Dr. Margaret Kovach, Assistant Professor of Biology, received $95,100 from
the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a Major Research Instrumentation
(MRI) grant, only the second MRI award in UTC’s history.  This grant comes
as she begins her second year at UTC.

With MRI grant funds, Dr. Kovach will purchase a fluorescent imaging system
to be used in various research projects and classroom laboratory activities
in biology, environmental science, and chemistry.  The equipment will
provide a state-of-the-art method for performing molecular analysis,
allowing professors and students at UTC to develop extensive programs
employing genomic and proteomic approaches that will benefit molecular
biology, microbiology, toxicology, and biochemistry.

Research collaborators for the project include Sean Richards and Henry
Spratt (Biological and Environmental Sciences) and Gail Meyer and Manuel
Santiago (Chemistry).  Clearly, this system will be a major benefit and
provide important opportunities for students in the life sciences.

Congratulations to Dr. Kovach!  The MRI grant brings high praise to UTC’s
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Department of
Chemistry.