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Needs Statement & Project Scope

Needs Statement

Laboratory experimentalists need a way to conduct high throughput measurements of phase separation over wide temperature ranges using only small sample volumes to be able to construct 2D phase diagrams with fewer laboratory resources.

Project Scope

Current experimental measures of phase separation are conducted one sample at a time and require at least 150 μL of sample solution per measurement. The client, the Pappu Lab, needs a device that allows for high throughput testing of phase separation using small sample volumes on a SRALS machine with a static laser light source and static detector. Since construction of 2D, temperature-dependent phase diagrams is the desired outcome, the client needs a motorized sample stage with a built in temperature gradient. It is important to deliver a prototype that works with small sample volumes drawn from a well plate in which the samples would be prepared. The prototype should also be compatible with current laboratory SRALS set up and data collection software. The goal is to deliver a functional device by April 24, 2020 that would eliminate wasted time from repeated sample preparation between measurements and wasted samples due to current high volume measurement needs.

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