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对岩石进行年龄测定，跟踪营养物质的命运和运输，重建气候趋势，并研究动物的迁徙行为。随着地质、生态和气候科学对高精度同位素技术的需求增加，关键是既要有满足区域研究需要的研究基础设施，又要有能力培训学生使用最先进的设备。这项提案是为了在爱达荷州大学购买一台多收集器热电离质谱仪(MC-TIMS)。这一重大收购旨在促进一个跨学科的区域同位素地球化学和环境示踪中心--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，并将满足爱达荷大学(UI)、华盛顿州立大学(WSU)和东华盛顿大学(EWU)这3所合作大学的关键研究和培训需求。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侧重于大规模生态、大气、地质和水文现象的同位素分析证明了这一点。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再接再厉，同时我们从战略上促进研究项目在三个校区联合扩展。作为Thermo Fisher Science MC-TIMS的一种，Triton Plus以及所要求的新浪潮微型磨机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采样的能力。所要求的仪器将使研究人员能够量化固态、低电离元素，如Nd、Pb、Ca和Sr的同位素，以了解物质的起源、命运和跨空间尺度的系统迁移，以更好地了解鲑鱼的生活史、变质带的起源、岩浆的起源和演化以及大气污染物的来源。将得到支持的跨学科协作努力的例子包括利用地球化学技术和地质学原理来了解哥伦比亚河鲑鱼迁徙的多样性和进化。这项资助奖项的三个主要集成元素包括：1)多收集器热电离质谱仪(TIMS)，专门用于高精度的放射性和宇宙成因同位素比率分析；2)延迟电位四极透镜(RPQ)，它为高丰度离子提供选择性过滤器，影响邻近离子的分辨率；以及3)新波微型磨床，用于对熔融包裹体、火山晶体和鱼耳石等固体材料进行高空间分辨率显微采样。资金将补充伊利诺伊大学和西苏里大学的现有设施，建立一个强大的区域联合体，培训和参与同位素和环境示踪剂。收购MC-TIMS以及与伊利诺伊大学(Harpp)的新教员和EWU(Nezat)的年轻研究人员建立新的合作伙伴关系，将促使各方共同努力：1)创建一个跨越生态、生物地球化学和地质科学领域的生物地质科学跨学科项目；2)招收同位素地球化学领域的女学生。这些关键的仪器设备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的培训、推广和参与提供全面的计划。合作者提出了一套新的、独特的本科和研究生综合课程以及研讨会，以最大限度地发挥仪器的影响。爱达荷大学已承诺Match将确保立即获得并继续支持同位素设施，因为PBC直接与UI的标志性卓越研究领域保持一致。参与大学的广泛支持承认了在同位素地球化学方面建立强大的地区性项目的优势。

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.