MRI: Acquisition of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) to strengthen collaborative inter-University programs in isotope geochemistry

化学和同位素特征使我们能够确定岩石的年龄，跟踪营养物质的命运和运输，重建气候趋势，研究动物的迁徙行为。随着地质、生态和气候科学领域对高精度同位素技术的需求增加，拥有满足区域研究需求的研究基础设施以及培养学生使用最先进设备的能力至关重要。该提案是为了获得爱达荷大学的多收集器热电离质谱仪（MC-TIMS）。此次重大收购旨在建立一个跨学科的同位素地球化学和环境示踪剂区域中心，即帕卢斯生物地球科学合作中心（PBC），该中心将支持广泛的生态、生物地球化学和地质研究，并将填补3所合作大学的关键研究和培训需求；爱达荷大学（University of Idaho）、华盛顿州立大学（Washington State University）和东华盛顿大学（EWU）。环境和同位素示踪剂的方法开发和应用是一个现有的区域优势，几个跨学科研究小组专注于大规模生态、大气、地质和水文现象的同位素分析。对新的MC-TIMS技术的投资将使我们能够在现有优势的基础上，同时战略性地促进在三个校区共同扩展的研究项目。Triton Plus是赛默飞世尔科学MC-TIMS，与新浪潮微磨机一起，将为地质和生物材料的同位素分析提供高精度和高分辨率的采样能力。该仪器将使研究人员能够量化Nd、Pb、Ca和Sr等固态低电离元素的同位素，以了解系统中物质的起源、命运和跨空间尺度的运输，从而更好地了解洄游鲑鱼的生活史、变质带的来源、岩浆的起源和演化以及大气污染物的来源。将得到支持的合作、跨学科努力的例子包括利用地球化学技术和地质原理来了解哥伦比亚河鲑鱼迁徙的多样性和进化。该资助项目的三个主要组成部分包括：1)多收集器热电离质谱仪（TIMS），专为高精度分析放射性成因和宇宙成因同位素比率而设计；2)一个延迟电位四极（RPQ）透镜，它为高丰度且影响邻近离子分辨率的离子提供选择性过滤；3)用于固体材料（如熔体包裹体、火山晶体、鱼耳石或耳石）的高空间分辨率微采样的New-Wave Micromill。资金将补充伊利诺伊大学和华盛顿州立大学的现有设施，建立一个强大的区域联盟，培训和参与同位素和环境示踪剂。MC-TIMS的收购以及与UI （Harpp）的新教师和EWU （Nezat）的年轻研究人员的新兴合作伙伴关系将激发协同努力，1)创建一个跨越生态学，生物地球化学和地质科学领域的生物地球科学跨学科项目，2)招募女性学生进入同位素地球化学领域。这一关键数量的仪器和人员将提供工具和资源，为整个地区的本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员提供全面的培训、推广和参与计划。合作者提出了一套新的，独特的综合本科和研究生课程以及研讨会，以最大限度地发挥仪器的影响。爱达荷大学承诺匹配，以确保同位素设施的立即收购和持续支持，因为PBC直接与UI的卓越研究领域保持一致。各参与大学的广泛支持承认了在同位素地球化学领域建立一个强大的区域项目的优势。

Chemical and isotopic signatures allow us to age rocks, follow the fate and transport of nutrients, reconstruct climate trends and study the migratory behaviors of animals. As the need for high precision isotopic techniques in the geological, ecological and climate sciences increases, it is critical to have both the research infrastructure to address regional research needs as well as the ability to train students on state-of-the-art equipment. This proposal is for the acquisition of a Multi-Collector Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (MC-TIMS) at the University of Idaho. This major acquisition is intended to foster an interdisciplinary regional center for isotope geochemistry and environmental tracers, the Palouse Biogeosciences Collaborative (PBC), which would support a wide array of ecological, biogeochemical and geological studies and would fill a critical research and training need within the 3 partnering universities; the University of Idaho (UI), Washington State University (WSU) and Eastern Washington University (EWU). The methodological development and application of environmental and isotopic tracers is an existing regional strength as evidenced by several interdisciplinary research groups focused on isotopic analyses of large-scale ecological, atmospheric, geologic, and hydrologic phenomena. Investment in the new MC-TIMS technology will enable us to build on this existing strength while we strategically foster research programs that expand jointly across the three campuses. A Thermo Fisher Scientific MC-TIMS, the Triton Plus along with the requested New Wave Micromill will provide the capacity for high-precision and high resolution sampling for isotopic analyses of geologic and biological materials. The requested instrument will enable researchers to quantify the isotopes of solid-state, low-ionization elements such as Nd, Pb, Ca, and Sr to understand origins, fates and transport of materials from systems across spatial scales to better understand the life history migratory salmon, the provenance of metamorphic belts, the origin and evolution of magmas, and the source of atmospheric pollutants. Examples of collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts that will be supported include employing geochemical techniques and geologic principles to understand the diversity and evolution of salmon migration in the Columbia River.Three major integrated elements of this funded award include: 1) a Multi-collector Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) designed specifically for the high precision analysis of radiogenic and cosmogenic isotope ratios; 2) a Retarding Potential Quadropole (RPQ) Lens, which provides a selective filter for ions that are in high abundance and influence the resolution of neighboring ions; and 3) a New-Wave Micromill for high spatial resolution microsampling of solid materials such as melt inclusions, volcanic crystals, and fish otoliths or earstones. Funding will complement existing facilities at UI and WSU, establishing a powerful regional consortium for training and engagement of isotopic and environmental tracers. The acquisition of a MC-TIMS and emerging partnerships with new faculty at UI (Harpp) and young investigators at EWU (Nezat), will galvanize a concerted effort to 1) create an interdisciplinary program in biogeosciences that spans fields of ecology, biogeochemistry, and geologic sciences and 2) recruit female students into the field of isotope geochemistry. This critical mass of instrumentation and personnel will provide the tools and resources to offer comprehensive programs for training, outreach and engagement of undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers across the region. The collaborators propose a new, unique set of integrated undergraduate and graduate courses as well as workshops to maximize the impact of the instrumentation. The University of Idaho has pledged match to ensure the immediate acquisition and continued support of the isotope facility, as the PBC directly aligns with signature areas of research excellence for UI. Broad support across the participating universities acknowledges the advantages of building a strong regional program in isotope geochemistry.