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Mechanical Test Lab: Upgrade to Instron 5585H

Mechanical Engineering

Requested:

$97,531

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


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


Bringing quantitative genomic and expression analysis to students with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)

Department of Biology

Requested:

$121,033

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


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


Virtual Reality Student Developer Group: Furthering UW VR Education Research & Curricular Innovation

Department of Physics

Requested:

$129,953

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


Abstract

The problem we are solving is how to provide valuable career growth opportunities to undergraduate students in the nascent field of VR developing; how to improve and expand the student experience in the Introductory Physics VR labs; how to ensure continuity in the delivery and maintenance of the Physics VR labs; and how to maintain our position as leaders in VR science pedagogy, whilst ensuring undergraduate students are the engine driving all this forward. Our VR labs have been in use for 2 years, reaching around 2000 students each year. They have proven successful in helping students develop fundamental scientific experimental skills and established UW Physics as leaders in the field of VR science pedagogy. The initial development was performed by a single graduate student (Jared Canright). The Novel Observations in Mixed Reality (NOMR) Student Developer Group (SDG) was formed to provide career growth opportunities for undergraduate students and also ensure this technology can be continuously maintained and expanded upon. Physics and many engineering majors have a research or capstone project requirement as part of the major. Many students struggle to find meaningful opportunities because there aren’t enough to go around for the number of students in these majors. This is especially true for the HCDE VR capstone class.


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Statistical Software Applications Dashboard

Department of Economics

Requested:

$19,994

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


Abstract

Our proposal to request funding aims to help our department build a customized Department of Economics virtual desktop from scratch hosted on AWS’s AppStream service. Our department recognizes that there is no longer a need for student computer labs installed with essential software programs as most students own their own laptops for use. However, at the same time, the usage and need for cloud computers is ever increasing. Students who take Economics classes need access to statistical software, especially Stata, for coursework and research. Every quarter, the Department of Economics offers anywhere from 2 to 10 undergraduate classes that require the use of Stata. Having a program such as Stata delivered by a server hosted in the cloud would greatly improve access and usability of important software programs in the classroom or anywhere a student has access to the internet. Graduate student teaching assistants, pre-doctoral instructors, and faculty members will be our primary users in the launch of this service. We hope to provide a seamless resource for our primary users to have access to valuable and engaging academic tools that can create lasting positive impact to all. 


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Dental Practice Ownership Association - Student Education

Dental Practice Ownership Association

Requested:

$8,545

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


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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FHL Student Computer Imaging Lab Refresh

Friday Harbor Laboratories

Requested:

$35,069

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


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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Manufacturing, Electrical, and Organizational Equipment for Student-Built Mars Rovers

Husky Robotics

Requested:

$38,827

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


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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UW JupyterHub for Teaching

UW-IT, Academic Services, Academic Experience Design & Delivery

Requested:

$121,470

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


Abstract

Jupyter Notebooks are a widely used tool in both academia and industry. Paired with JupyterHub, Jupyter Notebooks allow students to ramp up quickly and collaborate effectively in data science, scientific computing, computational journalism, and machine learning tasks. The UW JupyterHub for Teaching service provides web-based interactive Jupyter Notebook environments and fulfills a demonstrated need for UW students to be able to access this popular technology. The managed approach of the UW JupyterHub for Teaching implementation reduces friction in setup and configuration of these tools. Students and instructors can focus on learning, leaving the technical implementation to the service providers. This is especially critical given that data science concepts and practices are permeating a multitude of disciplines outside of traditional computer science fields. UW JupyterHub for Teaching helps students build skills that they can use both inside and outside the classroom. It encourages inquiry and exploration by providing an environment that is pre-configured and unbreakable. Being a web-based tool, Jupyter Hub also supports equity by requiring only that students have a browser to access it. This service is currently being used across all three UW campuses with Seattle accounting for 94%, Bothell 2%, and Tacoma 4% (for 2022), with growth in adoption from 2021 being 33%, 428%, and 26%, for each campus respectively. The requested STF funds will help support ongoing development and operations for co-curricular and project-based student use of this service.


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Odyssey Licor Scanner for Quantitative, Multiplexed Fluorescent Imaging

Department of Chemistry, Seattle campus

Requested:

$112,841

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


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.


Scandinavian graduate student devices

Scandinavian Studies

Requested:

$2,011

Status:

Declined

Awarded:

$0


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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Phone: 206-543-2975
Email: stfexec@uw.edu
Office: Husky Union Building 305B

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