MRI: Acquisition of a Hybrid Mass Spectrometry System for the Next Generation of Multidisciplinary Geosciences Research, Student Education and Training

PI要求获得资金，以获得最先进的、高分辨率的混合质谱分析系统和相关的外围设备(LC-MSN)。拟议的仪器代表了海洋生态系统研究中ODU研究能力的战略扩展，并将为一个由教师、研究人员和学生组成的团队提供新的关键研究工具。LC-MSN仪器将用于一系列不同的极性分子的结构表征和定量分析，其中大多数是起源于生物的，代表活的物质和代谢物，包括那些新出现的环境和生态健康问题。一系列跨学科研究活动将受益于拟议的仪器，包括：通过分析分子有机标记，阐明北冰洋有机物质的生物地质化学循环；利用环境蛋白质组学了解海洋氮循环和地球化学过程；分析沿海系统中有机氮的转化；表征与海洋原生动物有关的有机分子；研究溶解有机配体在痕量金属的吸收和生物可利用性方面的作用。这一新仪器将促进正在进行的和未来的研究项目的进一步发展，这些项目需要更高水平的分析精确度来表征海洋和河口生态系统中存在的有机化合物及其环境背景。更广泛的影响：所要求的仪器将有助于继续发展研究基础设施。研究生和本科生都将从这个最先进的设施中受益。ODU通过弗吉尼亚水族馆和海洋科学中心开展了一项外展计划，为公众提供了极好的外展机会。将通过水族馆和公开讲座突出使用该仪器所产生的研究。

The PI's request funding to acquire a state-of-the-art, high-resolution, hybrid mass spectrometry system and associated peripherals (LC-MSn). The proposed instrumentation represents a strategic expansion of ODU research capabilities in marine ecosystem studies and will provide new critical research tools for a team of faculty, researchers and students. The LC-MSn instrumentation will be used for structural characterization and quantitative analysis of a diverse suite of polar molecules, most of which are biotic in origin and represent living materials and metabolites, including those of emerging environmental and ecological health concerns. A range of interdisciplinary research activities will benefit from the proposed instrumentation, include: elucidating biogeochemical cycling of organic matter in the Arctic Ocean by analysis of molecular organic markers; utilizing environmental proteomics to understand marine nitrogen cycling and geochemical processes; analyzing transformations of organic nitrogen in coastal systems; characterizing organic molecules associated with marine protists; and addressing the roles of dissolved organic ligands in the sorption and bioavailability of trace metals. This new instrumentation will facilitate further development of ongoing and future research projects that require new levels of analytical sophistication for characterization of organic compounds present in marine and estuarine ecosystems and their environmental context. Broader Impacts: The requested instrumentation will help the continued development of infrastructure for research. Graduate students as well as undergraduate students will benefit from this state-of-the-art facility. ODU has an outreach program through the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center which provides excellent opportunities for public outreach. The research derived from the use of the instrument is to be highlighted through the aquarium and public lectures.