USU is home to a wide variety of core facilities that enable world-class research across disciplines.
The Utah State University Analytical Laboratories (USUAL) provides testing and analysis services for soil, animal feed, manure, plant tissue, and irrigation/livestock water.
Biology Department
The Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab studies the physical, chemical, and biological processes that affect water quality in streams and rivers. This is important because clean water is an ecosystem service upon which life depends. Water in the Intermountain West is an increasingly threatened resource. The lab's work aims to understand and protect healthy freshwater ecosystems.
Agricultural Experiment Station
Supporting agricultural and life science research with advanced instrumentation for genomics, genotyping, mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, GC-MS and GC environmental gas analysis), flow cytometry, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), and bioinformatics. The CIB serves as a collaborative hub for core lab services, biotechnology training, and interdisciplinary research.
Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
The Magnetic Resonance Facility, situated within the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry features a 11.7 Tesla Bruker Ascend 500 Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (FT-NMR) Spectrometer with 24 sample autosampler as well as a Bruker continuous wave X-band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectrometer configured for N2 & He cryogenic measurements. These instruments support research in Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geochemistry and Materials Characterization.
Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
Chemistry Stores provides convenient, on-campus lab supplies while servicing the entire Utah State University Community.
Utah Water Research Lab
Specializes in environmental and water quality research (chemical and microbiological), including air pollutant behavior and emissions, stormwater management, and treatment of drinking water, wastewater, and biosolids. It also supports laboratory and field studies on emerging contaminant fate and transport through soil, water, and air, bioremediation, and development of new materials for contaminate remediation.
Agricultural Experiment Station
Provides high resolution spectral flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) services using the BD FACSDiscover S8 in a biosafety cabinet. Supports cell imaging at interrogation and gating based on visual parameters (allowing for cell-cell interaction, protein localization, and other complex assays) in addition to cell cycle analysis, cell line characterization, semi-sterile sorting (6-way, index, and other custom options) and other traditional applications.
Agricultural Experiment Station
Provides advanced DNA and RNA sequencing services using Illumina MiSeq i100 and NextSeq 2000 platforms, along with traditional sequencing and fragment analysis. Additional capabilities include quantification, size selection, and quality assessment to support genomic research for campus and external investigators.
Agricultural Experiment Station
Offers high-throughput genotyping and real-time PCR services using Fluidigm BioMark™ and Illumina MiSeq systems, supporting applications such as SNP analysis, digital PCR, and gene expression profiling. Specialized services include bovine MHC typing and consultation for custom genetic study design and data interpretation.
Geosciences Department
Specializing in luminescence dating techniques used in geomorphology and archaeology to determine the burial age of sediments. Equipped with advanced TL/OSL readers, it analyzes quartz and feldspar minerals to measure radiation exposure and reconstruct depositional histories.
Utah Water Research Lab
Builds and tests large-scale physical models, evaluates pipeline controls and flow meters to assess complex hydraulic behaviors associated with spillways, energy dissipation, device performance, fish passage, erosion, and sedimentation. With advanced instrumentation, computational fluid dynamics capabilities and flow capacities exceeding 200 cfs, it supports high-precision simulations for water infrastructure design and environmental research.
Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
Offering analytical instrumentation and repair services, including GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC, UV-VIS, and peptide synthesis systems, supporting a wide range of biochemical and molecular research. The Instrument Repair Shop provides maintenance and service for research equipment.
Biology Department
USU’s MicroCT Facility uses X-rays to view the internal structure of solid objects non-destructively. Images can be analyzed to create 3D digital models of anatomical features or artifacts, to capture shape change, or manufacturing defects.
Office of Research
Providing scanning electron microscopy with EDS/EBSD capabilities, optical microscopy, and sample preparation tools for high-resolution imaging and analysis. Services include project consultation, user training, and fee-based microscopy support for research across disciplines.
Agricultural Experiment Station
Provides advanced analytical services for protein discovery, disease and environmental research, and small molecule identification using mass spectrometry, chromatography, and chemical separation techniques. Supports targeted and untargeted analysis for proteomics, metabolomics, and compound identification/verification.
Geosciences Department
Performing natural-abundance stable isotope analyses of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen in a wide range of materials using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). It supports research in geochemistry, geology, hydrology, and environmental science through precise measurements of isotopic composition.
Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice
WebAIM’s mission is to expand the potential of the web for people with disabilities by empowering individuals and organizations to create accessible content. WebAIM provides accessibility training, consulting, research, and testing tools.