Carroll College has announced that Dr. Rebecca Coates, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, received a $50,000 Infrastructure Grant from the Montana IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). The grant will be used to purchase a new FTIR spectroscopy system for the college’s Chemistry Department.
The proposal by Dr. Coates, titled “Enhancing Undergraduate Research and Teaching through Modern FTIR Spectroscopy,” was chosen after a competitive statewide review process. Additional funding needed for the equipment will come from a donor gift designated for new instrumentation in the department.
“We are incredibly grateful for INBRE’s support,” said Dr. Coates. “This new instrument will give our students access to an advanced system with a wider range of measurements and higher resolution than we’ve ever had before. It will expand the types of research questions we can explore together and provide students with meaningful, real-world scientific experience.”
The new FTIR system will replace an older model that has been in use for over ten years. With updated capabilities, it is expected to benefit students enrolled in courses such as Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Instrumental Analysis, and Integrated Lab by providing them with tools similar to those used in current research and industry settings.
Each year, about one hundred Carroll College students utilize FTIR analysis through coursework or faculty-mentored research projects. The upgraded equipment is anticipated to support ongoing work in chemical synthesis, reaction monitoring, and materials analysis while also enabling new projects and collaborations.
“This award strengthens Carroll’s commitment to providing students with immersive, high-impact learning opportunities,” said Dr. Jennifer Glowienka, Carroll College Co-President. “We are thankful to Montana INBRE for investing in our faculty and in the research experiences that prepare our students so well for graduate school, medical school, and scientific careers.”
Earlier this year, Carroll College received additional INBRE-funded investments for genome sequencing and molecular spectroscopy equipment awarded to Biology and Chemistry faculty members. These grants collectively enhance the college’s research capacity and its focus on undergraduate access to modern scientific resources.
For more information about undergraduate research at Carroll College, visit www.carroll.edu.
