Facilities

My research includes field, laboratory and numerical modeling work.  The photos below show some of our laboratory facilities along with typical field work.

Environmental Engineering Labs

A new environmental engineering Laboratory opened in December, 2005.  The laboratory includes over 5,000 square feet of space including special areas and equipment for research on solid waste, water and wastewater treatment, contaminant transport and site remediation, analytical chemistry, and applied molecular microbial ecology.  The laboratory is well equipped to conduct field and pilot-scale studies, chemical analyses, and analyses related to microbiology and molecular biology.  Specialized equipment includes (1) six gas chromatographs (GCs) including units configured for analysis of gas and leachate composition.  The GCs are equipped with thermal conductivity, flame ionization, photoionization and electron capture detectors; five GCs are equipped with purge and trap or liquid autosamplers; (2) a new GC-mass spectrometer (Varian 3800) equipped with one isothermal and one programmable temperature vaporizing injector.  The mass spectrometer (MS) (Varian Saturn 2200) has electron ionization (EI) and positive chemical ionization (PCI) modes as well as MSn capabilities.  The instrument is equipped with a CombiPAL autosampler with headspace and SPME capabilities, (3) five high pressure liquid chromatographs (HPLCs) equipped with conductivity, UV, and pulsed amperometric detectors, three autosamplers and a fraction collector.  One HPLC is configured for analysis of the sugars that correspond to cellulose and hemicellulose after acid hydrolysis.  (4) a total organic carbon analyzer that is used for leachate; (5) gassing stations for preparation of anaerobic culture media for biochemical methane potential tests; (6) walk-in temperature control rooms operated at 4, 16, and 38°C; the 38°C room is used for incubation of laboratory-scale refuse reactors; (7) a Tricarb 2100TR Liquid Scintillation Analyzer and (8) numerous refrigerators and freezers for sample storage.  Other equipment includes (1) a Quantachrome micropore analyzer; (2) two anaerobic glove boxes; and (3) an Amsco 3021 steam fed autoclave. In addition, the laboratory is well equipped with incubators, water baths, fume hoods and other standard equipment.  The laboratory is supervised by a Ph.D. level manager.

The laboratory is equipped with all of the necessary equipment for microbiology and molecular biology including (1) equipment for nucleic acid extraction and hybridization, (2) a BioRad iQ5 multicolor real-time PCR detection system that can perform quantitative PCR for up to five targets simultaneously, (3) assorted gel electrophoresis equipment and power supplies, including a gel documentation and analysis system, (4) a denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) system, (5) floor, benchtop and micro centrifuges, (6) hybridization equipment, (7) temperature controlled water baths, (8) a gradient thermocycler for PCR, (9) a UV transilluminator, (10) -80 C and -20 C freezers, (11) respirometers, (12) chemostats, (13) temperature-controlled floor and benchtop shakers, and (14) isotope handling equipment.  We also have a Nikon Optiphot system capable of brightfield, phase contrast, epifluorescence, and Nomarski DIC microscopy.  This microscope is equipped with a scientific-grade Charge Couple Device (CCD) camera system (Sensys, Photometrics) and state-of-the-art image analysis system for quantitative FISH (Metamorph, Universal Imaging Corp.).  We have access to a PhosphorImager and an InstantImager through the NCSU Biotechnology Program.  In addition, we have access to a fully equipped central microscopy suite and image analysis facility (Cellular and Molecular Imaging Facility) and a central DNA synthesis facility at the University.  The microscopy suite includes a confocal scanning laser microscope, and several upright and inverted microscopes equipped with an array of CCD cameras. 

Additional facilities located elsewhere on campus include a GC/MS, LC/MS, and ICP/MS as well as an Analytical Services Laboratory in the Department of Soil Science which also hosts a wide array of instrumentation including an ICP for metals analysis.  All graduate research assistants are provided with offices equipped with phones, and their own personal computer and printer.  The Dept. of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering has a machinist, an electrician, and an Information Technology specialist that can assist on different projects.