Performing Department
Agricultural Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Developing applicable knowledge of general analytical instruments is essential for students majoring in Food and Agricultural Sciences. However, the basic analytical training in the current Food Science curriculum at FVSU does not adequately prepare graduates to join the workforces in highly competitive and demanding food and agricultural fields. Hence, developing applicable knowledge of advanced analytical instruments is essential to students in Food and Agricultural Science. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to enhance the Food and Agricultural Sciences in the minority institutions by providing more practical applications in curriculums, and opportunities to initiate frontier research areas in Food and Agricultural sciences. The specific objectives are to enhance existing analytical capacity in Food and Agricultural Sciences for education and research; to train undergraduate and graduate students, as well as interested faculty members, for conducting advanced research with a highly sophisticated and sensitive analytical instrument (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry; LC/MS); and, to promote potential research collaborations with profit or nonprofit organizations. Initially, knowledge-based analytical skills of minority students will be broadened because the students will learn the principles of LC/MS and develop hands-on experiences in analysis of nonvolatile health-promoting compounds. Students will conduct research on a new, emerging area in Food and Agricultural Sciences. Such outcomes will generate highly qualified, underserved minority students in competitive and demanding Food and Agricultural areas, as well as increasing opportunities for students to work on advanced research and professional careers.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
30%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
Developing applicable knowledge of advanced analytical instruments is essential to students in Food and Agricultural Science. The overall goal of this proposal is to enhance the Food (Animal Products) Technology program in Agricultural Sciences at Fort Valley State University (FVSU) by providing more practical applications in curriculums, and opportunities to initiate frontier research areas in Food and Agricultural sciences. The specific objectives are to enhance existing analytical capacity in Food an Agricultural Sciences for education and research; to train undergraduate and graduate students, as well as interested faculty members, for conducting advanced research with a highly sophisticated and sensitive analytical instrument (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry; LC/MS); and, to promote potential research collaborations with profit or nonprofit organizations.
Project Methods
Objective 1)-purchasing a modern LC/MS system to enhance existing analytical capacity for education and research: A suitable LC/MS system for teaching and research will be purchased for a reasonable price. The selected vender will properly install the instrument. Subsequently, the vender will train the PI and other interested faculty members. Initially, the PI who has experience in chromatography and mass spectrometry will operate the LC/MS and develop methods for analyzing functional compounds in Food and Agricultural products produced in the Agricultural Research Station at FVSU. Finally, the PI and Co-PI will develop the protocols for analyzing phytochemicals from different biological matrixes, which are cultivated or produced at our agricultural facilities. Objective 2) and 3)-training undergraduate and graduate students, as well as interested faculty members, for conducting advanced research with the newly purchased LC/MS; and enhancing the potential of research collaborations with and 3): After the instrument is operating smoothly, the PI will train students enrolled in various courses, including Analytical Techniques in Biological Sciences, Food Analysis, or Food Chemistry. These analytical related courses, particularly laboratory portions will be reformatted to incorporate problem-based learning and cooperative learning methods that will provide advantages to students compared to passive, conventional teaching approaches students often encounter. To incorporate these learning concepts into the analytical related courses, it will prepare students to graduate with skills that will correspond with common expectations of the food and agricultural industry. Reformatted laboratory parts in the courses will be divided into two sequential parts such as development and evaluation of instrument standard operating procedures and a real-world research project. The first two-thirds of semester will be used for standard operating procedures developments and evaluations followed by the rest of semester for the research project. The courses will conclude with written and oral project reports. Hence, the students will gain experience in the complete process of performing an analysis with an advanced analytical instrument starting with identifying the problem, collecting samples, conducting sample workup and pretreatment, making measurements, analyzing data, and validating the results. A LC/MS workshop also will be held in the Agricultural Research Station at FVSU to train interested faculty and graduate students for using the LC/MS for their research. According to this training schedule, all undergraduate and graduate students in the college of agriculture will have a chance to be trained with the LC/MS system, as well as faculty members. Consequently, the Animal and Food Science department at FVSU will have more opportunities to collaborate with other departments and universities, as well as private companies and government agencies.