Research Facilities

College Research Facilities

William C. and Ruth Ann Dewel Microscopy Facility

The William C. and Ruth Ann Dewel Microscopy Facility serves undergraduate, graduate students and faculty at Appalachian State University offering a wide variety of services in light and electron microscopy and image analysis. The CAS Microscopy Facility supports both research and teaching, and provides instruction and assistance on the use of state of the art imaging equipment.

College of Arts & Sciences Vivarium

The College of Arts & Sciences is committed to providing the Appalachian academic community with a safe, clean, humane, and efficient Animal Resource Facility. For information on the scope of activities, please consult the Vivarium Facility User’s Manual (274 KB, PDF).

Computation & Visualization Lab

The Visualization Lab is an interdisciplinary computer lab which provides high-end processing and graphic rendering capabilities in support of education, research and outreach activities. The lab is located on the second floor of Rankin Science West.

Dark Sky Observatory

Appalachian State University's Dark Sky Observatory is the research facility used by faculty and their students to conduct observational research in astrophysics. It is equipped with four telescopes, each used regularly for CCD imaging and photometry, with spectrographic instrumentation also available at the 32-inch.

Rankin Observatory

Rankin Observatory is the instructional facility on the main App State campus and is used for teaching advanced undergraduate astronomy courses in observational techniques. The RSO is next to the rooftop GoTo Lab Facility, used in Introductory Astronomy courses.

I.W. Carpenter, Jr. Herbarium

The Herbarium at App State contains approximately 29,000 specimens. The three main functions of the facility are teaching, maintenance of vouchers and development of a research herbarium with a focus on the flora of the Southern Appalachians.

Greenhouse

The Biology Department maintains the Greenhouse and Conservatory which supports a wide variety of outreach, teaching, basic and applied research efforts and holds more than 800 species across more than 100 families in plant inventory.

Other Research Labs

In addition to the Microscopy Lab and Vivarium, members of the science faculty maintain their own individual labs for research, usually involving both graduate and undergraduate students.

Grants & Research News

Dr. Adam McKay, assistant professor in the Appalachian State University Department of Physics and Astronomy

Dr. Adam McKay contributes to new study identifying heterogeneous outgassing regions on distant solar system object

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Adam McKay, assistant professor in the Appalachian State University Department of Physics and Astronomy, is the co-author of a new...

The App State student recipients of 2024–25 North Carolina Space Grants, from left to right: junior Cooper Brown, senior Hailey Church and senior Cade Tischer. Photos submitted

3 App State students awarded NC Space Grants to conduct STEM research

BOONE, N.C. — Three Appalachian State University students have received North Carolina Space Grants to conduct science, technology, engineering and ...

Carla Ramsdell, practitioner-in-residence in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and sustainability liaison for the College of Arts and Sciences, in the SPICE Lab. Photo submitted

Carla Ramsdell debuts Sustainable Physics-Inspired Culinary Education Lab

BOONE, N.C. — Carla Ramsdell, practitioner-in-residence in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and sustainability liaison for the College of Art...

Dr. Brooke Christian '05, associate professor in Appalachian State University's Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) Award. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Dr. Brooke Christian '05 receives NSF RUI award to study biomolecule stabilization

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Brooke Christian '05, associate professor in Appalachian State University's Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, is ...

Research in the College

The College of Arts and Sciences understands the value of research for our students and faculty. We support, encourage and aid our students and faculty in their research and scholarly pursuits. For more information about research through individual departments, please visit each department website