Felician University continues to successfully deal with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Classes were quickly moved online and students, faculty, and staff continue to work together to accept the new normal with few interruptions. But Felician, much like other institutions of higher learning, in fact, like much of the rest of New Jersey, needed some happy news.

For Felician, that news came in the form of a $10,000 grant from the Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grant, or Pittcon Grant Program. Felician plans to use the grant money to buy Fluorescence Spectroscopy units (mini fluorimeters) for its Chemistry labs. If that doesn’t sound like such a big deal, think again. Because while a Fluorescence Spectroscopy unit might sound like something a science loving teen wants for Christmas, it’s actually important scientific equipment – an instrument used in biochemical, medical, and chemical research fields for analyzing organic compounds. In other words, something that is crucial for a University science student. That’s why winning the grant was a major goal and a very big deal for Felician University, in only its second try at applying for the grant. The competition was stiff with 48 applications submitted. In fact, Felician Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Alfredo Castro was beginning to doubt that, “this was going to be successful, because it took Pittcon more than four months to evaluate the proposal, which is most unusual.” But the second time proved the charm and Felician’s persistence paid off big time.

Dr. Castro co-wrote the grant application with Felician Assistant Chemistry Professor Dr. Balwant Chohan. Both professors speak modestly and appreciatively about winning the grant but can barely hide their excitement about what having these particular pieces of equipment in their University chemistry lab can and will mean, for students, their research, and their futures.

The professors say the instruments will be used to conduct experiments on anti-freeze, quinine water, and the chlorophyll in spinach. Felician chemistry students are even more ahead of the academic game because the Fluorescence Spectroscopy Units are something many students don’t even see until graduate school. Professor Chohan says the units will give students hands-on experience and because they are low-power and low-maintenance they will allow Felician to, “deploy multiple units, and every student will get to spend time with the units and we won’t have to line up thirty deep in order to use the instrument.”

Dr. Castro added, “We are committed to providing a rigorous up-to-date lab application at Felician, and this financial support is going to allow us to buy analytical equipment that will greatly enhance our curriculum. We want our students to be prepared for what lies ahead, be it graduate school or medical school, they need to have good skills, and their skills need to be honed in the use of instrumentation so that they are more prepared.”

Dr. George Abaunza, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, who provided a letter of support as part of the grant application, shared his enthusiasm: “The School of Arts & Sciences is committed to supporting our science courses and grant awards that enhance our degree programs, develop our faculty, and encourage student-centered learning and research. The acquisition of this new equipment will allow our faculty to do what they know best – engage our students in collaborative active learning experiences.”

Soon the Chemistry professors will shop for, and purchase, the Fluorescence Spectroscopy units for Felician. Dr Chohan put it well when he said, “Hopefully this virus will disappear soon and we can get those students back on campus to use this equipment.”

That’s something all of us, not just chemistry students and professors at Felician University can agree with.

# # #

About Felician University

Felician University engages over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult students through programs in Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. Universal Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University’s education is ranked 3rd best return on investment for private colleges in New Jersey 2018 by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and is ranked #1 safest college campus in the state by niche.com.