We don’t think you should have to wait to get started. At Heidelberg, you’ll have the opportunity to jump right into research. With hands-on learning at every level, you’ll find the support, experiences, and opportunities in and out of the lab that will prepare you for professional research in your field. Think a small school can’t give you big opportunities? Think again.
Biochemistry Lab
This lab is used by third- and fourth-year students and is capped at 12 students which allows them to develop biochemical skills through hands-on experiments. Students will learn how to isolate and separate enzymes from tissue and use a gel electrophoresis apparatus, pH meters, spectrophotometers, a thermal cycler, an Eppendorf 5804R centrifuge, and a peristaltic pump. Past research projects include isolating insulin from pancreatic tissue and comparing lactate dehydrogenase activity in heart tissue of several species.
Chemistry Research Lab
The chemistry research lab has individual workstations for students to work on independent research projects. It also houses a gas chromatography spectrometer and electrospinning apparatus including a Gamma High Voltage ES30P-20W power supply. Students can work with faculty in this space to extend their studies out of the classroom and into a working lab. Current research in the lab includes designing electrospun fiber wound dressings to be tested in the Longaker animal lab.
Field Biology Lab
The field lab is where you’ll record and analyze your data from out in the field. The lab offers incubators, hoods, large sinks, herbarium cabinets, plant presses, and dissecting and compound microscopes. The room is also used for field biology classes, dissecting and keying out flowers and limnology.
Geology Lab
The geology lab is used for hands-on learning during class and is a place to analyze and record research data. The lab contains mineral, rock, and fossil collections, a steam table, interactive groundwater models, and map collections for Ohio and national parks.
General Chemistry Lab
This lab will teach you the basic skills needed by scientists when working in a laboratory. The spacious design accommodates 24 students while providing each student their own fume hood, equipment drawer, and work space. This lab is typically utilized by first-year students who are just starting out their training as scientists or just want to learn more about the physical world around them.
Genetics/Molecular Biology Lab
Used in upper-level genetics courses, the lab is equipped with thermalcyclers, gel electrophoresis apparatus, Bio-Doc-IT imaging system, incubators, centrifuges, and spectrophotometers. You’ll learn practice polymerase chain reactions (PCR), enzyme digests, gel electrophoresis, Bradford assays, Western blotting, cell culture, and various bioinformatics exercises.
Instrument Room
This room contains lab instruments and equipment shared by all labs. Instruments include an IR, cyclic voltammograph (CV), a 60 MHz NMR, a picoSpin 45 MHz NMR, and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Students have access to this space when conducting individual research. Students also have access to several mass spectrophometers in Heidelberg’s National Center for Water Quality Research.
Microbiology Lab
In this lab you’ll learn basic bacteriology: Gram staining, making selective and differential media, biochemical tests, and the effects of antibiotics. Equipment includes compound microscopes, hoods, water bath for fecal coliform testing, incubator, water polisher, Quebec colony counters, Spec 20, and microbiological supplies.
Organic Chemistry Lab
In the Organic Chemistry Lab students learn how to synthesize organic molecules as well as common separation techniques. Each student has their own fume hood, equipment drawer, and work space. This lab allows students to learn how to use scientific instruments/equipment such as a melting-point apparatus, centrifuges, rotary evaporators, infrared spectrophotometer (IR) and a nuclear magnetic spectrophotometer (NMR). This lab is also available for students to conduct independent research projects related to organic chemistry. Past research experiments include synthesizing natural compound analogs to test as antibacterial agents and extracting natural compounds to develop a perfume line.
Physical and Analytical Chemistry Lab
The Physical and Analytical Chemistry Lab allows you to truly develop as a chemist. Classes held in this space are generally limited to 14 students so that you have a lot of direct faculty interaction. Students will learn how to use an auto-pipet washer, pH meters (including electrolyte probes), spectrophotometers, and a bomb calorimeter. Students interested in conducting research related to physical, analytical, or environmental chemistry can use this space. Past research utilizing this space include measuring the amount of cocaine on currency and measuring the amount of glyphosate, a common herbicide, in runoff.
Physiology Lab
This lab is outfitted with computer stations linked to iWorx chart recording hardware. This versatile system allows for computerized data collection of ECG tracings, respiratory measurements, muscle contraction, blood pressure measurements, pulse rate, nerve impulses. Physiology laboratory experiences include frog gastrocnemius muscle contraction, cardiac function, respiratory volume measurements, sensory perception, blood glucose control, osmosis regulation, enzyme digestion, urinary function, and reflex control.
Heidelberg students have access to natural areas that total almost 200 acres to conduct research, gather data, and learn to identify local flora. Habitats include woodlots, wetlands, spring-fed ponds, and a riparian forest. You'll have access to three nature preserves, a conservation farm, two rivers, and the campus pond.
