Research Labs & Facilities

Select the heading above for a list of Savannah State University STEM facilities unique equipment capability.

Since 1999, laboratories to support biomedical research have been developed through external funding from the US NIH, DOD, NOAA, & ED. They include laboratories for biochemical toxicology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, radioisotopes, a cell-culture facility, a small animal facility, and a Core Facility. These labs are active and fully equipped with several major instruments required for faculty and students to conduct biomedical research. The equipment includes a confocal microscope, an electron microscope, a flow cytometry system, a qPCR thermocycler, and an automated western blot system.

The Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science at Savannah State University includes four modern research laboratories, a dedicated instrumentation room, a cold room, and a computer laboratory supporting chemistry instruction and research. The department also maintains specialized laboratory spaces for forensic science and analytical chemistry training. Major research instrumentation available for teaching and research includes NMR spectroscopy, LC/MS, HPLC, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrometry, FT-IR spectroscopy, polymer characterization instruments (GPC and dynamic mechanical analysis), and specialized synthesis facilities such as a glovebox and microwave reactor. These resources support undergraduate research and advanced training in chemistry and forensic science.

The computer graphics laboratory in Hubert D is equipped with 25 state-of-the-art HP desktop computers with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Catia software packages installed. Three MakerBot 3-D printers are available for use: MakerBot Replicator Z18, MakerBot Replicator Mini+, and MakerBot Replicator Mini.

This facility is equipped to conduct analytical environmental science research. The equipment includes: an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer, an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, a Gas Chromatograph, a Liquid Scintillation Counter, and a Gamma Counter. This laboratory has the capability of analyzing organochlorine compounds, PCBs, PAHs, dioxins, heavy metals and radionuclides in biological tissues, plant, soil and sediments.

This lab is equipped with an Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (UHPLC), a Phipps & Bird 7790-910 Six-Paddle Stirrer, a model sedimentation tank, a groundwater flow and well abstraction unit, an aeration apparatus, an ion exchange apparatus, a liquid-phase chemical reactor, a hydraulics bench, a C4 tilting flume, a basic hydrology system, a HACH Trak II BOD analyzer, pH meters, DO meters, turbidity meters, TDS meters, refrigerators for sample storage, ovens, and general environmental lab equipment (vials, amber glass vials and bottles, syringes, chemicals, solvents, Milli-Q water, analytical balances, etc.).

This laboratory is fully equipped with a Beckman centrifuge, UV Spectrophotometer, Type I water production system, HPLC, Laminar Flow Hood, and gel electrophoresis units required to conduct hematology research. Undergraduate students conduct research in this laboratory as part of their research courses.

The LMRCSC is an established collaborative research center, with partners including NOAA and the University of Maryland, which prepares students for careers in marine science. The center has been instrumental in providing training and funding for science majors and marine science graduate students to conduct research. Each year the center enables many students to present papers at national and international conferences.

Marine Sciences facilities include an instructional building, a research facility, two docks, 4 boats, and a fleet of kayaks. The Marine Biology (MBIO) Building is the instructional space on SSU’s main campus adjacent to an expansive estuarine salt marsh system. MBIO contains a wet lab with a seawater system, an instructional dry lab, a classroom, a computer resource room, and a 60-foot floating dock on the tidal Country Club Creek. The Marine Science Research Center (MSRC) is at 2717 Livingston Avenue close to campus and a short distance down Country Club Creek from MBIO. The research facility has a second floating dock with deep water access. The MSRC labs include an experimental chamber, a wet lab and seawater system, the SSU dolphin science lab (SSUDS), the NOAA LMRCSC benthic ecology lab, an ecotoxicology and marine chemistry lab, a coastal biophysics acoustics lab, a gelatinous plankton lab, a geobiology lab, an analytical computing resource room, and an instrumentation room. SSU has 4 vessels used in research and instruction, they are the R/V MARGARET C. ROBINSON 36 ft work boat, the Tiger II 22 ft work boat, a Privateer 2600 Wanchese Open Cabin 26 ft work boat for inshore and offshore work, and a 25 ft tour boat. In addition, there is a fleet of kayaks donated by the Ford Fund for student mobility, recreational, and research use.

The Materials/Structure Laboratory houses resources for the comprehensive study of physical, mechanical, and other important properties of materials. The laboratory is equipped with the following: Accu-tek 250 Digital Compression Tester, Impact Tester, Tinius Olsen LO-TORQ Machine, Fatigue Testing Unit, Creep Testing Unit, Tinius Olsen Brinell Hardness Tester, MTS Landmark Testing Machine, Ele Accu-Tek Touch 250 Series Compression Machine, Hampden H-6320 Structures Test System, MTS 793 Landmark Test System, Ro-Tap Test Sieve Shaker RX-30, Tinius Olsen Lo-Torq 398, Tinius Olsen Pendulum Impact Tester IT406, Tinius Olsen Lo-Torq 398, Perfa-Cure Elite Series Concrete Curing Box, and Buoyancy Balance Suspension Hook.

The BTRL is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation such as the ballistic bombardment device (gene gun), thermal cycler, growth chambers, CO2 Incubator, transfer hoods and several other pieces of equipment needed for conducting experiments in biotechnology and molecular biology.

Faculty and students conduct research on peoples' reaction to a stimulus by tracking eye movement, using Galvonic Skin Response (GSR) that measures emotional arousal, as well as analyzing facial expressions. The technology can be used for experiments on web designs, advertising copy, packaging, branding alternatives or any project seeking reactions from respondents who view stimuli on a computer via iMotions software.

The Soil Mechanics Laboratory is very well equipped with automatic and manual equipment to determine the index and engineering properties of soils and aggregates. The laboratory is equipped with the following: Soil Test Sample Splitter, Casagrande Cup for Clay Liquid Limit Test, Sand Cone for Soil Field Density Tester, Digital Bench Oven for Drying Soil, Automatic Soil Compactor, Zorn Lightweight Deflectometer for In-Situ Soil Resilient Modulus Measurements, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer for In-Situ Strength Evaluation of Soils, Automatic Small and Large Size Sieve Shakers, Standard and Modified Soil Compaction Molds and Hammers, and an Aggregate Imaging Measurement System for Shape Property Evaluation.

The Surveying Laboratory, used by the Civil Engineering Technology program, provides practical capabilities for leveling/route surveying, horizontal measurements, height measurements, and theodolite traverse surveying. The laboratory is equipped with the following: Leveling instruments, Transit level, Theodolite, Spectra laser, Leica Runner 24 Automatic Optical Level, Sokkia C31 D10342 Automatic Level, Transit Level, Leica LDT-05 Digital Theodolite, and Spectra Precision Laser.

The ILS-BRIGHT Title III funded technology center specializes in various forms of 3D imaging, offering immersive experiences with 24 VR stations and a HALO 360-degree ring projection room for advanced visualization. It also provides comprehensive 3D and X-ray scanning services using its Shining 3D white light/IR scanner and a SkyScan 1200 benchtop CT X-ray scanner. Furthermore, the Synapse Lab supports diverse 3D printing solutions with multiple Flashforge 3D printers, Formlabs Resin printers, and a Fuse SLS printing system, all aimed at expanding the educational bandwidth and visualization capabilities for our students and campus.