CEST is a cooperative effort between Notre Dame’s Colleges of Science and Engineering, fostering interdisciplinary environmental research and education by providing cutting-edge analytical technologies needed to address complex environmental problems. A full-time technical support staff maintains the instruments and provides basic training on instrument use. CEST is unique in that Notre Dame faculty and students may use the instruments for class work or research without instrument-time charges, although there are charges associated with “consumables”.

Each year, dozens of undergraduate students use CEST as part of course work, independent study, and/or through formalized REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs. Recent examples include students who have worked with Professor Steve Silliman (Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences) on research and service projects in Benin, Africa, and Haiti, and undergraduate students participating in research sponsored by Notre Dame’s Environmental Molecular Science Institute. PPG Industries provides additional funding for REUs, through the center.

Additionally, CEST annually awards a number of Bayer graduate fellowships to support interdisciplinary research in environmental science and/or engineering. Click HERE for a list of this year’s Bayer graduate fellowship recipients. CEST also co-sponsors a variety of invited guest lectures on the environment, and hosts student field trips from local junior high and high school programs while serving as a resource for undergraduate analytical chemistry laboratories.