Approval of the use of USDA grant funds to purchase the Agilent 5200 Fragment Analyzer for use by faculty, staff, and students in the College of Agriculture, Community and the Sciences.

Aquaculture is the Program of Distinction at KSU and is one of the top Aquaculture programs in the United States. Molecular biology tools using either DNA or RNA are now often used for determining genetic relationships among fish, as well as determining how the environment and other organisms affect the health and production of fish species. Dr. James Tidwell and Ms. Janelle Hager were awarded a $740,000 grant from the highly competitive USDA NIFA program, Agriculture Microbiomes. To accomplish the objectives of this grant's project, the College of Agriculture, Community and the Sciences is requesting permission to use USDA grant funds to purchase an Agilent 5200 Fragment Analyzer for conducting DNA/RNA analyses at KSU. This device would be available for use by all research groups at the University. This equipment would also allow students to receive training on these new advanced technologies, thus supporting efforts to make students ready for the workforce.

The College of Agriculture, Community and the Sciences is requesting permission to use $68,594.08 in Federal USDA Research Grant funds to purchase the Agilent 5200 Fragment Analyzer for use by faculty, staff, and students at KSU. By allowing the University to analyze samples on campus instead of through private entities, the Fragment Analyzer will lower the cost per sample for analyses.

Interim President Ronald A. Johnson recommends that the Board of Regents approve purchase of the Agilent 5200 Fragment Analyzer.

Approve the use of USDA funds for the purchase of an Agilent 5200 Fragment Analyzer.