Renovation of Existing Research Space Supporting Multiple Chemical Disciplines and Alternative Energy Research in a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该提案要求为中密苏里大学（UCM）生物化学、化学和物理系研究设施的现有研究空间进行翻新。此外，能源部还成立了一个新的替代燃料和环境系统中心（咖啡馆），以更好地满足密苏里州中部社区的科学需求。咖啡馆目前正在促进有关替代能源生产、环境问题和分析支助的项目。翻新后的空间将为许多不同的研究小组改善条件。改造后的设施将包括氮芳n -氧化物的合成、硫环二萜烯的计算和合成研究、砷和硒结合天然有机物质官能团的研究、替代能源项目，如生物好氧和厌氧消化、燃料配方、合成生物柴油改性和开发新的燃料分类分析方法。该系和咖啡馆的本科生研究人员将监测生物质生产过程中土壤和径流水中的营养和微量营养素浓度。生物化学研究项目将在改造后的空间内进行，包括对可以形成三螺旋的核酸的研究，这将被分类为分子间复合物或分子内复合物。翻新后的设施将支持本科研究生的培训项目，并将允许该部门扩大包括ACS-SEED项目在内的K-12外展项目，为代表性不足的群体提供机会。作为化学系的一部分，咖啡馆将为整个地区的外部合作者提供便利。该项目还将利用该设施和咖啡馆与外部合作者接触，其中可能包括小型学院、大学、小型企业、工业和政府机构的研究人员。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This proposal requests funds to renovate existing research space in the research facilities for the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Physics at the University of Central Missouri (UCM). In addition, a new Center for Alternative Fuels and Environmental Systems (CAFES) has emerged from the Department to better serve the scientific needs of central Missouri communities. The CAFES is currently facilitating projects on alternative energy production, environmental issues and analytical support. The renovated space will improve the conditions for many different research groups. Work in the renovated facility will include the synthesis of azzaromatic N-oxides, computational and synthetic studies of thiacyclooctatetrenophanes, arsenic and selenium binding studies specific to natural organic matter functional groups, alternative energy projects such as biologic aerobic and anaerobic digestion, fuel formulations, synthetic biodiesel modifications and development of new analytical methods for fuel typing. Undergraduate researchers in the department and CAFES will monitor nutrient and micronutrient concentrations in soil and runoff water during the production of biomass. Biochemical research projects that will be housed in the renovated space will include investigations of nucleic acids that can form triple helices, which will be categorized as either intermolecular or intramolecular complexes.The renovated facility will support training programs for undergraduate research students and will allow the department to expand K-12 outreach programs including the ACS-SEED program to provide opportunities to underrepresented groups. CAFES as part of the Department of Chemistry will facilitate external collaborators from throughout the region. The program will also use the facility and the CAFES to reach out to external collaborators, which may include researchers in small colleges, universities, small businesses, industry, and government agencies.