| The start of what could be a long and productive collaboration was celebrated on April 9 as the Shimadzu Center for Advanced Analytical Chemistry at UT Arlington was formally dedicated by University administration and faculty along with executives and employees from Shimadzu Corp., a world leader in the analytical instruments industry.
The center, made possible by a $3 million in-kind donation by Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, will be a home for scientific exploration and contains $6 million worth of state-of-the-art chromatography, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy equipment. The center will provide cutting-edge analytical chemistry services to support science and engineering research.
The gift of nearly $3 million in equipment given by Shimadzu is one of the largest gifts ever to the UT Arlington College of Science.
"We feel we are in great company and have a great partnership working with Shimadzu," UT Arlington President James Spaniolo said. "We are honored that a company with the worldwide reach of Shimadzu has chosen to invest in UT Arlington's research program. This equipment will provide opportunities for faculty and students in a laboratory that is truly on the cutting edge of analytical possibilities."
College of Science Dean Pamela Jansma hailed the new center as the latest example of the college's push to help UT Arlington in its quest to become a Tier I research university.
"This center is a wonderful example of what is possible when a university partners with private industry," Jansma said. "We believe the center will help us continue to attract top faculty and students while doing groundbreaking research. Shimadzu's gift creates a resource accessible to North Texas researchers, whether they are university-based or in private enterprise."
Kevin Schug, associate professor of chemistry, is director of the center and has also been named the Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry. He worked with Shimadzu for almost a year in formulating plans for the center and determining which equipment the University most wanted to acquire.
"We got pretty much everything we wanted; I'm like a kid in a candy store," Schug said. "I'm still in disbelief that it all came together in such a short amount of time. This gives us the ability to do almost any kind of analysis we want to do."
Kozo Miseki, Shimadzu's corporate officer and general manager of its Life Science Business Department, said the company is excited about the research which will be done at the center.
"I believe that, in the University of Texas at Arlington, we have a partner that can help us achieve our corporate philosophy of 'contributing to society through science and technology,' " Miseki said. "It is strong and enabling partnerships with innovative and growing institutions like UTA that will assist Shimadzu in becoming a truly global brand. It is my sincere hope that these are just the first steps in a long and productive relationship with UT Arlington and Dr. Schug, and I look forward to the chance to return for future events at UTA."
Rasika Dias, professor and chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, praised Schug's work in establishing the center and said the facility would enable the department to conduct greater quality and quantity of research.
The central location of the Shimadzu Center, housed in the Chemistry and Physics Building, will allow researchers in the College of Science and the College of Engineering to access the enhanced capabilities for trace qualitative and quantitative analysis, Schug said. The facility also will be available for use by area businesses on a per sample or contract basis.
"UT Arlington has a dynamic science program focused on the future, and Shimadzu is pleased and eager to support such a research institution," Shuzo Maruyama, president of Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, previously said. "Kevin Schug is one of the leading young scientists in the country, and it will be a pleasure to work with him and the entire team at UT Arlington on future projects." |
Research led by Schug using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry equipment to analyze cuticular lipids that can reveal age in a species of mosquito known for spreading malaria. Effective methods for analyzing mosquito age could help biochemical-based efforts to prevent spread of the disease, since younger mosquitoes are non-contagious. Schug will also use new metals analysis equipment in an ongoing study of private well water samples collected near natural gas sites.
