Technician Support for the Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) Laboratory at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

该奖项部分资助了一位在伊利诺伊大学香槟分校(UIUC)最近建立的、由NSF资助的多收集器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(MC-ICP-MS)实验室发挥关键作用的技术人员。该实验室将被用来进行高精度的同位素比率测量，这在UIUC由NSF支持的地质学、人类学和环境化学几个领域的研究中至关重要。该仪器的具体应用包括：-追踪地下水和地表水中涉及潜在有毒的硒、铬和汞的化学反应-揭示岩浆产生和迁移到地球表面的过程-确定过去气候变化的年代-确定造山事件的年龄和涉及的过程-追踪人类祖先和考古文物的迁徙技术人员对于正确操作和有效使用这种先进、复杂的仪器至关重要，并使实验室能够为大量不同的学生和研究人员提供服务。技术人员的努力极大地提高了实验室的教育效果。在他的帮助下，三个班的学生使用了这种乐器。这些学生和许多使用该仪器进行论文研究的研究生在收集数据、评估其质量和解释第一手结果的过程中学习关键的科学实践。

This award partially supports a technician who plays a key role in the recently established, NSF-funded multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The laboratory will be used to make high-precision isotope ratio measurements, which are critical in NSF-supported research in several areas of Geology, Anthropology, and Environmental Chemistry at UIUC. Specific applications of the instrument include:- Tracing chemical reactions involving potentially toxic selenium, chromium, and mercury in ground water and surface water- Revealing the processes through which magmas are generated and migrate toward the Earth's surface- Determining the ages of past climate changes - Determining the ages of mountain-building events and the processes involved in them- Tracing migration of human ancestors and archaeological artifactsThe technician is essential for the proper operation and efficient use of this advanced, complex instrument and enables the laboratory to serve a large, diverse community of students and researchers. The educational impact of the laboratory is greatly enhanced by the technician's efforts. Students in three classes use the instrument with his help. These students and the many graduate students who use the instrument for thesis research learn key scientific practices as they collect data, assess its quality, and interpret first-hand results.