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

PI申请资金用于购买最先进的高分辨率混合质谱系统和相关外围设备（LC-MSn）。拟议的仪器代表了ODU在海洋生态系统研究方面的研究能力的战略扩展，并将为教师，研究人员和学生团队提供新的关键研究工具。LC-MSn仪器将用于多种极性分子的结构表征和定量分析，其中大多数是生物起源，代表生物材料和代谢物，包括那些新兴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来阐明北冰洋有机质的生物地球化学循环；利用环境蛋白质组学研究海洋氮循环和地球化学过程海岸带生态系统有机氮转化分析与海洋原生生物相关的有机分子表征并讨论了溶解有机配体在微量金属吸附和生物利用度中的作用。这种新的仪器将促进正在进行和未来的研究项目的进一步发展，这些项目需要新的分析复杂性来表征海洋和河口生态系统及其环境背景中存在的有机化合物。更广泛的影响：所要求的仪器将有助于研究基础设施的持续发展。研究生和本科生都将受益于这个最先进的设施。ODU通过弗吉尼亚水族馆和海洋科学中心开展了外展计划，为公众外展提供了极好的机会。通过水族馆和公开讲座来突出使用该仪器的研究。

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.