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MISSION AND ORGANIZATION
The mission of the Beckman Institute is to invent methods, instrumentation and materials that will open new avenues for fundamental research in the chemical and biological sciences, and to provide technological support for these efforts. The Beckman Institute strives to provide the kind of environment and support that will foster the initiation and early development of research thrusts too innovative or too "high-risk" for the regular sources of research support in government and industry. Activities within the Beckman Institute will be characterized by their promise of significant technological advances in fundamental fields of biology, chemistry and related sciences. The new knowledge that results will ultimately lead to great practical benefits for society and mankind. The Beckman Institute will also further the educational mission of Caltech by actively involving students in its activities.
The Beckman Institute operates as a cross-divisional research facility
and research-facilitating organization within Academic Operations of the
California Institute of Technology. Policy and program decisions are made
by the Director, currently Dr. Barbara Wold, in conjunction with the Beckman
Institute Executive Committee (BIXC), which consists of the chairpersons
of the Chemistry & Chemical Engineering and Biology Divisions plus
additional faculty members.
The BIXC Members:
RESOURCE CENTERS AND FACILITIES
To achieve its objectives, the framers of the Beckman Institute Charter created the concept of "Resource Center". The Resource Centers are the major programs housed within the Beckman Institute building. Each has a tripartite mission within its particular area of research focus:
• to carry out cutting-edge research
• to advance research capabilities by means of the invention and development of new methods, instrumentation and materials
• to establish, maintain and operate a user-friendly facility relevant and available to a broad cross-section of the research community, particularly at Caltech.
There are seven Resource Centers housed within and partly supported by the Beckman Institute. In addition, the Beckman Institute supports a number of programs which are more appropriately classed as Facilities, whose main function is the provision and operation of instrumentation and methodologies that are essential to a broad cross-section of research activity in the chemical and biological sciences at Caltech. These facilities are frequently engaged in technology development as well, but have much less emphasis on basic research than do the Resource Centers.
The Resource Centers and Facilities, along with the names of their directors,
are listed below. A Beckman Institute catalog describes the activities, capablities and services
available in the Resource Centers and the Facilities, as well as contact information.
More details may be found on individual Web sites where links are shown.
• BIOLOGICAL IMAGING CENTER: Scott E. Fraser, PI, Rosen Professor of Biology.
• BIOMOLECULAR DESIGN CENTER: Jacqueline K. Barton, co-PI, Hanish Memorial Professor; Peter B. Dervan, co-PI, Bren Professor of Chemistry.
• LASER SPECTROSCOPY CENTER: Harry B. Gray, PI, Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry, Founding Director of the Beckman Institute.
• MASS SPECTROSCOPY CENTER: Jesse L. Beauchamp, PI, Professor of Chemistry.
• MOLECULAR MATERIALS RESEARCH CENTER: Nathan Lewis, PI, Argyros Professor of Chemistry; Dr. Bruce S. Brunschwig, Director.
• CENTER FOR COMPUTATIONAL REGULATORY GENOMICS: Eric Davidson, PI, Chandler Professor of Cell Biology; Dr. Andrew Cameron, Director.
•PROTEOME EXPLORATION LABORATORY: Raymond Deshaies, PI, Associate Professor of Biology; Dr. Sonja Hess, Director.
•BIOLOGICAL NETWORK MODELING CENTER: John Doyle, co-PI, Braun Professor of Control and Dynamic Systems; Elliot Meyerowitz, co-PI, Beadle Professor of Biology; Dr. Michael Hucka and Dr. Bruce Shapiro, co-Directors.
•ELECTRON MICROSCOPY RESOURCE CENTER:Grant J. Jensen, PI, Assistant Professor of Biology; Dr. Alasdair W. McDowall, Director.
• PROTEIN EXPRESSION CENTER: Dr. Jost Vielmetter, Director.
• PROTEIN/PEPTIDE MICRO ANALYTICAL LABORATORY (Biopolymer Analysis Facility): Director TBA.
• FLOW CYTOMETRY/CELL SORTING FACILITY: Dr. Ellen Rothenberg, Director.
• X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY FACILITY: Dr. Michael Day, Director.
PUBLIC SPACE
The Beckman Institute has several venues suitable for classes, seminars
and conferences. The largest of these rooms is the Beckman Institute Auditorium
which has a capacity of 200 and is equipped with built-in LCD projector, viewing screen (for overheads, slides and video), and blackboards. There are several smaller seminar rooms. The inner courtyard, known as the Glanville Courtyard,
is generally used in conjunction with one or both of the archway areas for outdoor events such as receptions.