Watson Phase I COBRE Renovation

ALTERATION / RENOVATION PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Multiscale Biomolecular Sensing (MBS) will unite experts in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, spectroscopy, materials science, and biomedical engineering to develop novel mechanisms and tools for sensing of biochemical and biological processes that will directly impact a wide range of human diseases. A major goal of this COBRE proposal is to recruit and hire outstanding faculty members that will strengthen University of Delaware’s footprint in Biomolecular Sensing and increase the University's activity in biomedical research, and a particular need within the proposed Center is expertise within the area of Bioinorganic Chemistry. Suitable space to house a faculty member working in this area exists within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, however, the fume hoods within that laboratory have exceeded their usable lifetime and are no longer safe for use in chemical research. To create a suitable and safe research space for the proposed hire, we will renovate these laboratories by replacing the fume hoods with new fume hoods outfitted for modern synthetic chemistry research. We will also complete cosmetic upgrades to the laboratories and adjacent offices to make the space suitable for a new faculty member and research students. Success of the proposed research plan will result in attractive and safe research and office space for a new bioinorganic faculty member, and it will position the MBS Center to successfully complete the faculty recruiting goals for the Phase 1 COBRE.