The Biophysics Instrumentation Core (BIC) Facility at the University of Notre Dame has installed a new research instrument for the advanced characterization of biomolecules. The instrument is operational and currently available for use.
The Optima A/I analytical ultracentrifuge (AUC), manufactured by Beckman Coulter, characterizes biomolecular size and shape; analyzes biomolecular complexes to determine molecular weight, association constants and stoichiometry; and assesses sample purity and homogeneity. AUC can characterize a wide range of particles including proteins, nucleic acids, viral particles, nanoparticles, synthetic polymers, and carbohydrates. Compared to its previous AUC, the BIC’s new AUC offers greater wavelength precision, which enables multi-wavelength experiments for studying more complex molecular systems. Additionally, the new AUC offers faster data acquisition rates, which allow for increased sample throughput, and improved radial resolution.
Funds to purchase the new instrument were awarded to the BIC through the competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) S10 basic instrumentation grant program. BIC associate director Giselle Jacobson coordinated the overall proposal preparation, which involved contributions from faculty in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biological Sciences. Shahriar Mobashery, Navari Family Professor in Life Sciences in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, served as principal investigator for the proposal.
“Characterizing the sizes, shapes, and interactions of biomolecules is a crucial prerequisite to understanding biological function on a molecular level, and foundational to solving complex biological challenges,” said Patricia Clark, the John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C. Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and BIC faculty director. “The addition of the Optima A/I AUC is a game-changer for Notre Dame and our external partners, delivering high-precision insights that will transform how we study biomolecular systems.”
The AUC complements a suite of existing specialized instruments in the BIC, each capable of characterizing unique aspects of biomolecular conformations and interactions, as well as equipment for the isolation and purification of macromolecules for subsequent detailed biophysical analysis.
The BIC is a shared user core facility supported by the College of Science and Notre Dame Research. The facility provides instrument training as well as one-on-one consultations for experiment design and data analysis and welcomes users from across the Notre Dame community as well as external academic and industry researchers. Learn more by visiting the BIC facility’s website.
Contact
Giselle Jacobson / Associate Director
Biophysics Instrumentation Core Facility / University of Notre Dame
gjacobso@nd.edu / 574-631-3556
About Notre Dame Research
The University of Notre Dame is a leading global Catholic research university located in South Bend, Indiana (USA). Inspired by its Catholic mission and founder Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C.’s vision for the University to be “one of the most powerful means for doing good” in the world, Notre Dame’s faculty and students pursue globally significant research, scholarship, and creative endeavor that advances discovery, fosters innovation, and drives lasting positive impact. For more information, please visit NDR's website or NDR's LinkedIn.
Originally published by at bic.nd.edu on August 25, 2026.