MRI-R2: Acquisition of a Shared Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer for Ecological, Geological & Hydrological Research, Education & Training in the Central Appalachians

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。由NSF MRI-R2计划提供的资金帮助支持在马里兰大学阿巴拉契亚实验室环境科学中心建立最先进的稳定同位素测量设施。购买阿巴拉契亚中部稳定同位素设施(CASIF)的设备，为多个学科的独特的正在进行和计划中的研究项目提供关键支持，包括古生态学和古气候学、景观生态学和遥感、生物地球化学、水文学和植物生态学。这笔资金用于购买一台ThermoFisher Delta V+同位素比质谱仪(IRMS)、一个假绕线微燃烧装置、一个元素分析器、一个高温转化/元素分析器热解装置和一台GasBitch II。13个新的和现有的关键教员，包括7名专门从事同位素和/或生物地球化学示踪剂应用的早期助理教授，正在使用这些设备解决有关环境变化影响的紧迫问题，这些影响包括：波托马克河流量的长期水文变异性；氮循环对自然和人为扰动的反应；入侵物种和人类活动对土壤和溪流中生物地球化学过程的影响；以及其他许多适时的研究课题。这个团队一起积极培训了大约25名研究生和博士后研究人员，以及大约30名本科生研究人员。学生和博士后研究人员，包括妇女、少数民族和第一代学生，都有机会在CASIF使用最先进的技术和工具。作为一个区域共享设施，CASIF将围绕共同的环境变化研究主题促进协同研究和教育活动，从而加强机构内和机构间的合作，并帮助普通公众认识到同位素对了解环境变化的影响的效用。新仪器支持的研究结果将通过同行评议的科学期刊以及学生和教职员工在地区和国家会议上的陈述进行传播。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Funds supplied by the NSF MRI-R2 program have helped to support the establishment of a facility for state of- the-art stable isotope measurements at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory. Acquisition of equipment for this Central Appalachians Stable Isotope Facility (CASIF) provides critical support to unique ongoing and planned research projects in multiple disciplines, including paleoecology and paleoclimatology, landscape ecology and remote sensing, biogeochemistry, hydrology & plant ecology. The funds were used to purchase a ThermoFisher Delta V+ isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS), a spooling wire microcombustion device, an elemental analyzer, a high temperature conversion/elemental analyzer pyrolysis unit and a GasBench II. A critical mass of 13 new and existing faculty, including 7 early-career assistant professors who specialize in the application of isotopic and/or biogeochemical tracers are using the equipment to address pressing questions concerning the impacts of environmental change, including: long-term hydrologic variability in the flow of the Potomac River; the response of the nitrogen cycle to natural and anthropogenic perturbations; the impacts of invasive species and human activities on biogeochemical processes in soils and streams; and many other timely research topics. Together this group actively trains roughly 25 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and approximately 30 undergraduate researchers. Students and postdoctoral researchers, including women, minorities & first-generation students, are provided with opportunities to utilize state-of-the-art techniques and instruments at the CASIF. As a regional shared-use facility, the CASIF will promote synergistic research and education activities around common environmental-change research themes, thus enhancing intra- and inter-institution collaborations, and also helping the general public appreciate the utility of isotopes for understanding the impacts of environmental change. Results from the studies enabled by the new instrumentation will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals, and by student and faculty presentations at regional and national meetings.