Technician Support for the Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) Laboratory at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

该奖项部分支持了在伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校（UIUC）最近成立的NSF资助的多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（MC-ICP-MS）实验室中发挥关键作用的技术人员。该实验室将用于进行高精度的同位素比测量，这对于UIUC地质学，人类学和环境化学几个领域的NSF支持研究至关重要。 该仪器的具体应用包括：-追踪地下水中涉及潜在有毒硒、铬和汞的化学反应 和地表水-揭示岩浆产生和向地球表面迁移的过程-确定过去气候变化的年龄-确定造山事件的年龄及其所涉及的过程-追踪人类祖先和考古文物的迁移技术人员对于正确操作和有效利用这种先进的，该实验室拥有复杂的仪器，使其能够服务于一个庞大的、多样化的学生和研究人员社区。 技术人员的努力大大增强了实验室的教育影响。 三个班的学生在他的帮助下使用仪器。 这些学生和许多使用该仪器进行论文研究的研究生在收集数据、评估其质量和解释第一手结果时学习关键的科学实践。

This award partially supports a technician who plays a key role in the recently established, NSF-funded multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The laboratory will be used to make high-precision isotope ratio measurements, which are critical in NSF-supported research in several areas of Geology, Anthropology, and Environmental Chemistry at UIUC. Specific applications of the instrument include:- Tracing chemical reactions involving potentially toxic selenium, chromium, and mercury in ground water and surface water- Revealing the processes through which magmas are generated and migrate toward the Earth's surface- Determining the ages of past climate changes - Determining the ages of mountain-building events and the processes involved in them- Tracing migration of human ancestors and archaeological artifactsThe technician is essential for the proper operation and efficient use of this advanced, complex instrument and enables the laboratory to serve a large, diverse community of students and researchers. The educational impact of the laboratory is greatly enhanced by the technician's efforts. Students in three classes use the instrument with his help. These students and the many graduate students who use the instrument for thesis research learn key scientific practices as they collect data, assess its quality, and interpret first-hand results.