Applied Research Centers

The Advanced Materials Center provides access to advanced scientific instrumentation for the characterization of materials in support of the educational, research and public service missions of WKU for faculty and students interested in materials science.  AMI also actively conducts third party testing of materials for local, regional and national businesses and governmental agencies.

AMI Contact: pauline.norris@wku.edu or bangbo.yan@wku.edu
Advance Materials Institute Page 

The Applied Physics Institute conducts research in the areas of homeland security, wireless data communication, nuclear physics and engineering, nanosensors and electronics. This multidisciplinary Institute is internationally recognized for the development of nuclear-based active interrogation technologies for non-intrusive, non-destructive detection and characterization of chemical, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.
Director: Vladimir Dobrokhotov 
Applied Physics Institute Page

The Biodiversity Center provides expertise in terrestrial and aquatic ecology, taxonomy and systematics, evolutionary biology, conservation genetics, geographic information systems, restoration ecology, and database management and eco-informatics. The Center plays a pivotal role in the protection and management of numerous endangered species and has a 1,300-acre River Biological Preserve as its natural laboratory. 
Director: Scott Grubbs 
Biodiversity Center Page

BISC is an interdisciplinary community, with student engagement, that collaboratively poses and solves problems in bioinformatics and information science.  BISC provides computing support through our High Performance Computing Center (HPCC) 
Director: Dr. Richard Schugart
Bioinformatics and Information Science Center Page

The Biotechnology Center has molecular biology instrumentation for performing DNA, RNA and protein analyses such as DNA sequencing, PCR and real-time PCR, electrophoresis, microscopy, spectroscopy and other common laboratory protocols. The primary goal is to expand student research and training opportunities and provide support for faculty research.
Director: Dr. Keith Philips
Biotechnology Center Page

Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies (CHNGES)

The Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies (CHNGES) is an interdisciplinary Center founded in the environmental geosciences with its focus at the nexus of climate, water, sustainability, karst geoscience, and human-environmental interactions. We strive to integrate research, education, outreach, and communication to bridge disciplines and gaps in socio-environmental research, provide student engagement opportunities, and increase public understanding and stakeholder awareness. The Center houses multiple labs, including the HydroAnalytical commercial and research water analysis lab and the EnviroLOS environmental education studio, focused on providing student training and professional services to the community, industry, and its partners. We emphasize applied research and outreach, both nationally and internationally, to produce meaningful outcomes that foster positive changes in behavior and understanding related to socio-environmental challenges. The Center’s mission is to establish itself as a leader in applied research and student engagement at the national and international levels through new and innovative approaches to addressing human-geoenvironmental challenges.

Director: Jason Polk 
Co-Director: Dr. Leslie North 

Center for HumanGeoEnviromental Studies Page
www.wkuchnges.com 
www.hydroanalytical.com

The Crawford Hydrology Laboratory provides field and laboratory services for groundwater flow investigations in both karst and non-karst areas.  Employing a range of methods, we specialize in groundwater tracing with fluorescent dyes utilizing state of the art techniques.  We provide quality supplies, analyses, and training for groundwater traces and conduct both full field investigations or planning and implementation guidance for client-run projects.  The lab has extensive experience conducting groundwater investigations with service to clients and agencies throughout the US and world. 

Director: Chris Groves 

Crawford Hydrology Lab Page
www.dyetracing.com

 The Kentucky Climate Center conducts research and provides a wide range of weather and climate services.  It serves as the State Climate Office for Kentucky and is a partner with the National Weather Service, the National Centers for Environmental Information, and the Midwestern Regional Climate Center.  The Kentucky Mesonet, Kentucky's statewide research-grade automated weather and climate monitoring infrastructure, was developed and is operated as a program of the center.  The Kentucky Climate Center also maintains research and development partnerships and provides customized services in support of public sector and business and industry.
Director: Stuart Foster 

Kentucky Climate Center Page
www.wku.edu/kentuckyclimate

http://www.kyclimate.org/

The Thermal Analysis Lab provides access to advanced scientific instrumentation for the measurement of the thermal properties of materials in support of the educational, research and public service missions of WKU for faculty and students requiring thermal analysis data.  AMI also actively conducts third party thermal analysis of samples for local, regional and national businesses and governmental agencies.                                   

TAL Contact: pauline.norris@wku.edu or bangbo.yan@wku.edu                            

Thermal Analysis Lab Page

The Disaster Science Operations Center (DSOC) integrates critical decision support and disaster security access and opportunities across public, private, government, and academic sectors through student-centered experiential learning and applied research.

Coming Soon!