Acquisition of Core DNA Sequencing Instrumentation

This is a request for core DNA sequencing instrumentation to serve a group of active, federally-funded research faculty and several training programs. The instrumentation will include a DNA sequencer and several supporting items, including an oligonucleotide synthesizer, thermal cyclers, a plasmid preparation device, a fluorometer, and networked computer equipment and software for DNA sequence analysis. The facility will serve several laboratories where DNA sequencing is an integral part of active research projects, and will also serve as a site for genomic study through automated RFLP analysis. An additional utility of the facility will be its proximity to a biotechnology teaching laboratory, where undergraduate and graduate level classes will have the opportunity to train on the equipment. This teaching laboratory is also the site of our NSF summer program in biotechnology for college faculty, who would likewise benefit from the training opportunity. The Newark campus of Rutgers University is a unique research center combing a small but focused research community with a strong commitment to undergraduate, graduate and particularly minority education. We have added over 25 new research faculty to the campus in the last 10 years. These new faculty have all successfully competed for federal funding of their research and have also worked together to improve the educational opportunities on campus. This is demonstrated by our extensive grant-funded educational programs, including: NIH Minority Biomedical Research Support, NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate Program Award, NSF Computers in Education, NSF Summer Programs, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Initiative for Undergraduate Science Program. The addition of this core DNA sequencing facility will significantly enhance our faculty's ability to compete for future funding both in research and education. It will facilitate our simple sequencing needs and help us to attract proposed new faculty in the filed of molecular evolution.