WT Wins Grant for Key Biochemistry Equipment for Fermentation, Other Research

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s Department of Chemistry and Physics is expanding its research and teaching capabilities thanks to a recent grant from the Welch Foundation.

The $75,000 grant helped purchase a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry instrument, which will help in research in fermentation sciences and sensor development, according to Dr. Nick Flynn, professor of biochemistry, and Dr. Shiquan Tao, professor of chemistry, both in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

“These areas of research generate rather complex samples, so we needed instrumentation that can analyze that information,” Flynn said. “Our students also will be able to train on the system, which will help both chemistry and biochemistry graduates remain competitive in the marketplace.”

The GC-MS instrument separates compounds based on their chemical properties and analyzes the components. According to the American Chemical Society, GC-MS is used in forensics, environmental monitoring, drug testing of athletes, and more.

The Welch Foundation, based in Houston, is one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for fundamental chemical research at universities, colleges and other educational institutions in Texas.

One use for the instrument will be to expand capabilities in researching the science of fermentation.

“GC-MS can be used to identify a number of compounds in beer, including the iso-alpha acids that cause bitterness, the concentration of the alcohol, and the causes of off-flavors, such as when a beer has a buttery taste or otherwise doesn’t match the style guidelines,” Flynn said.

Flynn’s interest in fermentation runs deep. In addition to hosting regular ACS symposiums on the chemistry of alcoholic beverages, he recently published “Chemist Brewers: Insights from Chemists and Biologists in the Brewing Industry.”

The book, published by DeGruyter, includes a series of interviews with professionals in the brewing industry who have a degree in chemistry, biochemistry or biology.

“Chemists and biologists are a natural fit in the brewing industry, given their training, background and interests,” Flynn said. “In my interviews, I spoke with people in all levels of employment in the industry, from brewery staff, to brewery founders, to lab managers.”

Conducing regionally impactful research is a key mission of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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