Next Generation Biological Engineering Research Through Renovation of Laboratories at Auburn University

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。该项目涉及在一座被称为科利附件的建筑物中翻新研究实验室。 这是由生物系统工程和合作单位的教师使用。这次肠道改造将把研究空间升级到实验室机械、电气和管道基础设施的当代水平，并将为生物工程项目提供一系列研究实验室和支持空间。后者包括以下实验室：a）生物材料加工和转换; B）先进生物系统; c）生物系统自动化; d）生物材料表征; e）食品安全工程; f）生物分析; g）化学分析; h）制造，一个增强的仪器支持设施和新的受控环境室。 翻新后的设施将用于1）生物能源和生物产品工程; 2）生态工程; 3）食品安全工程; 4）自然资源管理的生物系统自动化。 它将加强生物系统工程和化学工程部门之间的现有合作。 计划开展的研究活动的具体实例包括：开发用于生产液体燃料或电力的生物量加工和预处理新技术;寻找将生物量转化为中间产品的新技术，以便更有效地运输和进一步生物提炼;确定环境中新出现的污染物的归宿和运输;量化气候多变性和变化对水资源的影响;开发创新的食品加工和包装技术，以延长食品的保质期;完善食品可追溯系统，以确保食品安全;开发传感器和控制装置，以减少化肥和杀虫剂的使用;并开发数据收集系统，以准确测量生物量的去除，并指导随后的营养物质的应用，以确保长期-农业和森林土地的长期可持续性。该项目将改善国家？通过增加新的能力来解决生物系统中的问题，重点是生产可再生能源，保持清洁和丰富的水供应，以及改善自然资源管理的关键社会需求。 翻新后的设施将支持扩大与塔斯基吉大学在食品工程方面的现有合作。 翻新后的设施的研究培训能力和能力将支持新批准的生物系统工程研究生学位。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This project involves the renovation of research laboratories in a building known as the Corley Annex. This is used by faculty in Biosystems Engineering and collaborating units. This gut renovation will upgrade the research space to contemporary levels of laboratory mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure and will result in a series of research laboratories and support spaces for the biological engineering program. The latter include laboratories for: a) Biomaterials Processing and Conversion; b) Advanced Biological Systems; c) Biosystems Automation; d) Biomaterials Characterization; e) Food Safety Engineering; f) Bioanalysis; g) Chemical Analysis; and h) Fabrication, an enhanced Instrument Support Facility, and new controlled-environment rooms. The renovated facility will be used for research in 1) bioenergy and bioproducts engineering; 2) ecological engineering; 3) food safety engineering; and 4) biosystems automation for natural resource management. It will enhance the existing collaboration between the Biosystems Engineering and Chemical Engineering departments. Specific examples of planned research activities include developing new techniques for processing and pre-treating biomass for the production of liquid fuels or electrical power; finding new techniques for converting biomass to intermediate products suitable for more efficient transport and further bio-refining; determining the fate and transport of emerging contaminants in the environment; quantifying the impacts of climate variability and change on water resources; developing innovative food processing and packaging techniques to extend shelf life of food products; refining food traceability systems to insure food safety; developing sensors and controls to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides; and developing data collection systems to accurately measure biomass removals and to guide the subsequent application of nutrients to insure long-term sustainability of agricultural and forest lands.The project will improve the Nation?s research infrastructure by adding new capability to solve problems in biological systems with emphasis on critical societal needs for producing renewable energy, maintaining supplies of clean and abundant water, and improving natural resource management. The renovated facility will support an expansion of the existing collaboration in food engineering with Tuskegee University. The research training capacity and capabilities of the renovated facility will support newly approved graduate degrees in Biosystems Engineering.