Facilities

Library Facilities:

The J. Murrey Atkins Library at UNC Charlotte is the largest academic library in the Charlotte Metrolina region. Its computerized, online catalog can be accessed through 30 in-house public access terminals and the world wide web. The library currently holds approximately 1 million volumes, carries 1200 network connections, and receives over 5,000 separate periodical and serial publications of which approximately 400 are specific to Biology and Biomedicine.

Facilities and Equipment within the Department of Biology:

The Department of Biology occupies laboratory and office spaces in the Woodward Building (constructed 2005). There are 28 individual research bay modules with the size of each module being approximately 600 sq. ft. In addition, there are more than 20 rooms containing common use equipment, including tissue-culture hoods, walk-in cold and warm rooms, and dark rooms. A 3000 sq. ft. vivarium, including a surgical suite, is also located in Woodward Hall. These laboratories are well equipped with instrumentation needed for a wide range of molecular, microbial and organ and organismal research. These include: a staffed vivarium with surgical suite; a staffed microscopy imaging core facility with an Olympus IX70 Fluoroview confocal microscopy system, an Olympus inverted fluorescence ion imaging microscope with Image-1 analysis system, and a Hitachi F-2500 fluorescence spectrophotometer; FACS calibur flow cytometer;Affymetrix Genechip Instrument System Workstation; Molecular Dynamics Typhoon 8600 variable mode image analyzer; b and g counters; tissue culture facilities; spectrophotometers; Thermal Cyclers (including two real-time Roche LightCyclers); a DNA sequencing core facility with a Perkin Elmer automated DNA sequencer and dedicated thermal cycler; low speed, high speed and ultra centrifuges; gel analysis hardware and software; standard upright and inverted microscopes with fluorescence and digital cameras, in vivo video microscopes with analysis software for quantitative fluorescence, complete equipment for physiologic monitoring, HPLC, gas chromatograph, etc.

Additionally, the department provides students with opportunities for research in natural environments. These include the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, located on campus; the UNC Charlotte Experimental Ecological Reserve, a 100-acre tract of land set aside on campus; the UNC Charlotte Rocky River Wildlife Refuge, a 46-acre natural preserve located east of Charlotte; and Chimney Rock Park, an 800-acre park located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.