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)提供资金的。该项目包括翻新被称为科利附属大楼的研究实验室。这是由生物系统工程和合作单位的教员使用的。这次内部翻新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，并将产生一系列研究实验室和生物工程计划的支持空间。后者包括以下实验室：a)生物材料加工和转化；b)先进生物系统；c)生物系统自动化；d)生物材料特性；e)食品安全工程；f)生物分析；g)化学分析；h)制造、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)生物能源和生物制品工程；2)生态工程；3)食品安全工程；以及4)自然资源管理的生物系统自动化的研究。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质加工和预处理新技术；寻找将生物质转化为适合更高效运输和进一步生物提炼的中间产品的新技术；确定新出现的污染物在环境中的去向和迁移；量化气候多变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；完善食品可追溯性系统，以确保食品安全；开发传感器和控制，以减少化肥和农药的使用；该项目将改善国家S的研究基础设施，增加新的能力来解决生物系统中的问题，重点关注生产可再生能源、保持清洁和充足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。翻修后的设施的研究、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.