Facilities
Modern laboratories house a variety of analytical instruments, including automated DNA sequencers, ultracentrifuges, electron microscopes, high-pressure liquid chromatograph, gas chromatograph, scintillation and gamma counters, a CHN analyzer, plant gas exchange systems, and a variety of field equipment. The department includes the Molecular Biology Core Facility, Center for Ecological Research and Education, Botanical Sciences Research Facility, Bioinformatics Core Facility, and is affiliated with the GIS center. Diverse habitats available for ecological research include mountain lakes, streams, forests, hot springs, and sagebrush steppes. A number of applied research projects are focused on various aspects of subsurface science and bioremediation. A number of projects are also conducted in Alaska, Asia and Latin America. Mac and PC computer labs are readily accessible. The Idaho Museum of Natural History, located on campus, houses the Ray J. Davis Herbarium; mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian collections; and one of the most extensive collections of vertebrate fossils in North America.
- Animal Care Facilities
- Center for Ecological Research and Education (CERE)
- Evolutionary, Ecological & Environmental Genomics Group
- Fairview Wetland
- Herbarium
- Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH)
- Light and Electron Microscopy
- Molecular Research Core Facility (MRCF)
- Stream Ecology Center
Animal Care Facilities
The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) at Idaho State University is responsible for the oversight of all animals used in teaching and research by agents of the university. The Department of Animal Welfare under the direction of the AWC works diligently to ensure excellent animal care, humane handling and treatment, and complete compliance with all federal laws, standards, and regulations. In 1991 the Animal Facility at ISU gained full accreditation from The Association for the Assessment and Accreditation for Lab Animal Care International (AAALAC). Accreditation represents excellence in animal care and use. The facility undergoes a rigorous self assessment semi-annually as well as site visits every three years. This peer review process assures all institutional policies, procedures and facilities achieve and maintain high standards of animal care and use. Various remodeling projects from 1995-1997 involving both facilities have resulted in a modern facility with state of the art security features and cleaning capabilities. The long term goals include continued support of research and teaching, continued self assessment, and maintaining full accreditation. Visit the Animal Care Facilities web site here.
Center for Ecological Research and Education (CERE)
The Center for Ecological Research and Education (CERE) was established in 1989 to serve as a focus for a strong program in basic and applied ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University. The primary goals for CERE are: 1) to facilitate individual research in Ecology, and 2) to provide a framework for collaborative, interdisciplinary teaching and research that is focused on ecological principles and problems. Efforts during the last 9 years have moved us closer to achieving these goals. We have an active and productive group of faculty doing research in various areas of ecology. Working within the constraints of a small university in a rural western state, these faculty have made significant contributions to their individual disciplines and they have been successful in preparing undergraduate and graduate students for advanced degree programs and for successful careers in a variety of fields. Visit the CERE web site here.
Evolutionary, Ecological & Environmental Genomics Group (EGG)
ISU's EGG has two missions: I. EGG is affiliated with the ISU Molecular Research Core Facility (MRCF), charged with providing computational facilities and bioinformatics support for MRCF users. This includes the development of a platform for distributing and managing data, developing tools to analyze those data, and providing the expertise to put it all together. II. EGG provides computational facilities and bioinformatics support for ISU researches engaged in ecological and evolutionary research that includes genomics or proteomics components. Visit the EGG web site here.
Light and Electron Microscopy
The Center for Biological Imaging (CBI) at Idaho State University supports both research and teaching efforts in the scientific community. The CBI is a professional technical service facility that emphasizes training, research application support & technical advising on sample preparation, experimental design & image documentation. The CBI works closely with researchers using biological imaging techniques to acquire data for publication and grant proposal writing. In addition to a full suite of histological equipment, the primary components of the CBI are two Leica light/fluorescent microscopes. The Leica DMRB microscope can be used in a number of different optical configurations. The transmitted light configurations include standard brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast and Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast. The reflected light fluorescence (epifluorescence) configurations are available for UV/blue, green and red. The Leica DMRA microscope features software-driven focusing and filter controls & a variety of optical pathway options including transmitted light configurations (brightfield and DIC), epifluourence and calcium imaging. The DMRA is run using IPLabs Suite and MultiProbe for visualization, processing, quantification and deconvolution of digital photomicrographs.
Molecular Research Core Facility (MRCF)
The ISU Molecular Research Core Facility (MRCF), with its state-of-the-art instrumentation and ever expanding array of services, provides ISU's molecular scientists with the resources necessary for successful and productive research pursuits in this rapidly growing field. The MRCF also acts as a center of intellectual exchange for ISU's community of scientists and serves to promote collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches to specific research initiatives. Visit the MRCF here.
Stream Ecology Center
The Stream Ecology Center is dedicated to the study of streams, rivers, and their watersheds. Our research transcends the boundaries between land and water, and a focus of our work has been on linkages between streams, floodplains, and riparian zones. We conduct studies at organism, population, and ecosystem levels of biological organization and do both descriptive and experimental research. Our efforts are set in the context of addressing human impacts on native organisms and ecosystems, and we aim to contribute to better-informed conservation and stewardship through both research and teaching. Visit the Stream Ecology Center here.
Fairview Wetland
The Fairview Wetland is being constructed as a research wetland. It will be used to study the effects of different plant communities on various chemicals and sediments in agricultural run-off. Information gained from this project will be shared with farmers, other researchers, and educators. Visit the Fairview Wetlands web site here.
Herbarium
In 1931, botanist and professor, Ray J. Davis established the herbarium at Idaho State University. For 34 years, Dr. Davis explored Idaho collecting plants and documenting the flora. The Flora of Idaho, published in 1952, is the result of Dr. Davis' dedication. He is also a co-author of A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers (1963). In the mid- 1970s, the herbarium was transferred to the Idaho Museum of Natural History and named in honor of its founder. Today, the Ray J. Davis Herbarium contains about 60,000 mounted specimens and several thousand unprocessed specimens. Approximately 65-75% of the specimens are from Idaho and includes over 3,000 lichens collected by Dr. Lorentz Pearson. The Herbarium serves as a repository for collections from national parklands, such as City of Rocks National Monument and for voucher specimens for ecological and biological research conducted by Idaho State University faculty. Visit the herbarium web site here.
Idaho Museum of Natural History
The Idaho Museum of Natural History is home to collections in anthropology, vertebrate paleontology, earth science, and the life sciences. It holds an archive of documents and ethnographic photographs. Researchers pursue scholarly study of the collections and publish their findings in outside and Museum-sponsored publications. The Stirton-Kelson Library of the IMNH specializes in archaeological and paleontological holdings and is a branch of the main ISU Eli M. Oboler Library. Exhibitions emphasize the collections and mission of the Museum, and include permanent and special offerings. Educational classes for children, families, and adults provide more in-depth exploration of the natural history of Idaho. Visit the Idaho Museum of Natural History here.