MRI: Acquisition of a LA-MC-ICP-MS for Innovative, Interdisciplinary Research at UTEP: Student Training, Faculty Development, Institutional Excellence

该重大研究仪器（MRI）计划奖将为德克萨斯大学埃尔帕索分校（UTEP）地质科学系获得多收集器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（MC-ICP-MS）。 该仪器将用于测量岩石，环境和生物样品中重要元素的同位素比率，并将建立在三位早期职业教师的开创性同位素研究基础上。具体的研究举措包括：1）稳定同位素的应用，以解开关键的地球化学，水文和岩浆过程，控制局部和全球分布的元素，如铜，铁，锌，铬，硒，2）铜，铁，锌同位素的应用，以探测化学反应，跨越生物学和地质学之间的接口（例如，金属进入细胞的吸收），3）放射性同位素的应用，以了解地球的地质历史，以及4）元素的同位素，如锌，氯，铬和铅的指纹污染源的应用，并在环境中跟踪它们。MC-ICP-MS还将支持环境科学，医学，人类学和法医学领域的研究。该仪器为UTEP提供了先进的同位素研究设施，UTEP是美国唯一一所以墨西哥裔美国人为主的研究密集型博士大学。学生培训和教育计划的成功在很大程度上取决于我们可以提供的研究经验的类型和质量。这一工具的收购大大提高了这些培训和教育的机会，并将促进学生和教师的发展。MC-ICP-MS的管理计划将在学生培训（本科和研究生水平），教师发展和卓越研究之间发挥协同作用。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program award will acquire a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) for the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). This instrument will be used to measure the isotopic ratios of important elements in rock, environmental, and biological samples, and will build on the pioneering isotopic research of three early-career faculty members. Specific research initiatives include: 1) The application of stable isotopes to unravel the key geochemical, hydrological, and magmatic processes that control the local and global distributions of elements like Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr, and Se , 2) The application of Cu, Fe, and Zn isotopes to probe chemical reactions that span the interface between biology and geology (for example, the uptake of metals into cells), 3) The application of radiogenic isotopes to understand the geologic history of Earth, and 4) The application of the isotopes of elements like Zn, Cl, Cr, and Pb to fingerprint contaminant sources and track them in the environment. The MC-ICP-MS will additionally support research in the areas of environmental sciences, medical sciences, anthropology, and forensics. This instrument provides UTEP, the only research intensive doctoral university in the United States with a Mexican-American majority student population, with a state-of-the-art facility for advanced isotopic research. The success of student training and education initiatives depends heavily on the type and quality of research experiences we can offer. The acquisition of this instrument greatly enhances these training and educational opportunities and will foster student and faculty development. The management plan for the MC-ICP-MS will develop synergies among student training (at both the undergraduate and graduate level), faculty development, and research excellence.