University of Michigan to build nanoscience centre
US$46m project expected to be completed by 2013
The University of Michigan has received a US$9.5m grant from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology to build a nanoscience centre.
The new Centre of Excellence in Nano Mechanical Science & Engineering will focus on a wide spectrum of research activities where ‘mechanical engineering intersects with the growing discipline of nano-science and technology’, according to NIST.
The University of Michigan said the total cost of the project would be around US$46m. In addition to the NIST funding, the University of Michigan is contributing US$21.5m, with the remaining US$15m coming from private donations.
Construction is expected to start in spring 2011 and finish in May 2013.
The three-storey, 63,000ft2 facility, attached to the University of Michigan's G G Brown Laboratory, will include 60 laboratory modules plus faculty and student offices.
A special ULV facility will include eight laboratory chambers NIST specifications for low vibration laboratories with temperature and humidity control as well as low-particulate, filtered air.
In addition, the centre will house labs dedicated to imaging and optics, biosystems, nanoengineering, micro-bioengineering, materials, mechanics and mechanical testing, microdynamics and nanostructures — as well as offices.
Projects will initially focus on the study of DNA and biological molecules, material strength, building a biochip to count cells in HIV/AIDS monitoring, and the study of carbon nanotubes.
‘Nanotechnology is full of promise,’ said Jack Hu, University of Michigan's associate dean for academic affairs in engineering.
‘It has applications in manufacturing, in medicine and in solar and thermal energy conversion, to name just a few fields. Through this facility, we are providing an enabling platform for this research and innovation.’