Core Facilities

The core facilities at the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences are designed to enable life science research across Penn State. Any campus, any college, any department, these facilities exist to accelerate scientific discovery university-wide. Every Penn State researcher receives the same priority, the same internal rates, and the same first come, first served access. Huck's 11 core facilities span the essential technologies of modern life sciences. The core facilities provide equal access to advanced instrumentation, expert guidance, and collaborative scientific support. Behind each instrument is a dedicated team whose sole responsibility is supporting faculty-led research. Their knowledge extends far beyond running instruments, providing insight into experimental design, training, troubleshooting, and data analysis that help researchers develop meaningful, rigorous science. The facilities also offer workshops, classes, hands-on training,graduate assistantships, and undergraduate opportunities, creating a rich environment for skill-building and collaboration. The impact is substantial. Over 800 users from nearly 300 Penn State labs, access to over $50 million in instrumentation, and contributions to over 400 peer-reviewed publications. These facilities support hundreds of projects every year, enabling both transformative discoveries and high-impact interdisciplinary studies. Our relationships with industry partners are truly reciprocal. They engage with us as customers of our services and training, while also advancing our mission through philanthropy, equipment contributions, collaborative expertise, and workforce development support. Penn State researchers beginning a new project, exploring a new technique, or seeking guidance are encouraged to connect with the Huck Core Facilities. Reach out, start a conversation, and take the next step towards scientific discovery.