The Department of Biological Sciences has a number of specialized facilities that
our graduate students and faculty use for research. These facilities include:
Molecular Applied Biotechnology Lab
The Molecular Applied Biotechnology Lab gives our graduate students hands-on experience
with up-to-date techniques and technology to meet the needs of the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industries. Graduate students can perform techniques such as: ELISA,
protein and DNA electrophoresis, Western Blot, PCR, lymphocytotoxic and lymphocyte
proliferation assays, culturing bacteria and viruses, identifying pathogens using
PCR and molecular techniques, fermentation, antibiotic sensitivity testing and other
techniques.
Cell Culture Room
The Biology Department features a cell culture room that includes six steri-culture
hoods, a state-of-the-art incubator, and an inverted, phase-contrast microscope. This
facility is used for both research and teaching. Students in the Cell Culture Techniques
course use this facility to learn the basics of cell culture, including cell passaging,
plant callus formation, cytotoxicity assays with human cancer cells, and transfection
procedures using the GFP protein gene in animal and plant cells.
Freshwater Aquatics Laboratory
The freshwater aquatics laboratory includes bench space and a laminar flow hood. In
addition, equipment is available for both field and laboratory study of freshwater
organisms and environments. Equipment includes portable and bench-top colorimeters
and meters for measuring Oxygen, pH, Conductivity, Light and Flow. There are also
nets, traps, and samplers for collecting plankton, invertebrates, fishes and amphibians.
Schisler Museum of Wildlife & Natural History
The Schisler Museum features an exceptional collection of animals from around the
world, with specimens arranged in beautiful dioramas of different biome types, including
boreal forest, temperate forest, southwestern canyons, and African woodlands. There
are also impressive collections of North American ducks and deer. The museum is used
by ESU classes, including Ornithology and Mammalogy, and is also open to local school
groups and the general public.
Natural History Collections
The department has extensive natural history collections that are used for both teaching
and research in organismal biology, systematics, and conservation. Our collections
are particularly strong for insects and vertebrates, and the insect collection includes
several thousand pinned and identified specimens in the family Membracidae (treehoppers).
The collections also serve as a repository and reference for research on Pocono biodiversity,
and are a valuable teaching tool for our classes in organismal biology.
El Zota Biological Station
Estacion Biologica El Zota is a biological field station in northeastern Costa Rica that serves as a base for
tropical research by ESU students and faculty. A former working farm, the station
has been devoted to education and research for the past 15 years. It consists of 1,000
ha (2,400 acres) of which half remains as primary lowland/swamp forest. There is a
well-marked and maintained trail system and facilities that include a cafeteria, student
cabins, classrooms and laboratory with field equipment and a small library.