Sites in Northern Mexico, especially the Biosphere Reserve centered on the Pinacate Mountain volcanic range, and The Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans, located at Puerto Penasco, Mexico, provide additional venues for student and faculty research. OTS maintains an extensive research station in lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica and offers field courses as well as research sites for students wishing to conduct research in tropical habitats. Sites located elsewhere are available via cooperative agreements with international institutions. Research money is often obtainable, through faculty or student grants, scholarships, and fellowships for scientists who wish to work at most of these locations. The LMSE at The University of Arizona is a core facility providing a range of molecular biology services as well as instruction in molecular genetic methods.
Users also have the option to solicit services or use equipment without training.
The LMSE is one of only a handful of similar facilities in the United States, and serves as a model for future core facilities. Users may apply for bench space in the LMSE for periods of three months to one year. Hands-on workshops are held on a bimonthly basis to acquaint participants with current techniques in extraction and purification of DNA, molecular cloning, restriction fragment analysis, DNA fingerprinting, PCR technology, DNA sequencing, mutation detection, and other methods. The synthesis of oligonucleotides and automated DNA sequencing are carried out in collaboration with the Macromolecular Structure Facility. Data analysis can be performed in the LMSE computer facility which supports software for image analysis, automated sequence reading, sequence alignment and analysis, oligonucleotide design, and phylogenetic analysis.