NHS Facilities
Our state-of-the-art facilities put the tools of discovery directly in your hands. These spaces are designed to support learning, research, and collaboration with faculty mentors. Whether you’re practicing clinical skills, conducting experiments, or leading independent projects, you’ll have the resources you need to grow as a scientist, health professional, and future leader.
Explore Our Cutting-Edge Facilities
The College of Natural and Health Sciences at UNC offers an array of advanced, hands-on learning and research facilities that support student growth and faculty innovation. From performance labs and simulation centers to immersive research collections, our state-of-the-art spaces provide real-world experiences in wellness, biology, chemistry, nursing, brewing, and more. Students work alongside faculty on groundbreaking projects, gaining practical skills and contributing to scientific discovery across disciplines.
CHIPC Labs: Wellness, Performance, and Cold-Water Immersion
Located in Gunter Hall, these labs offer state-of-the-art facilities for student research and hands-on learning. The Wellness and Performance Lab features a stadiometer, BodPod, nutritional analysis software, and a Woodway treadmill to assess and optimize health and performance. The Cold-Water Immersion Lab features two environmentally controlled spaces, including a 2-person temperature-controlled immersion tub for research. Collaborating with faculty, students can explore, measure, and optimize human wellness in real-world settings.
Faculty Research Labs
NHS research labs are state-of-the-art facilities equipped with advanced instruments and technology to support hands-on learning and discovery. They provide faculty with the tools to conduct cutting-edge scientific research and give students the space and resources to participate in faculty-led projects and gain valuable real-world experience. We have dedicated research lab spaces for faculty in Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, KiND—Sports and Exercise Science, and Physics and Astronomy.
Herbarium (GREE); Ross 1375
The UNC Herbarium (Index Herbarium code: GREE) is home to more than 45,000 preserved plant specimens, representing the rich biodiversity of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. As a student, you can use the collection to practice plant identification, conduct ecological or taxonomic research, and even add specimens you collect in the field. The Herbarium plays a vital role in documenting plant diversity and environmental change, and students regularly contribute to projects that support conservation and scientific discovery.
Imaging Suite (Ross 1680)
The Imaging Suite is a centralized facility within NHS that provides researchers and the public with access to specialized, state-of-the-art microscopy equipment, instrumentation, and expertise for the preparation, imaging, and analysis of cells, tissues, and materials. The Imaging Suite can also assist users with sample preparation and data analysis to support a wide range of research projects across various scientific disciplines and at any level. The Imaging Suite maintains a collection of instruments and equipment including two Zeiss Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopes, a JEOL Scanning Electron Microscope with several different detectors, a Leica Fluorescent Microscope with upgraded camera and computer software, a Thermo Fisher Flow Cytometer, and a Sony Cytometer/Cell sorter. Tissues can also be prepared using our Cryotome for frozen tissue and/or our Ultramicrotome for the finest sections.
Museum of Natural History
The UNC Museum of Natural History houses over 100,000 specimens, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fossils, and shells. It’s one of the largest teaching collections in the region, providing students with hands-on opportunities to explore biodiversity and evolutionary history. Students can gain experience in museum curation, taxonomy, and outreach by working directly with specimens or helping prepare exhibits. The Museum supports coursework and research.
Northern Colorado Brewhouse. Parsons Hall.
Our on-campus brewery features a state-of-the-art steam-heated system, providing students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a professional brewhouse—without ever leaving campus. Thanks to our partnership with Yetters Brewing Company, student-crafted beers don’t just stay in the classroom; they may even be shared with the public.
The Nursing Simulation Lab (Gunter 2050)
The Nursing Simulation Lab features three state-of-the-art rooms modeled after a modern emergency room. Nursing students can practice a wide range of patient care in realistic settings, from emergency and medical-surgical care to pediatric, maternal, and geriatric scenarios. High-fidelity patient simulators allow nursing students to provide hands-on care, practice communication with patients and families, and collaborate with healthcare teams to build confidence and clinical skills
