Instrumentation
The department has the modern instrumentation necessary for current chemical research including high field NMR spectrometers (300 and 400 MHz) with variable temperature and multinuclear capabilities, and UV visible and FT infra red spectrometers. The more specialized instrumentation in the research labs includes electrochemical apparatus; a fluorescence and phosphorescence spectrometer capable of both steady state and time resolved measurements; capillary and standard gas chromatographs with chiral capabilities; GC MS; high pressure and fast protein liquid chromatography; ultracentrifuges; laser systems including argon ion, helium cadmium, Nd:YAG, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide lasers; an amino acid analyzer; an oxygen binding apparatus; PHAST electrophoresis; scintillation counters; polarimeters; an EPR spectrometer; and an ICP MS.
The department and the university have a wide variety of computers to support chemistry research. The Chemistry Department PC Network has 35 workstations that share programs, disk space, and laser printers. This network provides common computer functions such as word processing, spread sheets, statistical analysis, database management, and graphics, in addition to chemistry specific software such as PCMODEL. The department acquired in 1992 two Silicon Graphics workstations which support molecular modeling (Spartan and Quanta). In 1995 the department acquired five new work stations for integration of modeling into coursework and remodeled the main lecture hall for modern multimedia presentations. The University's mainframes include an IBM 3090, an IBM 3081 and a VAX 8530.
In addition to the standard statistical and graphics packages, these mainframes provide quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics, and dynamics programs that can be used for molecules ranging from diatomics to complex proteins. Finally, the department also has access to two Cray supercomputers at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.
