Core Facilities
CSUPERB provides support for core facilities containing specialized instruments, staff and laboratories at host CSU campuses. Every three years CSUPERB issues a new request for core facility proposals. These core facilities bring together faculty and staff expertise and a commitment to developing specialized methods and equipment for biotechnology research. By supporting the start-up of core facilities, CSUPERB can make these important resources available to students, staff and faculty throughout the CSU. Even after start-up funding has ended, most of the CSUPERB-sponsored core facilities offer reduced pricing to CSU faculty.
We encourage core facility directors and faculty who have instruments they are willing to share to list capabilities on the FRESCA system. Please use descriptive keywords so that interested faculty can find your facility!
Microchemical Core Facilities
The CSUPERB Microchemical Core Facility DNA Lab is located on the campus of San Diego State University and performs custom oligonucleotide synthesis and automated fluorescent sequencing services for student and faculty research at San Diego State University and other California State University campuses. Oligonucleotide DNA synthesis is performed on an ABI 392 DNA Synthesizer and DNA sequencing is done on a state-of-the-art ABI Prism 377 DNA Sequencer. We have extensive experience sequencing PCR fragments, cosmids and lambda DNA, as well as the usual plasmid templates. We also provide custom primer design, sequence alignment services and handle large sequencing projects. Synthesis of mixed phosphorothioate and phosphodiester oligos, degenerate base sequences, biotin labeling, Aminolink, 6-Fam, Hex and inosine incorporations are also available.
More about the Microchemical Core »
Center for Molecular Structure (CMolS)
The W.M. Keck Foundation Center for Molecular Structure (CMolS), directed by Professor Katherine Kantardjieff, houses the first comprehensive x-ray crystallographic facility located at a predominantly undergraduate institution. CMolS provides faculty and students throughout the CSU the opportunity for joint research and teaching activities directed at the determination and critical analysis of molecule structures.
Elemental Chemical Analysis
CSUPERB is pleased to have provided start-up facility support for the CSU Long Beach (CSULB) elemental micro-chemical analysis (FEMCA) core (see 2008 annual report, .pdf). FEMCA is housed within the Institute for Integrated Research in Materials, Environments and Society (IIRMES) at CSULB and marshals a sophisticated array of NSF funded equipment for molecular and elemental analysis; scanning, transmission and atomic force microscopy; as well as purpose-built clean-room facilities for organic and inorganic extractions and sample preparation. As a CSUPERB core facility, FEMCA offers subsidized analyses at reduced rates for CSU student and faculty researchers associated with CSUPERB.