microbial groups of interest include several bacterial candidate phyla with no pure cultured representatives (Candidate phyla OD1, SR1, OP11, WW1, and TM7), halophilic Archaea (Family Halobacteriaceae) that survives in low salt environments, and members of the heterotrophic Planctomycetes.

 Dr. Miller’s laboratory is interested in how bacteria evolve in natural environments.  He has been instrumental in demonstrating lateral gene transfer between bacteria in aquatic environments.  His work has centered on identifying bacterial viruses in nature that are capable of facilitating this transfer of genetic information, and hence, facilitating microbial evolution.  His work has taken him to the Antarctic where his group has studied the effects of ozone depletion on bacterial survivability due to exposure to increased solar UV radiation and the frequency of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in an environment with minimal human antibiotic use.  He has explored the bacterial viruses of the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma and studied the effects of this extremely desiccating environment on DNA damage and repair in bacteria.  Currently, his group is initiating studies on the microbiology of the caves of Carlsbad with collaborator Diana Northup of the University of New Mexico.

OSU MICROSCOPY LABORATORY
DR. CHARLOTTE OWNBY
MR. TERRY COLBERG
DR. SUSHENG TAN

Established in 1977 on the OSU campus, the laboratory is a service and teaching facility that serves over 300 researchers and students from the various OSU colleges as well asclients from several companies in the Stillwater area, other parts of the state and across the U.S.  Relocated to Venture I in January 2006, the laboratory continues to serve its users while expanding its services with new equipment and technologies.  A list of these services and charges is available at http://www.microscopy.okstate.edu/fee.htm.

The laboratory houses both scanning and transmission electron microscopes equipped with digital imaging and x-ray microanalysis capabilities.  These instruments show the visualization of structures at very high magnifications and with ultra-high resolution, down to nanometers (one billionth of a meter).  With the addition of x-ray analysis capability, the elemental composition of these structures can be determined.

• The transmission electron microscope enables imaging of the internal features of samples whereas the scanning electron microscope shows the surface features of samples at high power and resolution.
  
  
• The environmental scanning electron microscope will allow the observation of samples in their native or ‘wet’ state avoiding the artifacts introduced by chemical fixation, dehydration and metal coating.  It will also have x-ray microanalysis capabilities as well as the ability to obtain backscattered electron diffraction patterns for further characterize the chemical nature of samples.
  
  
• Confocal microscopy localizes different macromolecules, organelles or structures within samples using fluorescent dyes and can be used to make 3-D images and movies.
  
  
• The scanning probe (atomic force) microscope provides images of 3D surface topography at resolutions approaching the atomic or molecular scale as well as the chemical and physical properties of the surface of samples.

The laboratory offers instruction in microscopy techniques via a graduate course offered once per year and on an individual basis when needed.  Outreach activities include the Oklahoma Microscopy Society “Ugly Bug” contest for elementary school students across the state, participation in activities of the Stillwater Children’s Museum and tours of the facility for local community groups.  Tours are also available upon request.

RADIATION DOSIMETRY LABORATORY
DR. STEPHEN W. S. MCKEEVER
DR. EDUARDO YUKIHARA
DR. GINNI KALCHGRUBER

This long-established OSU lab conducts basicand applied research into luminescence methods for the detection and measurement ofradiation. The lab specializes in particular in thermally and optically stimulated luminescence, with applications in space dosimetry, medical, personal and environmental dosimetry. Additional interests are in retrospective dosimetry methods, especially luminescence dating of sedimentary deposits. Recent interests include dating of Martian surface sediments, astronaut dosimetry,
homeland security and in-vivo dosimetry for radiation therapy. For more information, visit the Radiation Dosimetry Laboratory web page.