Scientific Instrumentation Development - Modernizing an Isothermal Microcalorimeter
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Michelle Montelongo
Presenter(s): Michelle Montelongo
Mentors(s): Joseph DiVerdi
Technological advances have often led to older instruments no longer receiving software updates or a change in manufacturing ownership can drop technical support altogether. An isothermal microcalorimeter in our laboratories, a sensitive instrument to measure the amount of heat absorbed or released during chemical reactions, physical changes, or biological processes, became a prime candidate for the (re)development. This project was undertaken to develop student hardware and software programming skills all while ensuring an excellent piece of technology still operates to its capacity. A Linux-based microcomputer, programmed with threaded Python together with a networked, browser-based user interface was developed allowing for a user-friendly remote control of instrument parameters and the acquisition of experimental data.