MRI: Acquisition: Establishment of the Midwest Isotope and Trace Element Research Analytical Center (MITERAC)

MITERAC将扩大来自印第安纳州和密歇根州6所大学的18名研究人员的研究工作。这将通过在磁共振成像计划的资助下购买以下新仪器来实现，这些仪器将与现有的高分辨率元素2电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（带有213纳米激光烧蚀装置和液相色谱系统）相结合：多收集器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（MC-ICP-MS）、193纳米激光烧蚀和微钻孔系统以及专用汞分析仪。MC-ICP-MS仪器将使研究人员能够从各种环境和地质样品中获得高度精确和准确的同位素数据。应使用193 nm激光系统和微钻以高空间分辨率获取高质量同位素数据;即从地质和考古样品中获取10 s至100 s的微米级数据。汞分析仪将用于量化环境样品中的汞含量，作为污染补救方面正在进行的研究调查的一部分。MITERAC将是一个专门从事同位素地球化学和微量元素研究的设施;本科生、研究生和教职员工都可以使用。MITERAC的建立将为来自6所大学的研究生和本科生提供处理和解释同位素数据的经验，以及在圣母大学进行最新ICP-MS技术和高度创新仪器的关键实践培训和专业知识;培训对他们的科学发展至关重要。该设施将致力于研究，涵盖广泛的研究学科，包括岩石学，行星地质学，人类学，环境，工程（污染物修复），核法医学，地质微生物学和水文学;后者的研究领域对社会问题有直接影响。我们建议的设施将吸引来自世界各地的科学家/工程师和随行学生进行高度创新的研究，最终提高所有参与者的教育体验。

MITERAC shall expand the research endeavors of 18 researchers from 6 universities in Indiana and Michigan. This will be accomplished via the acquisition of the following new instruments with funding from the MRI Program, which will be combined with the existing high resolution Element 2 ICP-MS (with 213 nm laser ablation unit and liquid chromatographic system): multiple collector-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS), 193 nm laser ablation and microdrilling systems, and dedicated Hg analyzers. The MC-ICP-MS instrumentation shall provide researchers the capacity to obtain highly precise and accurate isotope data from various types of environmental and geological samples. The 193 nm laser system and microdrill shall be used to acquire high quality, isotope data at high spatial resolution; i.e. 10s to 100s of micron scale from geological and archaeological samples. The Hg analyzers shall be used to quantify mercury levels in environmental samples as part of on-going research investigations in pollution remediation.MITERAC shall be a facility specializing in isotope geochemistry and trace element research; one that is fully accessible to undergraduates and graduate students, and faculty. The establishment of MITERAC will provide both graduate and undergraduate students from 6 universities with experience in handling and interpretation of isotope data, and critical hands-on training and expertise at Notre Dame in latest ICP-MS technology and highly innovative instrumentation; training that is critical to their scientific development. The facility will address research covering a broad range of research disciplines, including petrology, planetary geology, anthropology, the environment, engineering (pollutant remediation), nuclear forensics, geomicrobiology, and hydrology; the latter research areas having a direct impact on societal issues. Our proposed facility shall attract scientists/engineers and accompanying students from around the world to conduct their highly innovative research, which ultimately enhances the educational experiences of all involved.