Students are now actively learning in the School of Engineering’s newly redesigned bioengineering labs. The updated space allows students from multiple majors to engage in sophisticated design and research initiatives. New equipment and renovations were made possible by generous support from Walla Walla University alumni and a $351,000 grant by the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
More than $700,000 was invested into the new laboratories, which supported the expansion of the bioengineering concentration. The lab spaces are now operational for research in biomaterials, bioprocessing and tissue engineering — industries that have all experienced substantial growth in recent years.
Located in Chan Shun Pavilion, the redesigned lab boasts key equipment including centrifuges, laminar flow hoods, microscopes, a spectrophotometer, incubators, an autoclave and a bioreactor. In the safe, sterile environment, students are able to work with living cells and test biomaterials. Students from a wide range of disciplines including biochemistry, mechanical and electrical engineering, and biology have access to the labs and are able to collaborate on research projects.
Janice McKenzie, bioengineering professor, said that the new laboratories are substantially improving the research she does with students. The laboratories offer students the chance to study topics not typically taught at the undergraduate level, such as aseptic mammalian cell culture, equipping them with skills highly sought after in the bioengineering industry.
Abbie Underhill, a recent graduate from the School of Engineering, emphasized the importance of hands-on learning in the lab. “I had the opportunity to work with one of the professors on summer research involving cell culture and 3D printing and electric spinning scaffolds,” said Underhill.
“Being able to get this hands-on experience really piqued my interest and fueled my desire to pursue a more in-depth study of biological research,” she continued. Underhill now works at a biotechnology company, Scientific Bioprocessing Inc., which has lent pilot equipment to the university for feedback.
To tour the lab or learn more about what learning at WWU looks like, schedule a personalized campus visit at wallawalla.edu/visit.
