Renovation of Research Laboratories in Biology, Geology, andChemistry

9313475刘易斯波多黎各大学马亚圭斯分校继续致力于培养顶尖的少数民族学生。研究人员并不排斥学生参与研究活动，从而为他们提供良好的研究训练机会。然而，由于研究实验室的条件日益恶化，该大学很难留住高素质的教员。目前的条件也限制了能够参与研究活动的学生人数。该奖项将为生物、地质和化学部门的特定研究实验室的翻新提供资金，这些实验室对这三个部门的教师招聘和保留产生了负面影响。生物系的翻新将涉及五个实验室：分子遗传学，植物学，细胞培养，动物行为学和新热带系统与动物地理学。这些实验室的研究活动包括：通过DNA测序研究分子进化，濒危植物物种种群，单克隆免疫球蛋白的开发，以及无脊椎动物的生物多样性和行为。实验地球化学研究空间将现代化，以适应跨学科的研究，以定量地解决复杂地质过程中获得的条件。在化学系内，湿化学和小型仪器实验室将得到翻新，以支持有关热带植物天然产物的生物合成、分子光物理学和光化学的研究项目。一旦改造完成，改善后的基础设施将有助于为开展竞争性研究创造一个环境，从而促进招聘致力于研究和研究培训的教员。＊＊＊

9313475 Lewis The University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez continues to be committed to producing top minority students in science. The research faculty is not reluctant to having students participate in research activities, thus providing them with excellent research training opportunities. Nevertheless, the University has had difficulty in retaining highly qualified faculty due to the deteriorating conditions of research laboratories. Current conditions also limit the number of students able to participate in research activities. This award will provide funding for the renovations of specific research laboratories in the Departments of Biology, Geology and Chemistry that have negatively affected the recruitment and retention of faculty within the three departments. Renovations within the Department of Biology will affect five laboratories: Molecular Genetics, Botany, Cell Culture, Animal Behavior and Neotropical Systematic and Zoogeographic. Research activities pursued in these laboratories include: the study of molecular evolution through DNA sequencing, the population of endangered plant species, development of monoclonal immunoglobulins, and the biodiversity and behavior of invertebrates. The Experimental Geochemistry research space will be modernized to accommodate interdisciplinary studies that address quantitatively the conditions obtained during complex geological processes. Within the Department of Chemistry, the Wet Chemistry and Small Instrumentation laboratories will be renovated to support research projects relating to the biosynthesis, molecular photophysics, and photochemistry of natural products derived from tropical plants. Once the renovations are completed, the improved infrastructure will facilitate recruitment of faculty members who are dedicated to research and research training by helping to create an environment in which competitive research can be undertaken. ***