What is the FUN Equipment Loan Program?
Each year, the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) works directly with equipment vendors to offer neuroscience faculty the opportunity to borrow equipment via a grant program.
This program, known as the Equipment Loan Program (ELP), allows for faculty to enhance their research efforts, support undergraduate student research experience, and demonstrate the impact of the equipment for future research grant funding.
Equipment is awarded for up to a two year period, with intent to purchase at the end of the program.
How the FUN Equipment Loan Program supports undergraduate research and training
Dr. Mowaffaq Adam, Visiting Instructor and SUNY PRODiG+ Fellow in the Department of Biological Science at SUNY Old Westbury, was selected as the awardee for the 2025-2026 program cycle! His research focuses on cancer biology, environmental toxicology, and the effects of environmental contaminants on cellular behavior. Dr. Adam maintains a strong commitment to mentorship and experiential learning opportunities, and prioritizes undergraduate participation in his research program.
He plans to integrate the awarded equipment directly into his undergraduate research program, in order to provide students with greater access to hands-on scientific training early in their academic careers.
“The equipment will help support student-driven projects involving experimental design, sample preparation, molecular and cellular analysis, data collection, and interpretation. I also hope to incorporate it into research-based teaching and laboratory training where appropriate,” says Dr. Adam.
By serving as a mentor and providing these early experiences, Dr. Adam hopes to support the development of these students as scientists and set them up for long-term academic and career success.
“My goal is for students to move beyond simply learning techniques and to become actively involved in asking research questions, designing experiments, analyzing results, and communicating their findings,” Dr. Adam explains. “Access to this equipment will help students build technical skills, confidence, independence, and a stronger scientific identity while preparing them for graduate school, professional programs, internships, and careers in STEM.”
What equipment is awarded from ADInstruments?
ADInstruments has been a long time participant and supporter of the FUN Equipment Loan Program. Each year, we offer the chance for awardees to loan a PowerLab System paired with LabChart software and a Nerve and Muscle Kit to support a range of applications such as extracellular/intracellular recordings, evoked potentials, current/voltage clamping, biopotential recordings and many other protocols. The ADInstruments team is always happy to work directly with the awardee to configure a system tailored to the needs of their proposed research!
Nerve and muscle kit. Suitable for conducting experiments using isolated non-human animal nerve, skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle preparations.
How do I apply for the FUN Equipment Loan Program?
Applications for the annual cycle typically open in November, with awards announced the following spring! For additional information on the program, a list of all scientific equipment available, and details on how to apply, please visit the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Equipment Loan Program webpage here!
ADInstruments would like to thank Dr. Mowaffaq Adam for discussing his experience with the FUN Equipment Loan Program, and congratulate him once again for his selection as the 2025 - 2026 cycle awardee! We wish him the best of luck with his research program.
Mowaffaq Ahmed Adam, Ph.D.
Mowaffaq Ahmed Adam, Ph.D.
Visiting Instructor & SUNY PRODiG+ Fellow
SUNY Old Westbury
Dr. Mowaffaq Adam is a Visiting Instructor and SUNY PRODiG+ Fellow in Biological Sciences Department at SUNY Old Westbury. His work integrates teaching, undergraduate research, cancer biology, environmental toxicology, and STEM mentorship.
Credits and Acknowledgments
Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
