Facilities

A Centralized Facility for Digital Imaging, Analysis, and Quantitation

The Digital Imaging Lab (DIL) is supported by a National Science Foundation Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Grant #0510230 and Saint Vincent College

The Digital Imaging Lab is utilized by faculty and students throughout the natural science curriculum for inquiry-based classroom and/or laboratory-based activities and for faculty and student research projects.

The DIL occupies rooms 207 and 208 in the biology building. Room 207 houses the Molecular Imager and Multidetection Microtiter Plate Reader, while room 208 houses the Microscopy Suite which is equipped with student and instructor stations for imaging with four types of microscopy.

Equipment

Microscopy Suite
The DIL facility consists of eight student microscopy stations, one instructor station, and a molecular imaging station, each with image acquisition and analysis capability. In all, there are thirteen microscopes, representing four types of optical microscopy (compound, inverted, stereo, and polarizing).

Student Stations
Each of the eight student stations are outfitted with modified Olympus CX41 upright microscopes with capacity for bright field, phase contrast, dark field, and three-color fluorescence microscopy. All eight microscopes are equipped with a dedicated 5 megapixel Olympus Q-color 5 cooled color digital camera connected to a PC loaded with four types of image analysis software.

Instructor Station
The instructor station contains two microscopes, a Olympus BX-51 research-grade upright microscope with bright field, dark field, fluorescence, and differential interference contrast (DIC) capabilities, and a Olympus IX51 research-grade inverted microscope with phase contrast and fluorescence functionalities for cell culture work. A PC-connected 12.1 megapixel Olympus DP70 megapixel cooled color camera resident at the station can be mounted to either scope.

Additional Microscopes
The facility also contains two Olympus SZX-9 student/research grade dissection microscopes that can be readily connected to any of the camera-PC combinations and one Olympus CX-31 Pol student-grade polarizing microscope with a 360° stage for examination of thin sections of minerals and amyloid bundles in prion-containing yeast cells and cultured neurons.

Projection
An Epson 3000 lumens wireless digital projector projects images from the various stages for group viewing.

Molecular Imager
A Fuji LAS-3000 molecular imager used to digitize and quantitatively analyze 1-D and 2-D protein gels, nucleic acid gels, and fluorescent or chemiluminescent protein or nucleic acid blots.

Microtiter Plate Reader
A Biotek Synergy HT multi-detection microtiter plate reader with capabilities for absorbance monitoring between 200-1000nm, fluorescence (top or bottom read), time-resolved fluorescence, luminescence, sample injection, incubation and shaking is used to quantify reactions or assays in 6-384 well plates.

The centerpiece of the James F. Will Hall is the Ralph H. Liberatore Human Anatomy Suite, an expansive, state-of -the-art laboratory space suitable for medical training sessions for physicians and surgeons. The laboratory is equipped with six surgical stations for anatomical research. In addition to supporting our growing programs in the health sciences, the lab will be available for use by physicians, health care agencies and medical device companies for surgical training sessions, continuing medical education and research. The facility features advanced audio and video capabilities, including a teaching station equipped with cameras and multiple monitors to enhance instruction. Support facilities for the human anatomy laboratory include a technologically-equipped conference room, a lab preparation space, a refrigerated storage area and spacious locker and changing rooms. We have the equipment and facilities to suit our clients’ diverse needs. 

The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve provide students with outdoor laboratories and places on campus to relax in a natural setting.

S-222

N-161
The Visiting Research Lab is available to be used by senior research students, a visiting instructor or faculty overflow projects.

N-202
The Genetics, Cell and Developmental Research Lab is used by senior research students in biology, especially genetics and developmental biology. The lab is equipped with molecular biology equipment and shaking water baths.