Technician Support: Phase II for the University of Wisconsin Rare Gas Geochronology Laboratory

这项赠款将在两年的时间里支持管理威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校稀有气体地质年代学实验室的实验室技术人员的一半工资。地质地球物理系已作出长期承诺的大学资金，以支持这一博士级助理科学家工作人员职位的工资的其余部分。 地质年代学确定岩石和矿物年龄的科学对于揭示地球历史中多种类型的因果关系，以及量化地球物理、生物、环境、火山和构造过程的克里思至关重要。 PI的研究采用放射性同位素地质年代学的40 Ar/39 Ar方法，以更好地了解地球磁场的历史，潜在危险火山的演变，古代浅海和大型湖泊的沉积，并校准其他基于宇宙成因同位素的计时器，包括放射性碳测年。 此外，PI与其他机构合作开展了许多项目，这些机构通常有学生参与，但没有40 Ar/39 Ar测年设施。助理科学家负责：（1）实验室活动的日常操作和监督，包括安排分析工作和培训学生和外部用户，（2）超高真空、质谱仪、激光、熔炉、电子和计算机系统的维护，（3）岩石和矿物样品的制备，包括研究生和本科生的培训和监督，（4）放射性和危险材料的辐照和储存;助理科学家是校园物理工厂和安全办公室的联系点，以及（5）数据管理，存档和报告准备。 助理科学家对所有实验室活动都至关重要，并将使我们能够参与NSF支持的EARTHTIME网络，该网络旨在使更广泛的地球科学界能够获得精确的地质年代学（http：//www.earth-time.org/）。

EAR-0516760SingerThis grant will, for two years, support half the salary of a laboratory technician who will manage the University of Wisconsin-Madison Rare Gas Geochronology Laboratory. The Department of Geology & Geophysics has made a long-term commitment of University funds to support the remainder of salary for this PhD-level Assistant Scientist staff position. Geochronology-the science of determining the ages of rocks and minerals-is essential to revealing many types of cause and effect relationships in earth history, as well as quantifying the tempo of geophysical, biological, environmental, volcanic, and tectonic processes. The PI's research employs the 40Ar/39Ar method of radioisotope geochronology to understand better the history of earth's magnetic field, evolution of potentially dangerous volcanoes, sedimentation in ancient shallow oceans and large lakes, and to calibrate other chronometers based on cosmogenic isotopes, including radiocarbon dating. Moreover, the PI pursues many projects in collaboration with other institutions, often involving students, which do not have 40Ar/39Ar dating facilities. The Assistant Scientist is responsible for: (1) day-to-day operation and oversight of laboratory activities, including scheduling analytical work and training students and outside users, (2) maintenance of ultra-high vacuum, mass spectrometer, laser, furnace, electronic, and computer systems, (3) preparation of rock and mineral samples, including training and oversight of graduate and undergraduate students, (4) irradiation and storage of radioactive and hazardous materials; the Assistant Scientist is the point of contact for the campus physical plant and safety offices, and (5) data managment, archiving, and report preparation. The Assistant Scientist is vital to all laboratory activities and will allow us to participate in the NSF-supported EARTHTIME network which aims to make precise geochronology accessible to the wider geosciences community (http://www.earth-time.org/).