The Marine Science Research Facility Analytical Labs service center (https://web.uri.edu/marinefacility/analytical-laboratories) is directed by Dr. Malia Schwartz (URI GSO) and has one technical staff (Dawn Outram). Its goal is to provide the tools necessary for scientific research as well as aid in student training and sample analysis. Lab space is available for bench work (DNA extractions, molecular work, and sample preparation and analysis). General resources include 7 Percival Upright Incubators (6 range from -2 to 44°C, 1 ranges from 2-44°C), autoclaves (2 large, 1 small benchtop) and 2 laminar flow hoods with and without UV light. Services provided include training on equipment usage, consultation on experimental design, and sample analysis.
Major Equipment includes: BD Influx Flow Cytometer with sorting capabilities; Lachat Nutrient Analyzer (Ammonium, Silicate, Phosphate, Nitrate and Nitrite); Beckman Coulter Counter Multisizer 4; QPCR Thermocycler; Flow Cam Imaging Particle Analyzer; Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometer; Turner Designs Field Fluorometer; Fluorescence Induction Reduction Fluorometer; Spectramax Plate Reader; PCR machines; and Nikon Epifluorescence Microscope with Digital Camera.
Minor Equipment includes: Microbalances; Eppendorf microcentrifuge; Filter manifold with 25 and 47 mm filter cups; Gel visualization box; Gel Imager; Handheld YSI with DO, pH, salinity and temperature probes; Heating/cooling block; Homogenizer; Laboratory fridge/freezer; Laminar Flow Tank; Biospherical PAR Sensor w/laptop; Micropipettes (12); Milli-Q water system; Nanodrop 1000; Qubit Fluorometer; Nikon Inverted Scope with Hoffman Contrast; Olympus Stereomicroscope; pH meter; Shakers (4); Small Strip tube centrifuge; Stingray Microscope Camera; Vacuum pump; Vortex (2); Jaz Spectrometer; Bead Beater; and PreSens Oxygen meter.
The Marine Science Research Facility Shared Seawater Facilities (SSF) service center (https://web.uri.edu/marinefacility/seawater-facilities/) at the Narragansett Bay Campus is jointly managed by URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) and College of the Environment and Life Sciences (CELS). Edward Baker (ebaker@gso.uri.edu) provides day-to-day oversight and technical support. The SSF is housed in four buildings: the Ann Gall Durbin Marine Research Aquarium, the Ark Annex, the Luther Blount Aquaculture Research Lab, and the Marine Ecosystem Research Lab. With 8,000 square feet of indoor wet lab space and nearly unlimited exterior space, any marine environmental condition can be replicated apart from extreme depth and vastness. Tanks range in size from 3m in diameter to smaller aquaria.
Facility features include specialty wet labs for pathology and transgenic research (with dedicated effluent systems), a pier, four seawater intake pipes, a pump house, shallow estuarine mesocosms, and numerous outdoor tanks. Customizable temperature, salinity, photoperiod, filtration, aeration, flow rates, and sunlight are all available.
The facility also includes four environmental chambers (-4 to 24oC) with photoperiod control and high and low alarm controls, a walk-in -20oC freezer, a laminar flow tank, 3 large-scale incubators, and 24/7 generator back-up and emergency response personnel.