EPSRC Core Equipment Award 2022: University of Warwick

我们能够快速和常规地获取关于实验室或自然生产的分子、材料和设备的组成、结构、形态和功能的信息，这是工程和物理科学(EPS)许多进步和突破的核心。为了实现这一点，本提案中要求的资金将在我们的聚合物表征和光谱研究技术平台(RTP)内提供新的多用户设备，并对现有设备进行改进和延长使用寿命，以确保华威大学(UOW)的研究人员能够使用最先进的EPS基础设施。UOW在每股收益方面的长期卓越植根于对设备、基础设施、人员和培训的战略投资。所要求的设备包括：1.两台最先进的凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)仪器，具有多检测器升级和高通量自动取样器，这对于支持威斯康星大学研究小组正在进行的高通量/在线监测研究至关重要。2.高功率脉冲白光超连续光源，可在400-1000 nm范围内选择任意波长。该系统将能够通过铠装光子核心光纤将高功率光安全地传输到多个光谱仪。拟议的设备将用于促进和加强UOW的广泛EPS研究，这些研究属于EPSRC的战略范围，并与UOW研究战略保持一致。新设备将支持来自化学、物理、工程和WMG的65个学术小组的研究，这些小组致力于不同领域的研究，包括催化、能源材料、制造、医学成像、药物输送和制药、纳米颗粒、纳米复合材料、聚合物材料、汽车与高效交通、个人护理和卫生、农业科学/食品安全、电力电子和半导体。这项研究的大部分是在来自两个或更多科学部门的跨学科团队中进行的。这项投资也将是促进许多M-Level本科生、硕士和博士生以及早期职业研究人员的培训的基础。我们的研究技术专业人员(RTP)已建立了完善的用户培训计划和支持计划，这些计划也提供给外部学者和许多行业合作伙伴。UOW致力于确保所需设备得到有效管理和维护，并最大限度地提高使用率。Access将通过内部、电子和设施网页进行宣传，并通过华威科学服务公司对外进行宣传。此外，我们的RT教授提供的设备和专业知识将作为EPSRC资助的华威分析科学中心的一部分在全国范围内传播，并作为由英国研究中心资助的“技术人员主导的设备共享”人才链的一部分在整个米德兰兹创新(MI)中传播。

Our ability to rapidly and routinely obtain information about the composition, structure, morphology and function of molecules, materials and devices produced in the laboratory, or by nature, is central to many advances and breakthroughs in the Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS). To enable this, the funds requested in this proposal will provide new multi-user equipment, and add improvements and lifetime to existing equipment, within our Polymer Characterisation and Spectroscopy Research Technology Platforms (RTPs), to ensure that researchers at the University of Warwick (UoW) have access to a state-of-the-art infrastructure for EPS. UoW's long-term excellence in EPS is firmly rooted in strategic investment in equipment, infrastructure, people and training. The equipment requested includes: 1. Two state-of-the-art gel permeation chromatography (GPC) instruments, with multi-detector upgrades and a high through-put auto-sampler, which are essential to underpin the high-throughput/on-line monitoring research taking place in the research groups at UoW. 2. A high-power pulsed white-light super-continuum illumination source with ability to select arbitrary wavelengths in the range 400 - 1000 nm. The system will be capable of safe delivery of high-powered light to multiple spectrometers via an armoured photonic core fibre. The proposed equipment will be used to facilitate and strengthen a wide range of EPS research at UoW that falls within EPSRC's strategic remit and aligns to the UoW research strategy. The new equipment will underpin the research of >65 academic groups from Chemistry, Physics, Engineering and WMG, working in diverse fields that include catalysis, energy materials, manufacturing, medical imaging, drug-delivery and pharma, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, polymer materials, automotive and efficient transport, personal care and hygiene, agroscience/food security, power electronics, and semiconductors. Much of this research is carried out in interdisciplinary teams from two or more of the science departments. This investment will also be fundamental in facilitating the training of many M-Level undergraduates, MSc and PhD students, and early career researchers. Our RTPs have well established programmes of user training and support from our dedicated Research Technical Professionals (RTProfs), and these are also offered to external academics and many industry partners. UoW is committed to ensuring that the equipment requested is effectively managed and maintained, and that usage is maximised. Access will be advertised internally, electronically and via the facility webpages, and externally through Warwick Scientific Services. In addition, access to the equipment and expertise provided by our RTProfs will be disseminated nationally as part of the EPSRC funded Warwick Analytical Science Centre and across Midlands Innovation (MI) as part of the 'Technician Led Equipment Sharing' strand of TALENT, funded by Research England.