RESEARCH FACILITIES

The university recognizes and supports the concept of off-campus study and research as a potentially valuable experience for graduate students. These experiences may take the form of internships, intensive study of specialized techniques with personnel at other institutions, and conducting research at specialized research facilities. Arrangements for such off-campus activities should be made with the student's committee and the graduate dean and should represent opportunities not normally available at this university. When the bulk of a student's research is to be conducted off-campus, both on- and off-campus advisers should be appointed and periodic meetings with the student's committee held to ensure timely progress. Such opportunities offer students considerable flexibility in their training and promote valuable contacts between the student, the university, industry, and research institutions. Students are encouraged to pursue these opportunities with their advisers and the graduate dean.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

The Agricultural Experiment Station is the research division of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics. Faculty, professional personnel, and graduate students conduct basic and applied research concerned with biological, physical, and economic phases of food and fiber production, processing, and distribution; consumer health and nutrition; and the social and economic aspects of rural living. Energy, environmental, and natural resource conservation aspects of these broad disciplines offer many opportunities for the graduate student to undertake meaningful research investigations in both the laboratory and the field.

There are eight departments on the main campus with excellent laboratory facilities for research. In addition, the station maintains 13 off-campus field research locations that include six off-campus agricultural science centers, a forestry research center, a cattle research center, an animal insect lab, and two research ranches.

The station provides financial support to graduate research assistants and cooperates with research institutes at the university and with various state and federal agencies in providing opportunities for graduate research programs covering a wide scope of student interests. For further information, e-mail aesdean@nmsu.edu Web Page: www.cahe.nmsu.edu/aes/

ARTS AND SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER

The research center is the coordinating office for all scholarly activities within the College of Arts and Sciences. The primary functions are service to departments and faculty members, and grant administration. The center encourages and stimulates individual research and creative efforts and facilitates the development of potential research programs within the college, and with other colleges, various institutes, the Physical Science Laboratory, and external organizations. Its major functions are assisting faculty members in the college in the preparation of proposals and reports, and providing various services and financial support to faculty members in the performance of scholarly activities. The center assists individual faculty members in the development of research programs by providing small grants of "seed" money. Typically, support services fall within, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Location of funding sources
Contact with granting agencies
Proposal preparation, including budgets
Administration of grants and contracts
Bookkeeping on grants and contracts
Liaison with Office of the Vice Provost for Research

The center provides technical support in the glassblowing, electronics, computing, networking, and machine shop areas. It also administers the Electron Microscopy Laboratory, which provides research support for the university, and the Computing Research Laboratory. For further information, e-mail jcowie@nmsu.edu. Web page: http://www.nmsu.edu/~artsci/Research/center.html.

APACHE POINT OBSERVATORY (APO-ARC)

Apache Point Observatory (APO) is located in the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico. This is a major astronomical research facility; its principal instrument is a fully equipped 3.5-meter telescope of advanced design. It is used for optical-infrared imaging, photometry, and spectroscopy. Apache Point Observatory is also the site of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey 2.5-meter telescope, which is used for a sensitive photometric and spectroscopic survey of the universe. NMSU operates its own 1-meter telescope at APO for wide field imaging.

Apache Point Observatory is owned by the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC). The consortium members include: New Mexico State University, Princeton University, the University of Colorado, the University of Chicago, the University of Washington, the Institute for Advanced Study, and Johns Hopkins University. NMSU manages and operates the observatory for the ARC consortium. Astronomy faculty and graduate students use the facility for various research projects. For further information, e-mail astro@nmsu.edu

BUREAU OF BUSINESS RESEARCH AND SERVICES

Founded in 1969, the bureau has two basic objectives. The first is to provide business and economic research services to both public and private sectors of the state, the region and the nation. Research capabilities in the behavioral and managerial sciences, business systems, economic and social sciences, marketing, and regional planning can be applied to problems relating to economic growth, business development, and community needs in New Mexico.

The second objective of the bureau is to provide management training services to business organizations and associations, to government agencies, and to the public as well. Management development seminars, training programs, and analytical services are designed to meet specific organizational needs.

The Bureau of Business Research and Services is a member of the Association for University Business and Economic Research. For further information, e-mail kboberg@nmsu.edu.

CARLSBAD ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING & RESEARCH CENTER

Created in 1991 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (CEMRC), a department of the College of Engineering, environmental research, provides special analytical services, technology development, and disseminates information for federal, state, and private sponsors. CEMRC is housed at Light Hall, a 26,000-square-foot facility located in Carlsbad, in southeast New Mexico. The facility's laboratories include radiochemistry and associated nuclear spectroscopy, environmental inorganic chemistry, in vivo bioassay, computer modeling, and field sampling. A primary activity of CEMRC is long-term environmental monitoring for contaminants in the region of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, located near Carlsbad. The data produced from this project are summarized in periodic reports and are presented on the CEMRC web site at www.cemrc.org. Primary research areas of the CEMRC include studies of atmospheric dust and inorganic contaminants, human and ecological risk assessment, and development of radioanalytical and spectroscopic methods for measurement of naturally occurring and human-produced radioactive elements. Results of CEMRC research projects appear in peer-reviewed scientific journals and are presented at national and international meetings. For more information, contact Dr. James Conca at (575) 234-5555

CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN AND BORDER STUDIES

The Center for Latin American and Border Studies (CLABS) was established in 1979 by the College of Arts and Sciences and is located at the Nason House. In partnership with the Latin American and Iberian Institute at the University of New Mexico, CLABS is part of a National Resource Center consortium for Latin America, and is funded as such by the U.S. Department of Education. CLABS supports Frontera NorteSur, an on-line journal about the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, CLABS supports the collection at the NMSU library, travel for faculty to conferences, language training in Spanish and Portuguese, lectures by visiting speakers, curriculum development for teachers, the student Latin American organization, and other outreach activities. It has a faculty governance organization and helps administer the Nason foundation fund. In recent years the center has pursued an active program of research on U.S.-Mexico border policy issues, in cooperation with several universities in Mexico. For further information, contact Neil Harvey at nharvey@nmsu.edu

COMPUTING RESEARCH LABORATORY

The NMSU Computing Research Laboratory (CRL) was established as a Center of Excellence for applications in advanced computing by the New Mexico state legislature. An interdisciplinary laboratory with researchers from several university departments, and its own staff of full-time researchers, CRL's basic research efforts are concentrated on approaches to multilingual processing of natural language texts. Core areas of research include artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, and human-computer interaction. CRL maintains its own computing facilities and provides an advanced development environment. CRL works closely with a variety of federal agencies and private corporations; all CRL's funds come from research grants and contracts. For further information see http://crl.nmsu.edu or e-mail jcowie@crl.nmsu.edu

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

As a land-grant institution, New Mexico State University has a tripartite mission—instruction, research, and extension. The three parts of this mission are closely interrelated and mutually reinforcing. New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service serves a unique role in New Mexico. As the state's land-grant university, and as mandated by its charter, it is the "leading object" for agriculture, home economics, engineering, business, health sciences, as well as educational programs in the liberal arts and natural sciences. NMSU's uniqueness arises from its vision of teaching/learning, research, and extension/outreach functions—interdependent, mutually supportive, and central to its land-grant mission.

The extension aspect of the university's mission is the process of extending the intellectual expertise and resources of the university through teaching and applied research to address the social, civic, economic and environmental challenges and opportunities facing our state, region, nation, and global community. Extension entails an organized and planned program of activities; these activities bring the resources of the university to bear in a coherent and strategic fashion for the benefit of the citizens of New Mexico and the nation.

EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTER (EDRC)

The Education Research Center (EdRC) in the College of Education assists faculty, staff, and students in locating outside funding sources, preparing grant proposals and contracts, and administering and managing funds once they are received.

The EdRC works to build a strong research agenda for the college and participates in interdisciplinary research cluster development across campus. The Education Research Center also serves as the budgeting center for the college, managing operational funds for the Dean's office and all departments. For more information on our services please contact the Director and Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Karin Wiburg at 646-1500 or kwiburg@nmsu.edu

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY LABORATORY

The Electron Microscopy Laboratory located in Skeen Hall is a campuswide imaging facility that provides all levels of technical support for analytical and routine transmission and scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy services. The laboratory offers expertise and training in both physical and biological applications of microscopy, including immunocytochemistry, environmental scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis and mapping, and digital imaging. Major instruments include a Hitachi H-7000 scanning transmission electron microscope, a variable pressure Hitachi S-3200N scanning electron microscope equipped with Thermo-Noran x-ray microanalysis system, a Zeiss Axioplan fluorescence microscope equipped with a CCD camera and an Accu-scope dissecting microscope outfitted with a Nikon Coolpix 5000 digital camera. The laboratory is also equipped with several ultramicrotomes, paraffin rotary microtomes, LKB glass knifemaker, IEC cryotome, Ladd critical point dryer, Denton Vacuum Desk II sputter coater, a Kodak dye sublimation printer, and an Agfa Arcus II flatbed scanner. The facility was established in 1978 and is currently under the administration of the College of Arts and Sciences Research Center. Additional information may be found at http://emldata.nmsu.edu/.

ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER

Research studies in engineering were started at New Mexico State University as early as 1930. The development since World War II has been relatively rapid and, since 1957, with the appointment of a full-time staff, the Engineering Research Center (ERC) has been well established to serve faculty and students as part of the organized research program of the university.

The financial support for ERC research activities comes from state appropriation funds; local, state, and federal agencies; and industry. In 2005, the ERC administered over $82.2 million in open contracts, with research expenditures at $15.5 million for the year. Engineering research programs employ approximately 1,000 students each year. ERC strives to encourage, foster, and promote research, and assist individual research projects in the college. ERC also administers research funds, integrates multidisciplinary research projects, and facilitates the liaisons required with university administrative units and nonuniversity organizations including local, state, and federal agencies.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) supports all facets of NMSU's information technology and provides state-of-the-art resources to students. Students have access to a wide variety of Internet resources, including the high-speed research network and computing facilities ranging from PCs to Unix to mainframes. There are 16 university computer labs with major labs in Jacobs Hall and the Computer Center building, some available every hour every day of the year. Labs are equipped with software for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, statistics, desktop publishing, and more. Laser printers furnish students with high-quality output. The campus network, NMSU Net, interconnects all labs with other computing resources across the campus and around the world, providing students with access to research resources, electronic mail, remote archives, electronic bulletin boards, news groups, and web resources. For further information, contact ICT, MSC 3AT, NMSU, PO Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001; phone (575) 646 - 1840; or send e-mail to help@nmsu.edu NMSU's web home page is located at www.nmsu.edu

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), under the control of the NMSU Board of Regents, is responsible for administering laws and regulations that daily affect the lives of every citizen of the state. These laws and regulations (concerning the production, preparation, processing, sale, and use of agricultural products; weights and measures; and petroleum products) are designed to assist producers, processors, and consumers. NMDAs marketing program provides guidance to commodity groups in the promotion of agricultural products. A broad consumer service in many areas other than agriculture is provided by the department. NMDAs director is New Mexico's secretary of agriculture and serves on the governor's cabinet as a liaison between state government and the agricultural industry. For further information, e-mail: pv@nmda.nmsu.edu NMDAs web site is at http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu.

NEW MEXICO WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) at NMSU, established in 1963, was one of the first of 54 water institutes in the United States. The WRRI program encompasses all state universities in New Mexico and public agencies sponsoring water research. The institute serves as a coordinator, assisting researchers in obtaining funds, working with granting agencies, and serving as the administrator for projects. The annual budget of approximately $1 million is made available from federal, state, and/or private sources through a variety of grants and contracts. All research projects administered by the institute encourage graduate student participation. As a result, about 60 students a year receive scientific training through institute-sponsored projects. WRRI also sponsors the Annual New Mexico Water Conference, which has provided a public forum for state water issues since 1956. Public participation helps the institute focus its research program on areas of greatest need. The WRRI publishes research results of every project it administers and other miscellaneous reports. The WRRI also maintains a water resources library of more than 10,000 water-related documents on water issues facing New Mexico. E-mail may be sent to nmwrri@wrri.nmsu.edu. The WRRIs home page address is http://wrri.nmsu.edu/.

NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

The NMSU Library has research collections of over 1.7 million volumes and global access to research materials it does not own through its document delivery services.

The total library budget exceeds $6.6 million. http://lib.nmsu.edu/index.shtml

OAK RIDGE ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM (ORAU)

Since 1991, students and faculty of New Mexico State University benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of 98 colleges and universities and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.

Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOA facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, as well as faculty enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines including business, earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science- and engineering-related disciplines. A comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the ORISE Catalog of Education and Training Programs, which is available at http://www.orau.gov/orise/educ.htm, or by calling either of the contacts below.

ORAU's Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU's members, private industry, and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, consortium research funding initiatives, faculty research and support programs as well as services to chief research officers.

For more information about ORAU and its programs, contact:

Vimal Chaitanya
Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and International Programs
ORAU Councilor for New Mexico State University

Monnie E. Champion
ORAU Corporate Secretary (865-576-3306); or

Visit the ORAU Home Page (http://www.orau.org)