Core Technology Platforms

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING & ELECTRONICS

The Advanced Manufacturing and Electronics Core Technology Platform supports research in the following areas:

● Mechanical design and manufacturing of custom-made parts
● Materials imaging and non-destructive testing
● Mechanical testing
● Advanced manufacturing techniques including 3D printing, and casting.

All activities are performed using state-of-the-art software and manufacturing equipment operated by specialized trained personnel using cutting-edge techniques. Depending on the nature of the project, a single machine or combination of machines is used. Materials used in the manufacturing of parts can range from a variety of metals, plastics, ceramics, and other materials determined by the project. The facility can produce parts accurate to the micro-scale.

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NYUAD's Core Technology Platforms, Analytical Materials Characterization

ANALYTICAL AND MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION

The Analytical and Materials Characterization Core Technology Platform supports scientific advancements and the development of new technologies. This facility provides state-of-the-art instrumentation with major capabilities for fundamental studies of the surface, ultrastructure and interfacial properties of materials in the following major areas:

Characterization is used by researchers in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, and archeology to study the properties of samples by morphology, mechanical, chemical and crystalline properties from macro to nanometer scale. The main techniques used in this area are optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence, focused ion beam, atomic force microscopy, and mechanical testing.
Scanning Electron Microscopy is a key technique within the Materials Characterization realm. By utilizing focused electron beams, SEM produces high-resolution images of material surfaces. Researchers from diverse fields such as chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, and archaeology leverage SEM to delve into the intricacies of sample morphology.

Transmission Electron Microscopy takes electron microscopy to the nanoscale, providing unparalleled insights into the ultrastructure of materials. This technique is employed across various disciplines, allowing researchers to explore the crystalline, mechanical, and chemical properties of samples with remarkable precision. TEM facilitates fundamental studies at the nanometer scale, contributing to advancements in fields such as materials science, chemistry and biology.
Powder and single crystal x-ray diffractometers are available for a wide range of structural characterization. Recent research activities have included work on the structure of insect eyes, identification of diatoms on coral substrates, characterization of archeological debris, cross-sectional imaging of integrated circuits, mechanical properties of organic crystals, x-ray tomography of organic crystals, analysis of lithographically defined materials, structure of nanoscale scaffolds and Raman identification of several materials.

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BRAIN IMAGING

The Brain Imaging Core Technology Platform performs cutting-edge, non-invasive examination of the brain’s structural features and functional activation, and its relation to human behavior, language, and working memory, which is observed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. This CTP is staffed with an imaging physicist and a certified MRI technologist, and is equipped with a state-of-the-art 3T Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma MRI scanner. The latest pulse sequences such as simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) for BOLD and diffusion sequences provide unparalleled capability of acquiring high spatial and temporal resolution images with adequate signal-to-noise ratio in shorter scan times. Several RF coils are available with the Prisma such as 20, 32, and 64 Channels head “TIM” RF receiver in addition to the RF body coils.

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HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING

The High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Core Technology Platform, managed by the Center of Genomics and Systems Biology team, allows researchers to rapidly automate thousands of chemical and biological assays. It is used by biologists and chemists to screen large libraries of chemical and biological reagents for bioactive compound discovery, toxicity studies, and cell biology research.

This CTP is equipped with an integrated screening platform and advanced laboratory automation technology for cell-based and whole organism (e.g., microbial, worm and zebrafish) assays. This platform facilitates the automation of most steps involved in high-throughput screening of small molecule or genomic (e.g., RNAi, CRISPR) libraries. These steps include mixing reagents with cells or whole organisms, sample incubation in controlled environments, and high-content imaging at multiple levels of magnification in both bright-field and multi-channel fluorescence modes.

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KINESIS

The Kinesis Lab is a shared multi-space laboratory for design, exploration, and experimentation, related movement by utilizing Robotics, Artificial intelligence, and Automation technologies. This cutting-edge laboratory is meticulously outfitted with state-of-the-art technology in the realms of robotics and artificial intelligence, like mobile robots, drones, robotic arms, motion capture systems, etc., that NYUAD researchers and collaborators use to perform their research activities in a very broad spectrum of applications. The lab's design fosters an environment of innovation, where researchers can push the boundaries of what's possible in their research field, creating a hub of technological advancement and scientific inquiry.

The Arena is the dedicated area for motion experimentation. The Arena is a 17m x 6.4m x 8m space constructed from adaptable truss structures with surrounding nets for safety and can be reconfigured accordingly.

The lighting system is controllable for colors and intensity, and removable protective mattresses cover the ground area. The Arena is equipped with a local position tracking system, 2 kW sound system, a projection system and a highspeed ethernet and wireless network.
The Workspace houses workstations for eight scientists with a high-speed local network and controllable lighting system. The Workspace is also a home to a high-performance GPU unit and a safe charging station for LiPo batteries.

The Kinesis Core Technology Platform supports research in the following areas:

Gait Analysis & Rehabilitation Posture, Balance and Motor Control Athletics (Sports Performance, Movement Evaluation,) Animal Biomechanics and Science Psychology and Neurology Research
Robotics (UAV, Industrial Robots, Robots’ Localization, Movement Analysis, Trajectory Generation) Product Design and Evaluation (Car Production Industry, Aerospace, etc.) Virtual Reality, Immersive Reality, and Augmented Reality (Subject Localization, Gesture Recognition) Aerodynamics Research Control Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (Artificial Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Deep Reinforcement Learning, etc.)
Video Games Development (Character Animation, Object Animation, Effects Generation) Film production (Character Animation, Object Movement and Animation), Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) Sound and Motion Application and Research (Music Performance and Pedagogy, Neuroscience, Music Psychology Research)

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NYUAD's Core Technology Platforms Microscopy equipment.

LIGHT MICROSCOPY

The Light Microscopy Core Technology Platform provides access to several state-of-the-art microscopes and aids in the following research activities:

The microscopy facility applications include molecular motor transport studies, 3D neuronal network imaging and nanoparticle testing and cell screening. The facility also can perform imaging of fluorescently labelled samples like drosophila brains, mouse brain sections and cultured cells.
Various imaging techniques are used in widefield microscopy which include epifluorescence, phase contract, and differential contrast microscopy. These are used in the core facility in various projects such as cell growth and proliferation regulation studies, actin reprogramming and C. elegans embryogenesis.
The facility supports researchers in experimental design and suggests different labelling techniques and microscopes setups for the various applications.
Various software programs are available for the post processing of the images on a processing workstation.

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MARINE SCIENCES

The Marine Sciences Core Technology Platform equips researchers with the necessary training and tools to use the Arabian Gulf as a natural laboratory, both above and below the water surface.

Among the various research activities, scientists at NYUAD are examining how coral communities in these extreme environments respond to and recover from mass bleaching events. They are also investigating the impact of variations in environmental conditions on the biogeographic patterns of community structures among corals, fish, and other reef biota in the region. Additionally, the team is monitoring and studying the evolving soundscapes of coral reefs in the Arabian Gulf, while actively participating in studies focused on the local mangrove ecosystem.

In collaboration with the Mubadala ACCESS Center, another group is studying the hydrography of the basin and sampling the UAE waters. Their primary objectives include examining the biogeochemistry, classifying dominant species of phytoplankton and microbes, and analyzing potential contributions to recently discovered oxygen depletion zones in the Arabian Gulf. This group is also researching the sequential bloom of various phytoplankton groups within an enclosed bay, as well as the occasional appearance of potentially harmful algal bloom species.

The Marine Sciences facility is equipped with the latest technology and tools to facilitate cutting-edge research in this field.

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MICRO-FABRICATION

The Micro Fabrication Core Technology Platform has the equipment necessary to perform lithography for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and microfabrication.

Researchers are utilizing this CTP to build microfluidic platforms for high-throughput drug screening, develop ultrasensitive point-of-care diagnostic chips for early detection of cancer and other diseases, design chips to isolate fetal cells from maternal blood and create portable platforms for monitoring the quality of water in developing and developed countries.

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MOLECULAR & CELL BIOLOGY

The Molecular and Cell Biology Core Technology Platform provides a broad range of services and expertise that aid scientists in performing research at the molecular, single cell, and tissue culture level. Research activities carried out at NYUAD in this core include:

Research in this field includes the cloning and subcloning of genes into a variety of different vectors; gene manipulation that alters specific domains, or simply changes fusion tags on proteins and mutagenesis which alters single amino acids.
This includes an efficient E. coli expression system to express a variety of protein samples (including human proteins) with purity higher than 95%.
The research applications in this area include the characterization of the structure of Molecular Cell Biology different macromolecules and the determination of the thermal and chemical stability of biological macromolecules; the analysis of the energetics of binding different molecules to a biological sample; and screening for binding partners to the macromolecule using small molecule libraries as the first method in drug discovery and design.
Single-cell genomics is a method used to analyze individual cells from a tissue sample. Classifying cell types is an important step in understanding functional states and cellular processes. Our integrative microfluidic based system enables several complementary genomic application including high throughput gene expression, genotyping, digital PCR, single cell expression profiling and sample preparation of single cell whole genome or targeted sequencing.

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PHOTONICS

The Photonics Core Technology Platform is an advanced facility that has been exclusively established to address the current and future research activities in the field of Telecommunications.

The instruments in this laboratory work in synergy to perform advanced characterizations necessary to support research theories and for the evaluation and certification of Optical and Electronic Telecommunication devices. The latest research on data telecommunication channels uses a combination of optical and electrical components. The combination of instruments is essential in the field of telecommunication. Individually, the same instruments can be utilized for research in physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, and much more.

- Bit error rate testing
- Coherent detection
- Vector signal analysis
- S-Parameters evaluation
- Insertion loss (IL) / Polarization dependent loss (PDL)
- Spectral measurements
- Polarization analysis
- Swept-wavelength measurement
- Frequency domain / Time domain response
- Various modulation formats analysis
- Fast spectral measurements
- Signal integrity
- Small signal and large signal analysis

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SPECTROMETRY & SPECTROSCOPY

The Spectrometry and Spectroscopy Core Technology Platform assists researchers in the following applications:

This facility maintains and operates a wide range of tools for separation and characterization of compounds which aids in the synthesis and discovery of chemical compounds.
Metabolomics is a term used for the characterizing and understanding of all metabolites present in living organisms. The metabolome can help us understand biochemical processes, diseases, and biodiversity by using spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques to characterize and quantify complex biological mixtures.
As proteins are large molecules, the same spectroscopic techniques can be used to characterize and validate these compounds as smaller ones, only with additional time, care, and data handling.

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NYUAD's Core Technology Platforms Seqencing equipment

SEQUENCING

The sequencing facility enables researchers to rapidly collect large amounts of data on DNA and RNA sequences. Researchers are using the latest Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology to sequence samples from humans, model organisms, and non-model organisms to characterize their genomes (DNA), transcriptomes (RNA), and genetic diversity in populations (sequence variants). In addition, the 10X Genomics platform facilitates various downstream analysis at single-cell resolution in fields such as developmental biology, cancer research, and immunology. Other applications include investigating interactions between proteins and nucleic acids (e.g., using ChIP-seq or PAR-CLIP) and analyzing samples collected from the environment (metagenomics).

Upon reception of DNA or RNA samples, a team of highly skilled specialists will proceed with library preparation either manually or with automation solutions and ensure the highest quality and the best reproducibility rates are met. Sequencing data will then be processed on the HPC and results delivered to the researchers.

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