**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED TOPURCHASE A BAROCYCLER 2320EXT MANUFACTURED BYPRESSURE BIOSCIENCES, INC., SOUTH EASTON, MA 02375. THE BENCH TOP INSTRUMENT USES THE PRESSURE CYCLING TECHNOLOGY (PCT) MICROTUBES. THE PCT PLATFORM ALLOWS FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF SAFETY, SPEED, REPRODUCIBILITY, AND CONVENIENCE IN MODERN SAMPLE PREPARATION PROTOCOLS.THE INSTRUMENT WILL BE USED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY NIFA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AT1890 UNIVERSITIES. THESE PROJECTS AIMS TO ADVANCE THE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF PLANT REPRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN TOMATOES, AND ROOT DEVELOPMENT UNDER SOIL STRESS FOR SWITCHGRASS;TO IDENTIFYNEW MOLECULAR TOOLS (SUCH AS SMALL PEPTIDES) FOR IMPROVING NITROGEN FIXATION EFFICIENCY IN LEGUMES;AND TO DEVELOP NEW WAYS (SUCH AS THE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS, AND PLANT-BASED MATERIALS) FOR EXTENDING SHELF LIFE OF FRAGILE FRUITS SUCH AS STRAWBERRIES.FUNDING THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW 1890FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES IN THE EXTRACTION OF BIOMOLECULES (DNA,RNA, PROTEINS, METABOLITES) FROM SMALL AMOUNT OF TISSUE SAMPLES.THE INSTRUMENT WILL ALSO BE USED BY UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS TO CONDUCT CAPSTONE PROJECTS/THESIS/DISSERTATION PROJECTS. THECURRENT TSU RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IS COMPRISED OF SETS OF INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CONDUCTING THEBAROCYCLER 2320EXT ENABLED RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE INSTALLATION OF THE INSTRUMENT WILL IMMEDIATELY IMPROVETHE EFFICIENCYOF CONDUCTING 3-5 ONGOINGRESEARCH PROJECTS IN THE PI'S LABS.THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: 1)PROVIDING THE CAPACITY FOR TSU FACULTY TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE, IN PARTICULARLY FOR PROJECTS INVOLVING IDENTIFICATION OF TRAIT-RELATED GENES AND BIOMARKERS FROM SINGLE CELL/SINGLE CELL TYPE TISSUES, AND TARGETED ANALYSIS FROM COMPLEX BIOLOGICAL TISSUES SAMPLES,2)A MORE EFFECTIVE PLATFORM TO SUPPORT STUDENT RESEARCH AND LEARNING.