ASDRP owns and operates two benchtop high-resolution NMR spectrometers, both equipped with multinuclear capabilities, and which are used for characterization of small molecules and reaction kinetic monitoring. Our instruments are the only NMR spectrometers in the world dedicated for use by high school students and is capable of standard 1D and nutation experiments, as well as 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear experiments (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY,). One instrument is equipped with 1H/13C/19F capabilities, and the second is configured for 1H/13C/31P with a resolution of < 0.7 Hz (FWHM). 

ASDRP operates a Thermo ISQ-LT single quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled with a 150-well autosampler unit and a Trace 1310 gas chromatography (GC) unit. The GC-MS is useful for detection of trace quantities of volatile small molecules and is configured with the NIST mass spectrometry library for instantaneous compound identification. 

Our Waters HPLC system is equipped with a four-channel solvent system, Waters 966 PDA (photodiode array) detector, and a reverse phase chromatography system for analytical liquid chromatography at picomolar detection limits. 

Our field-capable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer is capable of detecting even trace quantities in ppb of heavy metal ions, including Se, Ag, Cd, Pb, and many more. This instrument is heavily used in materials engineering research and in environmental science. 

The Wyatt Dawn Helios II MALS detector is a routine instrument that our researchers in materials science and bioengineering use for quantification and characterization of macromolecules and nanoparticles, with eighteen independent detector modules, a built-in flow cell, and compatability with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-MALS) for particles from 5 kDa to 500 kDa.

One of our two polarimeters, this instrument is capable of measuring optical rotation of plane-polarized light by chiral compounds. Our chemists and biochemists use this to study chirality in macromolecular structure and enantiopure small molecules.

Sometimes, de-ionized water simply isn't good enough! Our MilliQ Water purification systems makes sure that the aqueous environments our biochemists use to study proteins and nucleic acids meet the highest level of quality control, with filters to remove even trace impurities.

Our MicroQuant instrument is capable of both fluorescence and absorbance experiments, enabling the rapid collection of large amounts of spectroscopic data for high-throughput screening of biomolecules.

Our IntelliFlash system is used for purification of compounds out of complex reaction mixtures. It uses disposable silica gel normal phase or reverse phase chromatography columns with a built-in UV detector to track elution of UV-active compounds.

Our Hoefer florometer is built to measure extremely low concentrations of DNA by using a UV lamp to track fluoresence of DNA nucleotide bases. This is useful for biochemists seeking to quantify DNA concentration.

Our Opsys MR microplate reader is built in with functions for biochemical quantification and for high-throughput screening of fluorescent optical reporters. 

We have two twin instruments that are capable of measuring single wavelength absorbances at a range from 350 nm to 1150 nm. This can be used to monitor reaction kinetics, or to obtain specific absorbances along an absorption profile of a substance. 

High-performace liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a method for the separation and purification of small molecules from a mixture. Our HPLC is outfitted for even the most challenging separations and has a built-in UV detector. 

This is one of four thermal cyclers that ASDRP operates for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiments. With this instrument, we are able to replicate millions of copies of DNA in a matter of minutes to hours.

ASDRP is proud to operate the only LCMS in the United States dedicated to use by high school researchers. Our Thermo LTQ-XL linear ion trap mass spectrometry system is fully equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) ion source, Thermo Surveyor UV detector, 200-well autosampler, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. It is used for identification and characterization of small molecules, proteomics, and metabolite screening. 

The FT-IR spectrometer is equipped with an iD5 attenuated total reflectance (ATR) sample assembly, and is used for vibrational spectroscopy to characterize molecules and materials. IR spectra capture bond vibrational modes.

ASDRP operates six research grade UV-vis spectrophotometers; this one is capable of high-resolution absorbance measurements, time-resolved kinetics, and stray wavelength precision down to a tenth of a nanometer.

The Bio-Rad RT-PCR system is capable of colorimetrically monitoring polymerase chain reaction conditions in order to quantify kinetics of DNA produced. This particular instrument comes with a single wavelength fluorescence detector set up for reading 96-well assays for high throughput RT-PCR assays.

ASDRP operates six research-grade UV-vis spectrophotometers. Our BioRad instrument is capable of time-resolved kinetics, full differential scan analysis, and quantification of biological macromolecules such as DNA and protein

Rotary evaporators are used by chemists in the gentle removal of volatile solvents under reduced pressure in the purification process of small molecules. Our chemistry laboratory has four rotary evaportators (Buchi) equipped with two-stage rotary vacuum pumps.

One of three 96-well plate readers, this instrument is designed to provide rapid screening of colorimetric optical reporters, allowing our scientists to probe hundreds of conditions for biological activity in just minutes. 

Our research-grade PAR potentiostat is used for cyclic voltammetry experiments, and allows chemists and physicists to probe redox states of particles in solution and to characterize metal ion oxidation states.

Our physicists and engineers use our industry-grade laser cutter to build custom-shaped and custom-sized components out of any material imaginable. The instrument uses a high-power laser to carve contours out of material.

To create super-sterile equipment and solutions, our biologists and biochemists use this autoclave to superheat solutions to temperatures upwards of 300 degrees and pressures up to 3,100 torr. 

Melting point is often used to determine the purity of a substance, and our melting point apparatus is used by extraction chemists to determine if there are impurities in their material.

Our Thermo Spectronic Genesys 5 spectrophotometer comes equipped with a wide range of detection capabilities and can be used for kinetic monitoring for reactions. 

Our upgraded Hoefer DNA fluorometer is able to detect even fractions of a microgram of DNA by measuring the precise fluoresence of each sample.