The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Academic Research Infrastructure grant program to create four state-of-the-art science labs by summer 2011. Including this grant, PRI has received more than $1 million in funding from the NSF as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Each of the new laboratories will have a unique function. BioLab, for "clean" activities using microscopes and chemicals, and PaleoLab, an area for "dirty" geological procedures, such as rock sawing and sieving sediment, will be basic, flexible, general-use spaces.

WetLab will house 15-25 five- to 10-gallon tanks and will include drains and ventilation to maintain living aquatic organisms. The final renovation, PrepLab, an update of the fossil Preparation Laboratory in PRI's Museum of the Earth, will have improved ventilation and workflow and improve the experience for the public visiting the museum by creating more interaction with scientists and volunteers.

"These renovations will substantially improve the ability of PRI's research staff to carry out collaborative original research and research training, elements that are critical to cutting-edge participation in the fields of biodiversity, phylogenetics, paleontology and evolutionary biology," said Paula Mikkelsen, PRI's associate director for science.

"The new laboratories will create a set of modern, functional, adaptable and safe shared spaces and will greatly improve the availability and efficiency of use of existing optical, analytical, preparatory and other equipment meeting modern safety and infrastructure standards. The proposed renovation will position PRI to leverage its collections, research and outreach strengths in 21st-century paleobiology, by building basic infrastructure to support current research and allow PRI to sustain and advance its level of competitive, fundable research into the future."