Burlington Standard

UVM and Agilent Technologies Inc. leaders recently dedicated the Agilent Laboratory for Chemical Analysis (ALCA).

The facility, housed in renovated laboratory space in Discovery Hall, will serve as a hub for advanced instrumentation that will allow students, institutional colleagues, industrial partners, and regional high-tech start-ups to study the composition and structure of chemical samples. It is intended as a shared educational and research space that will play a central role in the education and training of undergraduate and graduate students at UVM, while also serving as a valuable technology resource to local and regional businesses.

“We are privileged to have with us Mike McMullen, President and CEO of Agilent Technologies and members of his senior team to celebrate this occasion and to take the initial steps leading to a strategic partnership between UVM and Agilent that we fully expect to yield multiple dividends in the years to come,” said Provost and Senior Vice President Patty Prelock. “While it is premature to articulate what will define the partnership, it is clear from the robust university relations framework that Agilent already has in place that there is much that we can look forward to accomplishing together.”

Agilent Technologies President and CEO Mike McMullen (left) chats with UVM Provost Patty Prelock and Vice President for Research Kirk Dombrowski at the Aug. 3 event. (Photo: David Seaver)

“Agilent is extremely pleased to support UVM in the development of this innovative research facility,” said McMullen last spring, when the laboratory was first announced. “It’s another example of Agilent’s commitment to advancing scientific understanding and at the same time supporting UVM and the local community.”

Prelock said the Aug. 3 dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a day of celebration for undergraduate and graduate students who will have incredible learning opportunities available through the courses that will utilize the laboratory, and for the faculty whose teaching and research will be greatly advantaged by having access to the lab’s instrumentation. And, she said, “It is a day of celebration as we contemplate the advancement of knowledge that will stem from new discoveries emanating from this laboratory, some of which may directly connect with initiatives that our researchers are able to undertake in collaboration with local businesses.”

"This new state-of-the-art instrumentation laboratory will fulfill a primary need in academia, where we have an obligation to ensure the next generation of scientists have the technical skills required to meet modern challenges," said Dr. Giuseppe Petrucci, professor of Chemistry at the University of Vermont. "Beyond that, the fact that this lab will also be available to faculty members for research projects, as well as to start-up companies in the area, offers tremendous opportunities to advance scientific discovery and validation."

“This is an exciting venture," said Darlene Solomon, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Agilent. "The ALCA facility will address all aspects of the analytical process, including problem identification, method development, instrument training, data analysis and sharing, and planning for future scientific advances."

The fast pace of technological advancement can be challenging for universities and other educational and research facilities to stay current with the latest technology and training. The suite of Agilent instrumentation to be housed in the ALCA facility – backed by Agilent application expertise – will advance long-term technical and scientific goals in the state of Vermont and support economic and technological sustainability throughout the region.

UVM is hopeful the ALCA facility will establish an "incubator" environment where users can develop and share ideas and tackle challenging analytical problems in a dynamic and scientifically driven environment. The laboratory will also serve as a regional hub for Agilent representatives to showcase and demonstrate instrumentation functions and capabilities.

Original source can be found here.