Controlled Environments
Core Director: Coen Adema, PhD
Manager: Melissa Sanchez, PhD
Phone: (505) 277- 4278
The Controlled Environments Core (CEC) provides investigators with facilities that enable safe long-term storage of research samples and provide unique controlled environments for maintenance and safe experimentation with non-traditional model organisms.
Climate controlled facilities
Facilities for rearing snails and selected other invertebrates are equipped with a water purification system, pressurized air for water aeration, light/dark timer, temperature control, racks and tanks, dissection microscopes, cold light sources, 20C incubator and refrigerator/freezer. This facility holds a BSL2 designation for work with trematode parasites.
Ultra-cold storage facility
Users of CEC’s freezer farm may have their freezers connected to a monitoring and alarm system. This system initiates automatic robocalls and e-mail messages to alert personnel if the temperature exceeds preset parameters. Users have remote on-line access to monitor freezers and to acknowledge alarm messages. The freezer farm facility is temperature controlled, electric power delivery is protected through integration into the emergency power backup system of the building. The facility has backup ultracold freezer capacity to accommodate samples for temporary storage. A Fisher Scientific Locator 6 PLUS with level monitor is available for storage of up to 6000 samples in liquid nitrogen.
Tissue culture facility
The CEC maintains a tissue culture facility with a BSL2 biological safety cabinet.
Fees
- Freezer Alarm: $348/year
- Snail Room: $3/tank/month
- Tissue Culture Facility: $10/hour
