Forensic Biotechnology Institute open house Nov. 13

Forensic Biotechnology InstituteThe Forensic Biotechnology Institute of California (FBIC) at California State University, Fresno is holding an open house at its new facility from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.

The 20,500-square-foot facility is at 908 N. Temperance Ave. on the campus of the Clovis Research and Technology Park in Clovis and also houses the Agriculture and Priority Pollutants Laboratories (APPL).

Established in 2007 by the College of Science and Mathematics at Fresno State, the FBIC teaches and conducts research in biological sciences and technology emphasizing forensic applications.

The FBIC also provides technical leadership to law enforcement and criminal justice professionals by applying advancements in biotechnology to the law, said Dr. Kevin Miller, Fresno State assistant professor of chemistry and criminology who is director of the FBIC.

The APPL is a certified, full-service analytical chemistry laboratory with a staff of more than 55 scientists that has been producing scientifically valid and defensible data for more than 25 years. Each laboratory section has redundant instrumentation for faster turnaround time for large sample delivery groups.

“APPL not only leads its industry, it innovates,” Miller explained. “APPL scientists work to the highest quality standards on the latest instrumentation and can deliver price competitive compliant electronic data to their customers in more than 30 different formats.

One of the most recent technological advancements at APPL is the addition of high-resolution mass spectrophotometer for detecting trace organic compounds, including dioxins, furans and PCB congeners.

“We are very fortunate to be able to provide our graduate students in science and technology with quality research experiences within a successful industrial framework such as APPL,” Miller said. “Our students don’t just read about the business of science in the classroom – thanks to APPL, the business is their classroom.”

For more information, contact Miller at 559.278.4223.