Funding Status: Declined

Abstract

The ME Mechanical Test Lab provides hands-on access to testing equipment to both undergraduate and graduate students from across the UW campus. The Instron 5585 load frame is the most popular machine in the lab and functions well mechanically, but the control/data acquisition software and the optical measurement system are at the end of their useful lives and are no longer supported by the manufacturer. We are requesting funds to purchase the newest generation of control, data acquisition, and optical measurement systems which will bring the machine back up to the state of the art.

Access

Online reservation calendar through CORAL

Abstract

CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering is a revolutionary technique that has become increasingly accessible for undergraduate researchers, allowing them to design modifications in a cell's genome for targeted studies. However, certain key steps in generating accurately CRISPR-edited cells remain tedious and expensive, limiting the accessibility of this technique for most student researchers. Standard techniques to characterize CRISPR-edited cells (PCR and DNA sequencing) have not readily detected the presence of problematic off-target mutations and genomic duplications. This has potentially led to skewed interpretation of the data resulting from those cells. Additionally, those methods are low-throughput, nonquantitative, and nonsystematic, making them ineffective (and not very fun to analyze). Similar problems arise for studies of rare mutations, small chromosomal abnormalities, organisms with many copies of their genes, and genotypic variations within cell populations. Modern techniques like droplet digital PCR hold promise in overcoming these limitations. However, they remain inaccessible for single labs due to limitations in funding, training, and awareness of the technique. The School of Environmental and Forest Sciences houses one such droplet digital PCR machine; however, it is not sufficient for usage by neighboring departments, including the Department of Biology. This is due to scheduling conflicts and low throughput capabilities of this version of the instrument, rendering it inefficient for addressing the research needs of undergraduate students. Thus, there is a pressing need to overcome these limitations and make accurate and high-throughput genome editing techniques accessible to undergraduate researchers carrying out projects in precision medicine and fundamental biological research questions.

Access

After navigating to https://www.biology.washington.edu/facilities/research, https://matsulab.com/, or the MCB program website, users will see a signup calendar (embedded from cal.com) in which they can make a booking, and will answer questions about their use case and training status. Example signup page: https://cal.com/mattakamatsu/signup

Abstract

The curriculum provided for the University of Washington School of Dentistry is vastly centered around academics and clinical practice. However, there is no instruction for dental students post-graduation on the business and ownership aspect of having a dental office. The Dental Practice Ownership Assocation intends to solve this problem but providing members with the necessary resources and education on how to run and own a practice of their own. We intend to do so by providing a connection and engagement between current dental students and practicing dentists in Washington. This will provide added success to graduating students at University of Washington School of Dentistry and give them the confidence and insight they need to correctly begin their career in the field of dentistry. Our proposal, seeks funding for cameras and microphones to help record and document our guest speakers and educational services that we will provide for our students, and in the near future provide these resources to other dental schools.

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Abstract

This proposal requests funding to replace our existing 3D imaging and rendering computers with new ultra-high performance Apple Mac Studio computers and Studio Display monitors for the student computer lab. In 2018 STF funded 4 27” Apple iMacs to support the reconstruction of 3D images from CT data along with other intensive DICOM large data sets. This equipment needs to be replaced as the students have larger and more complicated data to run and the applications used have changed significantly over the last 5 years and are even more demanding on the aging equipment. Friday Harbor Labs is an NSF funded center for generating CT scan data and our undergraduate students need a way to interact with the ever increasing large and more visually complex data sets.

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Abstract

The Husky Robotics Team is a registered student organization of 117 students competing in the Rover Challenge Series, a series of competitions in Asia, Europe, and the Americas with teams from all over the world. We compete in the University Rover Challenge (URC) in June and the Canadian International Rover Challenge (CIRC) in August. To compete, we bring together a team of diverse and motivated students to design, build, and operate a mock Mars Rover annually. Our Mars rovers perform tasks that range from pouring fuel into vehicles, searching for life, and autonomously finding objectives in an almost mile-wide area. We recently placed 2nd at CIRC 2022 after being entirely online during COVID and returning to  Our team is divided into sub-teams: Arm, Business, Mobility, Electronics, Manufacturing, Software, and Instrumentation. These sub-teams cover the competition's large number of interdisciplinary tasks. Despite having a budget smaller than many other robotics teams, our team was able to place 2nd overall at the Canadian International Rover Challenge, and we placed 1st in the US and 3rd overall at the Virtual University Rover Challenge in June 2021. Our team requires a large amount of manufacturing and electrical equipment to complete our rovers while effectively and safely collaborating. The equipment we are requesting is critical to our team's continued success and will benefit all our team's members.

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Abstract

This proposal requests the purchase of a Licor quantitative fluorescence image scanner for use by undergraduate and graduate researchers across multiple departments and research disciplines. This purchase will modernize existing technology within the widely shared Chemistry Core Instrumentation Facility. The new instrument will replace an existing but antiquated near-infrared (IR) fluorescence scanner within the facility. The new instrument includes two distinct near-IR fluorescence channels, as well as two visible fluorescence channels, providing substantial new capabilities for quantitative, multiplexed fluorescent imaging. An additional chemiluminescence imaging channel will provide high sensitivity for low abundance samples. These imaging modes have a wide range of applications in teaching and biomedical research. The additional capabilities, alongside increased ease of use, will enable the instrument to be used in upper level undergraduate courses, giving students experience with techniques that will prepare them for post-graduation careers in science and engineering. Upgrading to a modern multi-use scanner will support the demands of independent research being conducted on the UW campus, and importantly, provide increased opportunities for undergraduate instruction. The proposed Licor Imaging System will be housed at the UW Seattle campus, within the user-driven Chemistry department Core Instrumentation Facility in Bagley Hall. The current instrument is heavily used by more than 7 research groups in Chemistry and adjacent departments. With a new imager, we expect the userbase to expand to graduate and undergraduate researchers in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and the Institute of Protein Design, as well as undergraduates enrolled in upper-division laboratory courses.

Access

Researchers or students intending to use the Odyssey Imager will be able to reserve its use with a pre-existing reservation system (https://chem.washington.edu/instruments/licor-odyssey-ir-gel-scanner). This process ensures that users are held accountable for maintaining the instrument in working order, while enabling the instrumentation facility to monitor the number and frequency of users.

Abstract

Our department is expecting to grow its graduate student program by two graduate students this fall. We are requesting funding to be able to offer these incoming students devices, comparable to those of our current graduate students. Having an up-to-date, mobile device will enhance the students' ability to set their degree study off to a good start by granting easy access to UW resources. Due to our limited departmental space, many graduate students share offices and desktop computers.They do have access to a focus room, where they can work, take online meetings etc. Having a mobile device makes it possible for them to utilize these resources, as well as campus resources, efficiently.

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