Plant and soil analytical sample preparation system

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I am requesting funds to purchase an integrated system allowing for the accurate and rapid processing of biological samples (plant tissue and soils) in support of my ongoing and future research in plant ecology. Broadly, my research program focuses on obtaining a mechanistic understandings of plant-plant interactions, plant-soil interactions, plant-chemical ecology, community assembly, plant foraging behaviour, and the impacts of disturbance and change (e.g. invasion, warming, herbivory, etc) on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Combined these research areas are critical to helping Canada mitigate the negative consequences of many human-induced changes to natural systems. Further, this information will better inform our basic understanding of natural systems and plant biology, with implications both for an economy heavily dependent upon natural resources and for our ability to maintain Canada’s biodiversity into the future. The proposed system has two phases (1) weight determination, and (2) tissue disruption. Sample processing is fundamental to the research conducted in my lab, and at least one of the two stages is performed on approximately 10,000 samples per year. These funds will be used to purchase two analytical balances (including one highly precise microbalance), a bead mill to grind biological samples, and control software and hardware. The existing balances in my lab have outlived their useful lives, and are no longer able to be calibrated. Failure to have reliable balances introduces error at the heart of all scientific inquires in my research group. Consequently, the balances are in urgent need of replacement. My research group does not currently have a bead mill for high-throughput tissue disruption, and we have instead borrowed time on those in the labs of colleagues. As my research program has increased its dependence on methods drawn from molecular biology and chemistry, I have also increased the number of samples generated each year requiring tissue disruption allow proper chemical reactions. At this point, the number of samples my research group processes annually is too great to be accommodated by equipment in other labs, without causing negative impacts on the research activities of others. Thus, it is critical this equipment be purchased so that my lab members can have unfettered access, facilitating research discovery. Though all of this equipment will be heavily used by my own lab members, I will also invite colleagues and students to use the equipment when need arises. I have benefited greatly from the generosity of colleagues, and am more than happy to offer such generosity in return.