Wentz Science Center

The 125,000-sq. ft. Dr. Myron Wentz Science Center opened in 2017 and houses the department of Biology along with the departments of Chemistry and Physics, Computer Science and Engineering, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Mathematics. It provides six teaching laboratories for biology students, along with three collaborative research labs and several specialized spaces (below). Biology faculty offices and student study space are convenient to labs and classrooms.

Physical Facilities

• Greenhouse
• Microscopy suite
• Acoustic testing room
• Warm room and cold room
• Animal rearing and handling facilities
• Field equipment and specimen processing area
• Tissue-culture facility (under development)

Molecular Biology

• Applied Biosystems real-time PCR system
• Thermal cyclers for PCR (3; two with gradient)
• Bio-Rad GelDoc EZ Imager photodocumentation system
• BioTex Epoch 2 microplate reader
• Bio-Rad microplate spectrophotometer
• Hoeffer DNA electrophoresis equipment
• Bio-Rad protein electrophoresis equipment
• Immunoblotting apparatus
• Dot/slot blot apparatus
• Li-Cor C-Digit luminescent blot scanner
• Bio-Rad electroporator
• Bio-Rad gel dryer
• Micropipettors, multichannel and repeating pipettors

Ecology and Field Biology

• Li-Cor LI-6400XT Portable Photosynthesis System
• Hansatech Chlorophyll Content Meter
• Thermolyne muffle furnace
• Heated/refrigerated growth chambers with lighting
• Drying ovens
• Water sampling and testing equipment
• Digital cameras
• GPS systems
• Backpacking and camping gear
• Freshwater aquaria and terraria

Microscopy

• Nikon Ts2R inverted fluorescence microscope
• Nikon fluorescence dissecting microscope
• Leica CME microscopes for introductory labs
• Leica DME and DM500 microscopes with phase contrast for advanced labs
• Zeiss microscope with micromanipulator
• Leica microscope with DIC optics
• Leica dissecting microscope with photomicography
• Leica dissecting microscopes
• Digital camera for photomicrographs
• Microtomes and associated equipment

Insect Behavior

• Darwin heated/refrigerated insect-rearing chambers (3)
• Butterfly-rearing enclosure
• Acoustic testing equipment

General Equipment

• Sorvall RC6+ super-speed centrifuge
• Microcentrifuges, including refrigerated
• Bio-Rad UV/VIS spectrophotometers
• Ultrasonic cell disruptor
• Epson STD 4800 scanner
• Analytical balances
• Ultra-low temperature freezers (2)
• LabLine large refrigerated platform incubator shaker
• CO₂ incubator
• Autoclave
• Glassware washer
• Biological safety cabinets (2) and chemical hoods (5)
• Individual benchtop exhaust system for animal work
• Incubators, shakers and growth chambers