2026-28 Laboratory and University Core Facility Research Equipment Program

Offered by the Office of Research

Past recipients

Synopsis and Key Dates

Type I, for equipment with allowed costs up to $100,000 from the Office of Research.

Matching funds are not required but supplemental funds are allowed by any combination of funds from supporting Colleges, Schools, Departments, or individuals to support facility/utility upgrades or extended warranties and service contracts. A maximum of $100,000 will be awarded by the Office of Research.
Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with your College’s Associate Dean for Research (ADR) or Discovery Park District (DPD) research contact (for cores within DPD) regarding critical need for equipment for advancing research including similar equipment availability, any supplemental funds that will be included, potential users, accessibility/maintenance plans, and space/facility needs. Discussions must occur prior to the deadline below for the application to be eligible.
Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with the approved Academic Facilities Representative regarding space and supporting infrastructure needs (including but not limited to adequate space in expected location, vent hoods/exhaust, electrical connections, water, accessibility for placement of the equipment, adequate path for equipment into the location including any additional needs for cranes or other items for placement, etc.). Discussions must occur prior to the deadline below for the application to be eligible.
Discussions with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative must be completed by 5 pm ET on Friday, September 4, 2026. Consideration should be given to applications that involve more than one college/unit/core for the discussion to include all needed parties. Only those on the list should be contacted for these discussions. Applicants that fail to complete these discussions on time will be rejected.
Applications are due by 5 pm ET on Monday, September 21, 2026. Applicants will note confirmation of discussions with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative within the InfoReady system. Applications will also be shared with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative.
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions no later than January 2027.
Funds should be spent or encumbered by June 30, 2027. Any unused funds will be reclaimed on July 1, 2027.

Type II, for equipment with allowed costs between $100,001 and $1,000,000.

Matching funds are REQUIRED for at least one-third (1/3) of the allowed costs within the range above. A maximum of two-third (2/3) of $1,000,000 will be from Office of Research funds (i.e., $666,667).
Supplemental funds are allowed by any combination of funds from supporting Colleges, Schools, Departments, or individuals to support costs above $1,000,000.
A Mandatory Preliminary Concept Summary is required. Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with your College’s Associate Dean for Research (ADR) or Discovery Park District (DPD) research contact (for cores within DPD) regarding critical need for equipment for advancing research including similar equipment availability, any supplemental funds that will be included, potential users, accessibility/maintenance plans, and space/facility needs. Discussions must occur prior to the deadline below for the application to be eligible.
Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with the approved Academic Facilities Representative regarding space and supporting infrastructure needs (including but not limited to adequate space in expected location, vent hoods/exhaust, electrical connections, water, accessibility for placement of the equipment, adequate path for equipment into the location including any additional needs for cranes or other items for placement, etc.). Discussions must occur prior to the deadline below for the application to be eligible.
Discussions with ADRs and Academic Facilities Representative must be completed by 5 pm ET on Monday, August 31, 2026. Consideration should be given to applications that involve more than one college/unit/core for the discussion to include all needed parties. Only those on the list should be contacted for these discussions. Applicants that fail to complete these discussions on time will be rejected.
Preliminary Concepts are due by 5 pm ET on Monday, September 14, 2026. Applicants will note confirmation of discussions within the InfoReady system. Applications will also be shared with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative.
Decision and feedback regarding whether the application is selected to move forward to full proposal will be announced on Monday, September 28, 2026.
Final Applications are due by 5 pm ET on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions no later than January 2027.
Applicants requiring space renovations should work with their Associate Dean for Research AND Academic Facilities Representative directly for 2026-2028 request timeline. In addition, if equipment will be placed in a core facility, applicants should be working with the Discovery Park District research contact and Core Director.
Funds should be spent or encumbered by June 30, 2028.

Background and Rationale

Researchers at Purdue University require state-of-the-art and effective equipment (instruments, apparatus, software, and databases) and facilities to conduct the world-class research expected at a major research university. The Laboratory and Core Facility Research Equipment Program sponsored by the Office of Research supports the purchase of capital research equipment in two cost categories. The goal is to address critical and strategic research equipment needs and thereby enhance the research programs of individual investigators as well as multiple investigators reliant on shared-use equipment. Applications are expected to include details on limitations of including or requesting the equipment in externally funded grants and/or information related to prior submissions to external equipment programs [e.g., NSF’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) or NIH’s S10 Instrumentation Programs].

This program is not intended to replace internal funds committed as matching for external equipment awards or internal/external funds already allocated for the equipment. This program is not intended to augment start-up or other incentive funds provided to individuals.

Definitions and Award Mechanism

Equipment: Equipment means the item(s) targeted for acquisition, repair, or upgrade supporting Purdue's research activities. The equipment may be an apparatus, instrument, database, or software. Please inquire about the eligibility of any item that may not fall into one of these categories. Office or instructional computing equipment is not allowed. In addition, routine equipment supported by colleges/units (e.g., autoclaves) is not allowed. Please see the FAQs for additional information regarding research computing equipment.

Capital Equipment: The equipment must be Capital Equipment, which is “any tangible item costing $10,000 or more with an expected useful life of more than one year that will not lose its identity through use.”

Core Research Facility: See explanation here

Nature of the Award: An award from this Program is not a grant; it is an agreement to pay for specified and approved expenses up to the approximate value of the award. If actual expenses for the approved budget are less than the award, any funds remaining will be reclaimed. Funds for award will not be released until all requirements and needs for equipment placement are confirmed.

PI Eligibility

The Principal Investigator must be a Purdue-West Lafayette or Indianapolis faculty member (tenured/tenure-track, research, or clinical/professional) or a Purdue-West Lafayette or Indianapolis staff member serving as the technical director/leader of a University Core Facility. An individual may be the Principal Investigator for only one Type I application and only one Type II application but may participate in others as a projected major or minor user. Applications for single-investigator equipment are allowed only for established investigators without access to substantial start-up or other incentive funds (see FAQs for additional information). An individual cannot receive (as PI) more than two awards for single-investigator Type I equipment from this program or its precursors within a five-year period. The history of single-investigator awards does not apply in any way to PIs of applications for multi-user or core facility equipment (Type II).

Allowed Costs and Budget

Allowed costs include typical costs associated with acquiring, repairing, or upgrading of equipment, including purchase price, shipping and/or import costs/tariffs, installation, and limited training. All necessary allowed costs should be included in the submitted budget using one of the cost categories listed in the template. When preparing the budget, pay careful attention to unquoted costs associated with vendor terms and conditions, such as shipping costs and tariffs. If vendor is located outside of the US or equipment will be shipping from outside of the US, confirm manufacturer is located within the approved vendor country list.

Eligible equipment includes single, commercially available instruments or the essential components of an integrated system. In the latter case, all components should be largely dedicated to the identified need or function. The Program is not intended to support the acquisition of multiple, stand-alone items with independent functions. See FAQs for more information.

Costs to acquire a research-enabling information resource or technology, including but not limited to database(s) and software, are allowed. Applicants should consult with RCAC to determine that the research need cannot be met by RCAC and is eligible for this program. A memo from RCAC stating that the need cannot be met with existing resources must be included in the application. Applicants should contact Arman Pazouki (apazouki@purdue.edu) at RCAC. In addition, applicants should confirm appropriate protections are in place to safeguard information security and system safety.

Installation costs are limited to expenses incurred during the actual process of installation, such as items or services quoted by vendors, local carriage costs, etc.

Site preparation costs (i.e., improvements to the room/site that must be completed prior to installation, including new doors, altered access to utilities, IT or building services) should be identified in “Other Costs”, not installation costs. It is essential to acquire accurate quotes for the cost of site preparation. Please consult with your Associate Dean for Research and Academic Facilities Representative regarding these needs.

“Other Costs” may include any expense necessary to acquire, deploy, and commission the equipment that does not fall readily into another cost category. As described above, program expenses for site preparation cannot exceed $10,000.

For example, the preparation of a room to receive the equipment will cost $30,000 to install a wider door, add electrical outlets, and supply a house vacuum. Alternative 1: do not include these costs in the budget. Alternative 2: Program costs of $10,000 can be matched by $20,000 from other sources such as college or departmental funds.

Program funds for personnel costs or costs for extended warranties or service contracts, software upgrade costs after the first year, recurring training, or costs of consumables beyond those needed to bring the equipment into service are not allowed.

Review Criteria and Process

The fundamental criteria are impact and need.

Impact. For single or multi-investigator applications, the impact is defined as the advancement of the investigators' research program(s). For Core Facilities, impact is defined as the overall enhancement of the Purdue research enterprise, including, but not limited to, opportunities to improve services for an existing user base, realize new services, or serve additional users. Priority will be given to equipment that aligns with Purdue’s strategic research initiatives.

Need. As appropriate for the project, the need will be assessed relative to immediate or near-term reduction or removal of research barriers, including barriers to external funding, enhancement of the pace or quality of research, the extent of projected use relative to potential use, and the availability of similar equipment/functions on campus. Applications that could result in duplication of existing equipment/functions, especially those in recharge facilities, must include strong scientific and/or practical justification. Applications are expected to include details on limitations of including or requesting the equipment in externally funded grants and/or information related to prior submissions to external equipment programs [e.g., NSF’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) or NIH’s S10 Instrumentation Programs]. Priority will be given to applications demonstrating prior submission to an external program.

A panel with representatives from the various Colleges and Discovery Park District will review all applications. Funding recommendations will be submitted to the Office of Research for budgetary review and the final selection.

Eligibility and suitability for funding by federal programs, as well as the history and outcomes of applications and awards from either external or internal equipment programs, will be considered during the review and award processes (see FAQs).

Award Procedures and Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants will receive a notice of award for an amount derived from the submitted budget and any amendments resulting from the review. Thereafter, the PI must work through Procurement Services to obtain bids (if appropriate) and approved quote(s) for purchase. The quotes and Procurement approval must be sent to evprp-instrument@purdue.edu for review and approval by Office of Research staff. In addition, funds for award will not be released until all requirements and needs for equipment placement are confirmed. Upon approval, funds will be made available and the order(s) can be placed.

The PI/spokesperson or an approved designee must submit a final report describing the impact of the equipment on Purdue research programs. The report should highlight any research funding facilitated by the equipment project. Deadlines for reporting are likely to be project specific and will be communicated to awardees, but, in general, the report should be submitted to evprp-instrument@purdue.edu one year after the assets were made available for use.

Type I Details

Equipment with allowed costs up to $100,000

Gaps in the availability of external funding for capital equipment costing up to $100,000 are recognized. Grants to individual investigators and/or funds from academic units are often unable to support equipment acquisitions in the high end of this range, and few external mechanisms foster acquisitions of multi-user equipment with costs near the low end.

Matching funds are not required but supplemental funds are allowed by any combination of funds from supporting Colleges, Schools, Departments, or individuals. A maximum of $100,000 will be awarded by OOR.

Supplemental funds. Approval from the College’s Associate Dean for Research is required to confirm if supplemental funds will be included. Generally, supplemental funds are not encouraged for Type I applications given usual eligibility for Type II program. Exceptions are allowed for facility/utility upgrades or extended warranties and service contracts as detailed below. For core facilities within Discovery Park District, supplemental funds must be from a source outside of the Office of Research.

Assessment of facility/utility requirements and needs. Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with the approved Academic Facilities Representative regarding space and supporting infrastructure needs (including but not limited to adequate space in expected location, vent hoods/exhaust, electrical connections, water, accessibility for placement of the equipment, adequate path for equipment into the location including any additional needs for cranes or other items for placement, etc.). Discussions must occur prior to the deadline noted above for the application to be eligible. Consideration should be given to applications that involve more than one college/unit/core for the discussion to include all needed parties.

Assessment of critical need for advancing research and equipment placement. Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with your College’s Associate Dean for Research (ADR) or Discovery Park District (DPD) research contact (for cores within DPD) regarding critical need for equipment for advancing research including similar equipment availability, any supplemental funds that will be included, potential users, accessibility/maintenance plans, and space/facility needs. Discussions must occur prior to the deadline above for the application to be eligible. Consideration should be given to applications that involve more than one college/unit/core for the discussion to include all needed parties.

Extended warranties and service contracts. Non-program funds may be used to support coincident purchase of extended maintenance/warranty and training or service contracts if a practical or financial benefit can be realized (through time-of-purchase discounts, for example).

Type I Application Content, Preparation, and Submission Process

Applications must be submitted before 5:00 pm ET on the due date via the online submission portal at the following link: https://purdue.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2010815.

In order to apply via InfoReady at the link above, you will need to create your profile if you have not done so already. Please make sure to set "Purdue main campus" as your primary organization, otherwise you will not be allowed to apply.

For Type I applications, a faculty PI/spokesperson or a staff member who serves as a technical leader of a Core facility may submit the application directly.

Please DO NOT engage pre-award services during the preparation of your application.

Applicants will note confirmation of discussions with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative within the InfoReady system. Applications will be shared with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative. Applications not meeting this requirement will not move forward for review.

The main body of the application must not exceed four (4) pages, must use Arial 11-point font with 1.0 inch margins and single line spacing, and must include all sections defined in the application template, which is available below or from the application page linked above.

Application Template Details (template available for download https://purdue.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2010815)

Incomplete applications or applications not meeting these requirements may be returned without review.

As explained in the template, the following attachments are required but not constrained by the four-page limit.

A brief synopsis of prior or concurrent attempts to acquire external funding for the requested item(s) or details on why there are limitations in including in other external funding requests (limited to 1/2 page).
Current NIH-, NSF-, or USDA-format biosketches for the PI(s) and co-I(s).
Informational quote(s) from vendor(s)

Type II Details

Equipment with allowed costs between $100,001 and $1,000,000

Funding for the acquisition of major equipment costing more than $100,000 may be obtained through competitive proposals to external sponsors, and this is the preferred route. Internal funds are offered through this Program because external funding opportunities are sometimes poorly matched in expediency or design to the needs of Purdue researchers. Priority will be given to applications demonstrating prior submission to an external program and applicants are encouraged to include these submission details and reviewer comments with their application.

Matching Funds are required. At least one-third (1/3) of the allowed costs must be supported by matching funds. Any combination of funds from Colleges, Schools, Departments, or an individual’s account may be used to accumulate the match funding. Applications from Discovery Park District/OOR supported cores must seek matching funds from a non-OOR source. Details on source of matching funds must be included in the application (i.e., through letters of support) and approved by the contributing groups/individuals.

Assessment of critical need for advancing research and equipment placement. Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with your College’s Associate Dean for Research (ADR) or Discovery Park District (DPD) research contact (for cores within DPD) regarding critical need for equipment for advancing research including similar equipment availability, any supplemental/matching funds that will be included, potential users, accessibility/maintenance plans, and if space renovations will be needed. Discussions must occur prior to the deadline above for the application to be eligible. Consideration should be given to applications that involve more than one college/unit/core for the discussion to include all needed parties.
Assessment of facility/utility requirements and needs. Applications require confirmation that discussions have taken place with the approved Academic Facilities Representative regarding space and supporting infrastructure needs (including but not limited to adequate space in expected location, vent hoods/exhaust, electrical connections, water, accessibility for placement of the equipment, adequate path for equipment into the location including any additional needs for cranes or other items for placement, etc.). Discussions must occur prior to the deadline noted above for the application to be eligible. Consideration should be given to applications that involve more than one college/unit/core for the discussion to include all needed parties.

Type II Mandatory Preliminary Concept Summary: Content and Submission Process

The Concept Summary must be submitted before 5:00 pm ET on the due date via the online submission portal at the following link: https://purdue.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2012839

In order to apply via InfoReady at the link above, you will need to create your profile if you have not done so already. Please make sure to set "Purdue main campus" as your primary organization, otherwise you will not be allowed to apply.

The Concept Summary should be submitted by the PI or a spokesperson for multiple PIs.

Please DO NOT engage pre-award services during the preparation of your application.
Applicants will note confirmation of discussions with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative within the InfoReady system. Concept papers will be shared with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative. Applications not meeting this requirement will not move forward for review.
Concept papers should include details on expected source of matched funds but letters of support and final confirmation is not required at this stage.

The Preliminary Concept Summary includes a subset of the material required for the final application and uses the same template, which is available from the application page linked above.

Application Template Details (template available for download https://purdue.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2012839)

The Concept Summary must use Arial 11-point font with 1.0 inch margins and single line spacing, and must include a brief (1 page) justification of the need for the instrument. Details on matched funds and if supplemental funds will be used for equipment purchase should be indicated.

Type II Final Application Content, Preparation, and Submission Process

Applications must be submitted before 5:00 pm EST on the due date via the online submission portal located at: https://purdue.infoready4.com/.

The Final Full Application should be submitted by the PI or a spokesperson for multiple PIs.

Please DO NOT engage pre-award services during the preparation of your application.

Applicants will note confirmation of discussions with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative within the InfoReady system. Final full applications will be shared with ADR and Academic Facilities Representative. Applications not meeting this requirement will not move forward for review.

Final full applications should include details on expected source of matched funds with letters of support from those sources.

Application Template Details (template available for download https://purdue.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2012839)

Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet these requirements may be returned without review.

The following attachments are required but not included in the four-page limit.

A brief synopsis of prior or concurrent attempts to acquire external funding for the requested item(s) (limited to 1/2 page).
Current NIH-, NSF-, or USDA-format biosketches for the PI(s) and co-PI(s).
Informational quote(s) from vendor(s).
Letters of support indicating source of matching funds.

Contact Information

All questions should be directed to: evprp-instrument@purdue.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of this program and who does it target?

The program targets individual PIs, a group of PIs, or a University Core Facility needing equipment repairs, upgrades, or replacement/new equipment to support critical research needs.

Will this program be repeated in the future?

There is no guarantee of future funding, but our goal is to be able to offer the program every two years.

Are requests for multi-user equipment favored?

No, the program treats individual laboratory, limited multiple-laboratory, and core facility requests equally.

Must applications go through the Pre-award process prior to submission?

Pre-award services SHOULD NOT be involved. After funding decisions are made, successful applicants will receive explicit procurement instructions with the notice of award.

For Type I applications, is the acquisition of equipment that costs more than $100,000 eligible if supplemental funding to make up the difference is available?

In general, acquisition of equipment with necessary and allowed costs exceeding $100,000 is not supported for Type I applications. Instead, these cases are generally eligible for the Type 2 program. Supplemental funds from the College, School, Department, or an individual’s account may be allowed from non-program sources for (1) costs borne by a unit to establish necessary space and utilities or (2) the coincident purchase of extended maintenance/warranty and training or service contracts if long-term cost savings can be achieved.

What is meant by, "Eligibility and suitability for funding by federal programs as well as the history and outcomes of applications and awards from either external or internal equipment programs will be considered during the review and award processes?"

Prior or concurrent submission to a suitable federal program may be considered as a positive factor affecting review and award decisions, and such submissions should be described briefly in the application. The absence of attempts to compete for funds from a suitable federal program may be an adverse factor, especially for investigators or cores that have received prior support from internal equipment programs on multiple occasions.

What is meant by, “Eligible equipment includes single, commercially available instruments or the essential components of an integrated system?"

The program is intended to support the purchase or integration of a single piece of equipment or instrument. It is not intended for the purchase of separate pieces of equipment that together increase the capabilities of a research laboratory or build a facility. Components of an instrument may be obtained from several vendors (e.g., a computer to run the instrument).

Are computers, nodes/servers eligible for this program?

Office and instructional computers/equipment are not eligible for this program.

What if Purdue University IT does not offer the research computing resources I need?

If, after consultation with Purdue IT’s central research computing (RCAC) staff, it is determined that the research need cannot be met by RCAC, then equipment to meet the need will be eligible for this program. A memo from RCAC stating that the need cannot be met with existing resources must be included in the application. Applicants should contact Arman Pazouki (apazouki@purdue.edu) at RCAC.

What is meant by “without access to substantial individual start-up or other incentive funds” as it relates to eligibility to apply for single-laboratory equipment?

For applications seeking equipment that will not be shared, the program targets established investigators who have depleted university-provided start-up or incentive funds. If a small sum of start-up or incentive funds remain available (less than 25% of the cost of the requested equipment, say), eligibility will be decided on the circumstances of the case. Please inquire by e-mail to evprp-instrument@purdue.edu.

Does the Justification of Need section of the application require individual statements of benefit from multiple users if the benefits are similar?

If the benefits are highly similar for all projects, a collective statement is acceptable. If some features/benefits are specifically or critically important to particular projects, this information is helpful to reviewers and brief individual statements may be included.

What topics do I need to discuss with my Associate Dean for Research and my Academic Facilities Representative?

Checklist for Academic Facilities Representatives Discussion

____    Is there adequate space in the location noted for the equipment placement?
____    Is there an adequate path for getting the equipment into that location (i.e., will it fit through doorways, does it need a crane to lift it into place, is there an elevator that will accommodate the equipment, etc.)?
____    Are renovations required to complete the placement of the equipment (i.e., need to open walls/doorways, install vent hoods or other room exhaust, run electrical, run water, etc.)?
____    Do the electrical connections in the room conform to the equipment’s electrical needs (i.e., correct voltage and amperage are available at the noted location, plug type is compatible with US standard outlets, etc.)?

Checklist for Associate Deans for Research Discussion

____    Does this equipment purchase reflect a critical need for advancing research?
____    Do you agree with the planned location of the equipment?
____    Have you discussed potential users of the system and a plan for accessibility for these users?
____    If renovations are needed, have you discussed how those will be handled/paid (cross discussion are highly recommended with the Academic Facilities Representative)?
____    If cost share is required, have you discussed and determined how those obligations will be met?
____    Have you discussed and devised a plan for maintenance?
____    Is the vendor located within the United States? If no, are there expected tariffs and are those accounted for in the cost estimate? If no, is the company located in a restricted country?

Who is my Academic Facilities Representative?

College/Unit	Academic Facilities Representative	Email
College of Agriculture	Ron Turco	rturco@purdue.edu
College of Education	Wayne Wright	wewright@purdue.edu
College of Engineering	Jim Krogmeier	jvk@purdue.edu
College of Health and Human Sciences	Jonathan Shannahan	jshannah@purdue.edu
College of Liberal Arts	Kristen Hunt	kristenhunt@purdue.edu
College of Pharmacy	Val Watts	wattsv@purdue.edu
College of Science	Darryl Granger	dgranger@purdue.edu
College of Veterinary Medicine	Lee Ann Happ	lahapp@purdue.edu
John Martinson Honors College	Catharine Patrone	cpatrone@purdue.edu
Mitch Daniels School of Business	Logan Jordan	jordan@purdue.edu
Libraries and School of Information Studies	Candy (Candace) Scott	clscott@purdue.edu
Purdue Polytechnic Institute	Dawn Laux	dlaux@purdue.edu
Purdue University in Indianapolis	Edreece Redmond	edredmon@purdue.edu
Discovery Park District	David Rogers	roger449@purdue.edu

Who is my Associate Dean for Research or Research Contact?

College/Unit	Associate Dean for Research / Research Contact	Email
College of Agriculture	Ron Turco	rturco@purdue.edu
College of Education	Wayne Wright	wewright@purdue.edu
College of Engineering	Nik Chawla	nikc@purdue.edu
College of Health and Human Sciences	Cammie McBride	mcbridca@purdue.edu
College of Liberal Arts	Cherie Maestas	cmaestas@purdue.edu
College of Pharmacy	Val Watts	wattsv@purdue.edu
College of Science	Guang Lin	guanglin@purdue.edu
College of Veterinary Medicine	Susan Mendrysa	mendrysa@purdue.edu
John Martinson Honors College	Megha Anwar	manwer@purdue.edu
Mitch Daniels School of Business	Mohit Tawarmalani	mtawarma@purdue.edu
Libraries and School of Information Studies	Margaret Phillips	phill201@purdue.edu
Purdue Polytechnic Institute	Baijian (Justin) Yang	byang@purdue.edu
Purdue University in Indianapolis	Joseph M Wallace III	jwalla78@purdue.edu
Discovery Park District	Kaethe Beck	beck35@purdue.edu