Biochemistry Laboratory

The Lovett Laboratory of Biochemistry, named in honor of Robert J. (B.S. 1953) and Sandra M. (B.S. 1955) Lovett, is a state-of-the-art laboratory dedicated to protein and nucleic acids research and teaching. The spacious lab, with approximately 1000 square feet of floor space, receives significant outdoor light from its two exterior window-containing walls. It has a chemical prep/storage room with a large Getinge Castle 122 autoclave for sterilization of media and instruments and a walk-in cold room capable of supporting virtually any temperature-sensitive biological work. Major laboratory equipment includes

• a laminar flow (sterile) hood

• four chemical fume hoods

• four variable-temperature incubators

• one large New Brunswick C25 incubator/shaker

• four water bath shakers

• one lyophilizer (freeze dryer)

• four table-top (two Beckman Coulter Allegra 6, one refrigerated Beckman Allegra 21R and one refrigerated Beckman GS-15R) centrifuges with various fixed-angle and swinging-bucket rotors

• one Eppendorf 5417R refrigerated microcentrifuge

• one refrigerated Beckmann Coulter Avanti J-25 super speed centrifuge with various-capacity fixed-angle rotors

• one refrigerated Beckmann Optima L-90K ultracentrifuge with various fixed-angle and swinging-bucket rotors

• one Genius PCR thermocycler

• one microwave oven

• multiple gel setups and power supplies capable of supporting protein gels and nucleic acid sequencing gels

• several vortexers

• one sonicator                                                                                     Prep Room

• one glassware oven

• two light boxes for viewing gels

• one refrigerator

• one freezer

• an ultrafreezer

The lab and all of the equipment have been acquired since 1999, and some was generously donated by VWR Corporation. The lab, accommodating sixteen students at four large benches, is fully wired for internet access and has ample glassware and consumable supplies to support biochemical research and teaching. Also available for use to students in biochemistry are a high-capacity ice machine, 4 UV/vis spectrophotometers, a 300-MHz Bruker NMR spectrometer, several FT-IR spectrophotometers, and a flourimeter.