Acquisition of a Cyber-Enabled Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometer

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This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities Multiuser Program (CRIF:MU), Professor Vincent J. Catalano and colleagues Ana de Bettencourt-Dias, Jason Shearer, and Robert S. Sheridan from University of Nevada at Reno will acquire a cyber-enabled electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer capable of low temperature measurements. This spectrometer will advance research projects studying biochemistry of metalloproteins, investigation of weak biomolecular interactions, transient organic (bi)radicals and carbenes, and development of lanthanide-based MRI contrast agents and luminescent materials. By cyber-enabling the spectrometer, it will be available to regional institutions.An EPR spectrometer yields information on the molecular and electronic structure of molecules. It may also be used to obtain information about the lifetimes and identities of free radicals, short-lived species that are often essential for the initiation of tumor growth and/or a variety of chemical reactions. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas, from chemistry to materials and biological chemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research.