Academic Researchers

Expanding Agricultural Research at the Bindley Bioscience Center

"I WAS ATTRACTED TO THE BINDLEY BECAUSE OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT, AND THE OPEN ACCESS ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES IT BENEFICIAL TO CONDUCT ANALYSES IN WAYS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE IMPOSSIBLE."
- MARIA S. SEPULVEDA (BACK), ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND CIVIL ENGINEERING, PURDUE UNIVERSITY WITH PHD STUDENT JESSICA LEET.

As a faculty member of both the Colleges of Engineering and Agriculture, Dr. Maria S. Sepulvedas research is enhanced by the Bindleys multidisciplinary environment. Dr. Sepulveda, along with experts in the fields of environmental toxicology, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and human epidemiology, discover new biomarkers for Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC) assessment. Markers that allow for accurate, efficient, and low cost measurements of environmentally toxic substances are desperately needed. The ease of access to expertise and technology at the Bindley allows Dr. Sepulveda and her team to translate results across traditional disciplinary barriers as they pursue discovery of such markers. She has developed collaborations for assessing exposure to common EDCs, such as herbicides, and possible health effects due to exposure.

Dr. Sepulvedas research exemplifies the Bindleys mission to facilitate innovative technology developments and applications. This includes the detailed analyses of biological samples to describe relevant molecular features indicating exposure to chemicals in the environment, markers of disease from patient samples, and molecules of significance for biofuels production in plant microbes. These approaches are further supported with collaborations between the Centers for the Environment and Energy, also in Discovery Park.

Benefits and Opportunities for Researchers

The BBC provides researchers access to its continuously expanding capabilities and research instrumentation in the context of deep expertise with these technologies. Facilities are accessed via a 'collaborative core model and in some cases with fee-based research services. Bindley researchers have established technology platforms for analyses of proteins, metabolites, and cellular systems, and promoted integration with advanced data processing and management solutions. The BBC actively seeks the involvement of researchers in:

Signature Research Areas

• Infectious Disease Intervention
• Cancer
• BioNanotechnology and Nanomedicine
• Innovative Instrument Development

Core Technologies

• Biomolecular Technologies
• BioNanotechnology
• Computational Life Sciences & Informatics
• Cytomics and imaging

• Researchers are encouraged to pursue grant opportunities located on the Bindley website.
• Additional information regarding research resources, affiliate registration, and contact information can be found in the Purdue Researcher Section.
• For Faculty: Frequently asked Questions about Discovery Park
• Grant Proposal Aid: Discovery Park Pre-Award Services