Renovation of Wetlab Facilities at the University of Southern Mississippi

位于哈蒂斯堡的南密西西比大学获得了学术研究基础设施项目的资助，用于翻修沃克科学大楼的研究实验室。建于1959年，地下室被改造为实验室空间，包括1971年生物科学系的湿实验室区域。然而，由于老化，空间不适合研究。福尔马林的普遍存在，以及通道、通风、照明和温度控制方面的问题，已导致该设施不再作为湿实验室使用。目前，湿地实验室分散在校园的各种建筑中，但几乎无一不位于最初不是为实验室使用而设计的空间，这限制了该系水生研究项目的能力。研究和培训工作针对海洋和淡水环境，对未充分利用的空间的改造对核心部门项目的发展至关重要。实验室现代化项目将提供一个集中的湿实验室设施，毗邻研究和教学区域。改造后的设施将包括：1)五个独立的湿室，每个湿室都有独立的温度调节；2)一个干实验室，存放电子设备和显微镜；（三）浮游动物和浮游植物培养设施；一个步入式冷冻室、工作区和储藏室。除了为目前的湿地实验室活动提供空间外，改造将允许在当前条件下不可能实现的其他研究方法。一个实验室将配备一个内置的溪流系统，这将有助于研究人员努力调查物理和生物因素对东南本地溪流鱼类栖息地的影响。该项目将通过促进扩大水生生物生态学、行为和生理学的实验室研究计划，提高该系在研究生培训方面的效率。

The University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg, is the recipient of funds from the Academic Research Infrastructure Program for the renovation of research laboratories in the Walker Science Building. Constructed in 1959, the basement was modified for use as laboratory space, including wetlab areas in 1971 for the Department of Biological Sciences. However, due to deterioration, the space is unsuitable for research. The prevalence of formalin, and problems with access, ventilation, lighting, and temperature control has led to the cessation of use of the facility as a wet laboratory. Presently, wetlabs are dispersed in various buildings on campus, but almost invariably are located in spaces not originally designed for laboratory use, which limits the capabilities of the department-s aquatic research programs. Research and training efforts are directed towards marine and freshwater environments, and the renovation of the underutilized space is critical to the development of core departmental programs. The laboratory modernization project will provide a centralized wetlab facility adjacent to research and teaching areas. The renovated facility will comprise of: 1) five separate wetlabs, each with independent temperature regulation; 2) one dry lab which will house electronic equipment and microscopes; 3) a zooplankton and phytoplankton culture facility; 4) one-walk-in freezer, work area, and a storage room. In addition to providing space for present wetlab activities, the renovation will allow for additional research approaches that are not possible under the current conditions. One laboratory will be equipped with a built in stream system that will facilitate researchers in their efforts to investigate the effect of physical and biotic factors on habitat used of native southeastern stream fishes. The project will increase the department-s effectiveness in graduate training by facilitating an expanded program in laboratory studies on the ecology, behavior, and physiology of aquatic organisms.