4 – Facilities

4.1 – Introduction

Opportunities at WSU for basic research in the School of Biological Sciences are especially strong in plant and animal physiology, modern structural plant science, animal behavior, genetics, ecology and evolutionary biology, systematics, and the health sciences. Each of these disciplines provides many opportunities for careers in academia, agriculture, government, and industry in the U.S. and abroad.

4.2 – Research Facilities

The School of Biological Sciences is well equipped for many modern research procedures in life sciences, including cloning, sequencing, and characterization of genes, gel electrophoresis, DNA restriction fragment analysis, in situ hybridization, microautoradiography, image analysis, cell culture, isotope ratio by mass spectrometry, and plant gas exchange and fluorescence measurements. The school has an excellent growth chamber, greenhouse, and darkroom facilities. In addition, it manages several major University facilities, such as the Marion Ownbey Herbarium, which contains more than 300,000 mounted specimens of vascular plants and cryptogams. The Conner Museum contains more than 60,000 specimens for zoological study. Other major facilities include the Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center, which is housed in Abelson Hall within the School of Biological Sciences. Students interested in

field-oriented projects have access to the Smoot Hill Biological Reserve and experimental garden space on Observatory Hill and on Airport Road. Vivarium and aquatic facilities are available for students whose research will involve the use of live animals.

However, it is crucial that protocols for research involving vertebrates be submitted to and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before any work is undertaken (this includes both field and laboratory research). Students must also take an animal handling course. Further information may be obtained from the IACUC’s website. The Owen Science and Engineering Library, adjacent to the Life Sciences Complex, contains one of the foremost collections of library materials in western North America.

4.3 – Plant Growth Space

In Pullman, the school has a 4,000 sq. ft., 9-compartment greenhouse on the 7^th floor of Abelson Hall and a 2,800 sq. ft., 4- compartment greenhouse at the Steffen Center. Both greenhouses are used for teaching and research. In addition, 23 plant growth chambers and 4 tissue culture chambers are in Eastlick Hall (B93, B95, and B97) and one large growth room in Heald Hall (302C).

These are used primarily for research. All requests for space must be approved by the student’s major advisor and submitted early in the fall semester to the Plant Growth Facilities Manager on the space request form (Appendix 4.3). Space assignments will be made jointly by the Plant Growth Facilities Manager and the Director of the School. Consult the Plant Growth Facilities Manager should your space needs change at any time during the year.

In Vancouver, students have access to two 4-compartmentgreenhouses as well as several plant growth chambers. Ultimately, the care of plants in the greenhouses and growth chambers will be the student’s responsibility. Pullman: Routine watering, fertilization and pest control in the greenhouse are performed by the greenhouse staff. Routine watering and fertilization of growth chamber plants are the responsibility of the student.

Temperature, photoperiod and ventilation adjustments, fumigation, spray of pesticides, and general care of the greenhouse and growth chambers are the responsibility of greenhouse personnel. Students should not perform any of these jobs, except under direct supervision. Students must be checked out of greenhouse or growth chamber space by the Plant Growth Facilities Manager when their studies are completed. Work areas must be cleaned, pots washed, and growing media disposed of as directed by greenhouse personnel. Report immediately any malfunctions or problems to greenhouse personnel. Should problems arise during off-hours, call Amanda Linskey at 509-596-2399 or email her at alinskey@wsu.edu. If she is unavailable, call the Physical Plant at 509-335-9000 for immediate assistance.