Funding Status: Accepted

Abstract

The Quantum Technologies Training and Testbeds Lab (QT3) is a new laboratory focused on expanding access to quantum hardware, otherwise only accessible in specific research groups, if at all. It is a unique space which serves as a teaching laboratory and user facility and was recently highlighted in NSF Director Panchanathan’s visit to UW in April. An important tool under development is a Cryogenic Quantum Light Microscope (CQLM).The tool will combine spatially resolved probing at just 4 degrees above absolute zero with a 2 hour sample exchange time- making what would be formerly a dedicated single research laboratory tool into a user facility tool for expanded access. The CQLM is made possible by the generous gift of a commercial cryostat by Microsoft, augmented by a small NSF grant for the spectrometer, low temperature microscope objective, and customed machined mounts.The NSF grant is small and based off the assumption of the microscope also being supported through other funding sources and donations, i.e. an STF grant, the cryostat system being donated by Microsoft, etc. The microscope is being assembled and qualified late this spring and summer in preparation for it’s availability starting in Fall 2023. It will be utilized by UW research groups, including undergraduate researchers, and interdisciplinary classes. It will be maintained and used by work-study QT3 undergraduates. A final need in this diversity of support is funding for an XYZ-piezo positioner to complete the probing system. Without this positioner images cannot be obtained, only single point measurements.

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Abstract

Friday Harbor Laboratories is located on San Juan Island and because we are in such a remote location we do not have access to the UW campus for the equipment needed for students. Students usually conduct research projects in conjunction with their coursework in various marine-related subjects throughout the year. The current state of the microscope camera equipment available to students is limited by availability, quantity and image quality (megapixels). We have 3 Microscopes (Inverted, Specimen and Fluorescence) that share the 1 Q-Capture Firewire 400 camera. Because of the old Q-Capturer Firewire camera we are limited to Firewire 400 compatible computers and software. If multiple students want to use more than one microscope we do not have enough microscope cameras to fulfill the requests. The single camera is in high demand during the spring and summer terms. We are requesting funding for 2 new Infinity 8 20MP USB 3.0 color and monochrome microscope cameras and the correct C-Mount adapters for the Nikon microscopes. They are needed by students who analyze rapid movements such as swimming, prey capture, and animal behavior. These cameras will also be used for counts and survey work, as they are clearer and have higher resolution than anything else available in FHL. They will be used on the 3 Nikon microscopes. We are also asking for 4 new GoPro cameras with associated accessories foe student checkout to film around the intertidal areas.

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Abstract

The School of Art + Art History + Design (SoAAHD) is seeking to enhance digital and electronics prototyping opportunities for students within the school by acquiring several 3D printers and soldering / assembly stations. Over the past 20 years, digital fabrication and rapid prototyping tools like 3D printers have been an integral part of many design and art practices unfortunately the SoAAHD has not always had the space or funding to expose students to many of these technologies. Equally, the integration and exploration of computing and electronics in art and design has grown increasingly as physical computing and coding have become more accessible. With over 800 students in the school, demand for these types of tools far exceeds the capacity for individual programs or course related machines. Students and faculty have consistently expressed a desire to integrate these prototyping methods into their projects and having direct access to these tools in the building is a keyway to support that. The Art Building recently experienced a remodel on the first floor (winter ’23) which expanded several fabrication spaces related to art and design activities including the Advanced Concepts Lab. This mixed-use instructional space is the ideal place to house the requested 3D printers and electronics prototyping tools as it will provide student access digital making and class meeting opportunities further ensuring exposure, adoption and consistent use. Prior to the remodel there wasn’t a space in the Art Building to support this kind of mixed-use activity around digital prototyping.

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Abstract

The MILL is a hands-on learning destination open to all UW students. Our mission is to help students find belonging on campus, and we do this by inviting students from all majors and studies to the space, and we take an interdisciplinary approach to learning and working together. We encourage and foster students' pursuits to imagine, discover, innovate and responsibly create together by providing access to prototyping and makerspace equipment at low to no cost. Our goal is to reduce the barrier for access for UW students on campus, and do this by providing low cost optional workshops on our equipment, no cost for entry, and low cost consumables. The problem that we are dealing with is equipment that has aged and is nearing the end of its lifecycle due to high student use in The MILL. The equipment in The MILL is in high demand, especially our popular equipment such as the laser cutters, CNC milling machines, embroidery machine, and vinyl printer. This equipment has been serviced and repaired multiple times, and we are approaching the reality that it is time to replace it to keep up with student demand and need. Most of the operational funding support that we have from HFS and the College of Engineering is enough to support equipment repair, maintenance, consumables and updates, but it is not near enough to cover the total cost of the new equipment that we need.

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Abstract

The aim of this proposal is to revive a performance laboratory in Hutchinson 201, by supplying state-of-the-art LED theatrical lighting equipment. The School of Drama is committed to supporting and nurturing the artistry and scholarship of every student, and honoring their identities, perspectives, and traditions. We want to add this lab to create an artistic makerspace for students that can function “outside of the gaze” of the faculty, where students can create performative work of their own. Making this physical space available to students, will create new pathways for them to generate self-reflective work. It is critical, however, that they can afford to produce in the space without significant artistic compromises. The advanced capabilities of this equipment combined with a sound system would provide a robust structure for visual and aural storytelling without the high materials and labor expenses of elaborate scenery and costumes. Additionally, theatrical LED lighting fixtures have a growing presence in the professional environment and designers’ and directors’ reliance on this technology will only grow in the coming decades. Since 2020, in alignment with the school’s vision and Anti-racist Action Plan, we have increased representation of playwrights, stories, and characters of traditionally oppressed identities in our season and in our classrooms.We have hired new faculty and made curricular changes that have led to more students creating their own dramatic works.The new lab is intended to supplement these exciting shifts of the school, by providing viable access for performances by and for students of all identities.

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Reservations for productions that use the lighting would be managed through the SoD production office. Typically, productions would reserve room use in blocks of one to five weeks. Training would be provided at the beginning of that period. Room reservations without use of the lighting equipment would also be possible.

Abstract

Rock sample preparation is central to geological and geochemical research. Rocks need to be cut and polished for microscope examination, mineral identification and chemical analyses. Samples need to be crushed for mineral separation, and for chemical and isotopic analysis. With key faculty retirements in the past two decades, the Earth and Space Sciences sample preparation labs where these tasks would be carried out have fallen into disrepair. The main rock pulverizer burned out in 2018 and cannot be repaired. The jaw crusher can no longer be adjusted. Since 2018, students needing to grind rocks for their research have been paying geotechnical companies to do the work, or traveling to use rock preparation labs at CWU or WWU. Similar problems apply to rock cutting and polishing - the 40-year-old rock saws fail intermittently and epoxy impregnation equipment for fragile samples no longer works. Old equipment, such as the rock saws, does not meet modern safety standards. Fieldwork and rock sample collecting have picked up again after COVID, and new professors in the department are recruiting undergraduate and graduate students who need these facilities for their research. The department has cleaned out the rock lab space, and we are requesting STF funds to equip it with new rock crushing equipment, two new rock saws, and thin-section-making equipment. ESS will stock the lab with consumables and commit to maintaining the new equipment.

Access

The department will set up an online booking system for the individual pieces of equipment in the student rock lab, accessible through the ESS website.This will prevent scheduling conflicts, ensure EHS training compliance, and track usage for reporting (below) and maintenance purposes.

Abstract

For the past decade, the UW Formula Motorsports team have been designing and competing with electric cars at national and international competitions in the Formula SAE collegiate competition. The 2022-2023 competition season marks the second year of the team competing with a four-wheel-drive electric vehicle architecture, which introduced a host of new challenges and problems involving the electrical integration of the vehicle, primarily involving the new 550-volt powertrain and general integration of the package as a whole. The UW Formula team operates as a collection of 10 distinct technical sub-teams, and this proposal intends to alleviate the problems associated with our electronics and electrical powertrain sub-teams, which have been the biggest restrictive factor to our success in competition for many years. As such, equipping these sub-teams with the powertrain and necessary diagnostic equipment will better position the team as a whole to tackle the competition and build the most successful, safe, and competitive FSAE vehicle in the United States. Having the equipment listed on this proposal will help the electrical powertrain and electronics sub-teams with testing and development of their projects, as well as enable the team as a whole to gather data at a faster rate. Currently, transferring powertrain packages between cars ensures that there is a period of time where no driver training or data collection can occur, which can be minimized with two packages. Likewise, two powertrains create a safety net if something were to fail with one of the two packages.

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Abstract

At McMahon Hall, The 8 makerspace woodshop dust collection systems are aging are not working well. There are numerous smaller collectors in the shop taking up vital floor real estate and performing very poorly. The maintenance is really challenging as we are constantly fighting clogged filters, leaks, and reduced suction power. This has led to a buildup of sawdust and debris on the shop floor, which poses a health hazard to the users and makes it challenging to work efficiently. The lack of effective dust collection also affects the overall air quality in the shop, leading to potential respiratory problems and other health issues in addition to maintenance concerns for the equipment that is also in this environment. To address these problems, a Gyro Air G-800 and a Gyro Air G-700 dust collection system would be ideal solutions. These machines are designed to provide high-performance dust collection with minimal maintenance requirements. Both machines use a unique gyroscopic technology that separates dust and debris from the airflow, reducing the need for filter cleaning and replacement. This technology also allows the machines to operate quietly, ensuring a peaceful work environment. These systems are designed with maintenance in mind and have not seen a better option for our needs. By installing a Gyro Air G-800 and G-700 dust collection system, the woodshop will enjoy improved air quality, reduced health risks for the users, and a cleaner, more efficient workspace. These dust collection systems will greatly benefit all users who engage our space.

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Abstract

We are requesting funds for four new Dell XPS Desktops for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE) Center. The NAPE Center contains 27 laboratories, and annually hosts programs that prioritizes underrepresented minorities and first generation student involvement in neuroscience and drug-addiction research, as well as various workshops related to neural imaging data acquisition and analysis. Workstations/computers are collectively shared throughout individual labs to mitigate experimental restrictions due to costs and to maximize efficiency. Due to our aging computer systems and our intentions to expand the undergraduate program and accessibility, we hope to install new computers with higher processing speeds, additional memory, and more modern graphics cards to facilitate a more efficient and powerful workspace for students. These computers will be used to process large and high-dimensional calcium imaging and behavioral datasets. Both data sets contain thousands of high-resolution images that require substantial computing power to adequately process. Processing (combined, downsampled, etc.) both data types requires large amounts of memory. Additionally, high-quality graphics processing units (GPU) are necessary to segment calcium imaging videos into individual neuronal components, and generate accurate models of mouse behavior using a variety of pose-estimation algorithms (DeepLab Cut, or SLEAP). Not only do these pre-processing steps require substantial computing power, but so do the analyses performed to generate interpretable quantitative outputs correlating the high-dimensional neural and behavioral data. These computers will allow for NAPE Center labs, and others at UW, to process large amounts of data rapidly, a task often led by undergraduate researchers.

Access

Users can schedule an appointment through the booking calendar that will be available to the research departments including the NAPE Center and any department upon request. Appointments are on a first come first serve basis and sign-ups are available during business hours.