Applied Research Centers

Students interested in research opportunities with one of the ARTP Centers and its affiliated faculty members should contact the Center Directors below for more information. 

 

MATERIALS INSTITUTE

Advanced Materials Institute (AMI)

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. 
Director: Edwin Stevens
www.wku.edu/ami

Applied Physics Institute

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
www.wku.edu/api

Engineering, Manufacturing and Commercialization Center (EMCC)

The mission of the EMCC is to synchronize WKU resources in engineering and manufacturing with industrial need.  The EMCC has resources to assist in prototype development, PCB design and manufacturing, and software design.  The center also has access to machining capabilities.
Director: Shane Palmquist
www.wku.edu/emcc

Nondestructive Analysis (NOVA) Center

The NOVA Center houses the Large Chamber Scanning Electron Microscope (LC-SEM) used for nanometrology, characterization, and analytical services for samples ranging from 1.5 m in diameter and 650 lbs to 50 nanometers. The LC-SEM has great potential for in-situ observations of deformation behavior of materials and is the only instrument of this type available to industry in North America.
Director: Ivan Novikov
www.largechamber.com

Thermal Analysis Laboratory (TALab)

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.                                   

Director: Edwin Stevens                                                              www.wku.edu/talab

 

INSTITUTE for ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Biodiversity Center

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
www.wku.edu/biodiversity

Crawford Hydrology Laboratory

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
www.dyetracing.com

Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies (CHNGES)

The Center for HumanGeoEnvironmental 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
www.wkuchnges.com
www.hydroanalytical.com

Kentucky Climate Center (KCC)

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
www.wku.edu/kentuckyclimate

Biotechnology Center

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: Rodney King 
www.wku.edu/biotechnology/

OTHER ARTP CENTERS

Bioinformatics and Information Science Center (BISC)

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: Claire Rinehart
www.wku.edu/bioinformatics

HPCC System Adminstrators: Dex Wood and Jason Smith https://www.wku.edu/hpcc/

 

Social Science Research Center (SSRC)

The SSRC conducts social scientific research, including social surveys, political polls, evaluation research projects, and marketing research projects. The SSRC develops simple or sophisticated sampling designs to collect social scientific data using mailed questionnaires, telephone interviews, web-based questionnaires, focus groups, or in-person interviews.
Director: Joel Turner
www.wku.edu/ssrc