Photo Caption:
	Kevin Range, Brent May, Steve Coval and Zak Hossain examine the chemistry department’s new R.A.P.I.D. machine donated by the LHU Foundation and alumnus Todd Ritter.

LHU receives contribution to
Chemistry Department

New machine will enable students to identify biological agents

June 7, 2012

The Lock Haven University Foundation presented the LHU Chemistry Department with a R.A.P.I.D. Bio-Detection System after receiving the machine as a contribution from Idaho Technology Inc. and LHU Alumnus Todd Ritter. The machine, a Ruggedized Advanced Pathogen Identification Device, is a portable real-time PCR system designed to identify biological agents including anthrax, smallpox, salmonella, and more. It has the ability to test 32 samples in less than 30 minutes.

Dr. Zak Hossain, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Brent May, associate professor of chemistry and chair of the department; Dr. Stephen Coval, associate professor of chemistry; and Dr. Kevin Range, associate professor of chemistry accepted the machine on behalf of the Lock Haven University Chemistry Department. 

The machine will be utilized in classes and provide students with the opportunity to work with the same machine used by the United State Department of Defense and other militaries around the world.  The R.A.P.I.D. Bio-Detection System will be a valuable piece of technology for Lock Haven University’s Science Center and the Chemistry Department.   

Todd Ritter, a 1986 Bio-Chemistry graduate of Lock Haven University, played an instrumental role in securing the contribution from his former employer, Idaho Technology Inc.  He plans to return to his alma mater to train the chemistry department faculty on using the R.A.P.I.D. system.

The Lock Haven University Foundation administers approximately 200 individual scholarships for students at the university. Applicants are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the Foundation’s website, www.lhufoundation.org, or by contacting the Foundation at the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center, 10 Susquehanna Avenue, Lock Haven, PA 17745.

Lock Haven University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 405,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

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