Sustainable Laboratory Certified Labs

Our lab focuses on understanding idiosyncratic export proteins. Right now, our projects revolve around exporters of two different toxic ions: fluoride and guanidinium. We have four big questions: what do they look like, how do they work, how did they evolve, and what is their biological role? We use a breadth of biochemical and biophysical techniques, including electrophysiology, membrane protein biochemistry, x-ray crystallography, and macromolecular NMR. We also employ molecular biology and biochemical techniques involving gel and protein work. Working on these novel systems generates different types of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, which are disposed of adhering to U-M EHS guidelines.

As a new lab, we had a unique opportunity to establish a culture of sustainability in our work in the Stockbridge lab. Joining the Sustainable Lab Program helped us to implement best practices and promote environmentally sound research. Our involvement in the program has been a rewarding experience, concluding in our recognition as a Gold sustainable lab.

Chris Macdonald, Lab Sustainability Liason

Our lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms that define how the combinatorial logic of histone modifications and its dynamic interactions with histone binding proteins encodes stable and heritable patterns of gene expression.  We take multidisciplinary perspective that synthesizes genetics, biochemistry, and biophysical approaches to capture cellular processes across different spatial and temporal regimes. The techniques employ include PCR, CHIP, Cell lysis system, qPCR, Microscopy etc., Hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated in our lab is disposed of adhering to U-M EHS guidelines.

By joining the Sustainable Lab Program we have learned how to reduce, reuse and recycle things in the lab and we will implement all these in our laboratory. The Sustainable Lab Program helped us to become an environmentally friendly research lab and strongly recommend to others”.  Gulzhan Raiymbek, Safety Liaison

This is the ChE 460 Unit Operations II lab. The focus of the laboratory is the production and purification of biodiesel from soybean or algal oil as well as the exploration of recycle and reuse of excess reactants.  Students use large quantities of solvents.  Students use analytical techniques such as gas chromatography and UV-Vis spectroscopy to analyze their samples.  They use other lab equipment for sample preparation.  Hazardous and solid waste generated from this lab is disposed of following U-M EHS guidelines. 

“In our ChE 460, Unit Operations II course, students are focusing on pilot-plant scale experimentation.  For a sustainable lab, we are trying to focus on waste minimization with reuse of glassware and use of “greener” solvents.  In the general overview of biodiesel production, students examine distillation as a way to recycle excess methanol in the pilot plant system.  Since students are using hazardous chemicals and solvents, safety and proper waste disposal is always a major focus.”  Dr. Chris Barr, Undergraduate Laboratory Supervisor, Chemical Engineering

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules bind to intracellular peptides and present these peptides to cytotoxic T cells, which recognize and kill virus-infected cells and tumor cells. HLA class I molecules also regulate the functional activities of natural killer (NK) cells of the immune response. Our laboratory studies the assembly pathways of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. The HLA class I genes are among the most polymorphic of human genes, and these genes were determinants of life and death prior to the availability of modern medical interventions. We study how genetic variations in HLA class I affect the biology of HLA class I assembly in the cell, and the resulting influences upon disease outcomes. We also study mechanisms of protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of cells, and their dysregulation in disease. A better understanding of these fundamental cellular and molecular processes will allow more targeted approaches to treatments of infectious diseases, cancers and protein misfolding diseases.  

"Strong environmental, health and safety management (EHS) is critical to all laboratory research, including our own. Now, more than ever, it is important to do what we can to conserve energy and protect the environment. Many small changes in laboratory practices can have a large impact on the environment. For example, the use of Gel Red instead of Ethidium Bromide improves environmental safety. By joining the Sustainable Lab program, our laboratory has increased awareness about the most environmentally healthy and safe lab practices, which will help towards the preservation and sustenance of our planet for future generations." - Stephanie Mrowczynski