SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES & BIOMATERIALS CAPABILITIES:

BIOCHEMISTRY​

• Development of novel cell-free systems for biological threat assessments and engineering of cell-free systems for use in field-forward settings.​
• Biological, bio-inspired, and bio-enabled materials research and development.​
• Deployment of synthetic biological detection and identification methods using cell-free systems.​
• Test and evaluation of olfactory detection using working dogs.​

​BIODEFENSE​

• Chemical and biological agent enzymatic and vaporous hydrogen peroxide decontamination.​
• Detection by immunological, genetic, or physical means.​
• Biomarker discovery with a full suite of primary tissue culture, organ-on-a-chip systems and tandem mass spectrometry follow-on analysis (proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics)​.
• Full range of bioinformatic analysis of large data sets (sequencing and mass spectrometry data). LIMS management and creation.​
• Advanced development of far forward capabilities (i.e., sequencing, stand-off detection, mobile mass spectrometry)​.

SENSORS, SIGNATURES & AEROSOL TECHNOLOGIES

• CB sensor design, development and integration from breadboard to prototype​.
• Develop and implement algorithms for signal processing, image analysis, and machine learning of multivariate data from the lab and field​.
• Model, characterize, and evaluate theoretical and operational sensor performance.
• Aerosol Research to characterize environmental backgrounds, transport & dispersion, degradation, deposition and re-aerosolization.  ​
• Aerosol experimentation, generation, and referee methodology/tech development​.
• Developmental testing, evaluation and assessment of aerosol detectors and collectors.

SPECTROSCOPY

• State-of-the art Raman Chemical Imaging capability​.
• On-demand inkjet printing capability of explosives, polymers, and other materials on a variety of surfaces​.
• Design, develop, and test spectroscopy based detection systems from breadboard to prototype​.
• Design, develop, and test active standoff detection hardware, software, and algorithms.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

• Full spectrum of biotechnology capabilities ranging from cell and molecular biology and including upstream bioprocess optimization to downstream processing (isolation, extraction, separation, cell disruption, purification, drying, milling).​
• Production of biologically derived material and evaluation of new technology and methodologies.​
• Fail-safe cryoprepository and database capability in curating, storing and shipping biological materials to support DOD and collaborator’s unique needs.

DETECTION SPECTROMETRY​

• Expertise in the areas of ion molecule reactions, signal processing, detector-to-computer interfacing, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), and biological detection.​
• CWA and NTA vapor generation and quantification​.
• Rapid prototyping of novel chemical sensors​.
• Machine learning based bioinformatic and chemometric analysis and algorithm development. ​
• Research, develop, and operationalize machine learning models and advanced algorithms for CB detection technologies. ​
• Develop and implement cloud agnostic CBRNe detector data pipelines. 

BIOMANUFACTURING​

• Optimization of growth and fermentation of engineered strains transferred to DEVCOM CBC to produce DOD-relevant titers, biomass, and yields of targeted molecules prior to transitioning to pilot scale fermentation facility.​
• Optimization of bench-scale chemical separations prior to large scale down-stream processing (isolation, extraction, separation, cell disruption, purification, drying, milling). CWA and NTA vapor generation and quantification​.
• Pilot scale fermentation, up to 1000 liter, and associated down-stream processing for biochemical and biomaterial production.​
• Fail-safe cryorepository and database capability in curating, storing and shipping biomanufacturing strains to support the DOD. ​
• Responsible for scaling up maturing bio-products of interest to the DOD. The focus areas include producing precursors or ingredients for energetics, armors, textiles and coatings, and optical materials.