U.S. Rep. Pete
Visclosky, D-1st, announced today that the National Science Foundation (NSF)
will award Valparaiso University with a grant under NSF’s Major Research
Instrumentation and Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities
programs.
The grant totals
$223,753 and will be used to cover part of the cost of a new ultrahigh
performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) instrument, according to a
statement released by Visclosky’s office.
A UHPLC instrument
separates components of liquid mixtures and offers multiple options for the
detection and measurement of the components. VU’s new one will support the
study of water in Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes system, with a focus on
improving wastewater treatment technologies and developing for water reuse.
While the UHPLC
instrument will be located on the VU campus, students and faculty at
neighboring and collaborating institutions, including Ivy Tech and Indiana
University Northwest, will be involved in the research as well.
“We are very
excited about the acquisition,” Dr. Julie Peller of Valparaiso University
said. “The instrument will allow for the expansion of current research and
for the capability to venture into new research projects.”