Early Career: Instrumentation and technical support for opening new frontiers in energy and environment research

这项早期职业补助金支持购买GC-Isolink，并在西弗吉尼亚大学地质和地理系的新稳定同位素实验室提供两年的专业技术支持。该仪器增加了单个化合物（包括碳氢化合物和溶解天然气）同位素分析的新能力。仪器将通过安装在同位素实验室的Conflo IV装置的低流量出口与Delta V优势同位素比质谱仪连接。该奖项将帮助WVU同位素设施成为推进地球科学研究和培训的核心中心，主要关注美国国家科学基金会（NSF）的能源和环境主题。可持续发展的科学、工程和教育（SEES）项目。PI的两个区域？美国的研究项目将特别受益于这笔拨款，包括：1)对黑页岩沉积的生物地球化学控制，以及与页岩气开采相关的环境问题；2)二氧化碳封存中的气-液-岩相互作用，以及增强地热系统。该奖项将提高PI？区域大学联盟（RUA）由美国能源部和国家能源技术实验室共同开发，旨在解决新兴的能源和环境问题。收购新仪器将大大加强马塞勒斯页岩计划、先进能源计划和国家煤炭和能源研究中心正在进行的研究；西弗吉尼亚大学为推进该地区的能源研究而建立的三个全校范围的项目。因此，该奖项为整个州和地区开辟了新的研究前沿。此外，一个非常有才华和多样化的研究团队的研究项目，他们目前正在和/或正在参与WVU的稳定同位素研究，将受益。研究、教学和实践培训相结合，将为学生提供更好地了解同位素基础及其在多个STEM学科中的应用的机会，同时也有助于PI的早期职业发展。

This Early Career grant supports the acquisition of a GC-Isolink and two years of dedicated technician support in the new Stable Isotope Laboratory in the Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University (WVU). The instrument adds new capability of isotope analyses of individual compounds including hydrocarbons and dissolved natural gases. The instrument will be connected to the Delta V Advantage Isotope ratio mass spectrometer via the low flow outlet of Conflo IV device installed in the isotope laboratory. The award will help the WVU Isotope facility to become a core center for advancing research and training in the Earth Sciences with primary focus on the energy and environment topics targeted in the NSF?s Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES) program. Two areas of the PI?s research program that will specifically benefit from this grant include 1) biogeochemical controls on black shale deposition and environmental issues associated with shale gas extraction and, 2) gas-fluid-rock interactions in CO2 sequestration and enhanced geothermal systems.This award will enhance PI?s ability to capitalize and meet goals of the Regional University Alliance (RUA) developed by the Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Lab to address the emerging energy and environment issues. Acquisition of new instrumentation will greatly strengthen the ongoing research within the Marcellus Shale Initiative, Advanced Energy Initiative, and National Research Center for Coal and Energy; the three campus-wide programs established at WVU for advancing energy research in the region. Therefore, this award opens up new research frontiers across the state and the region. In addition, research programs of a very talented and diverse group of research faculty who are currently engaged and/or getting involved in stable isotope research at WVU will be benefited. The combined research, teaching and hands-on training will provide opportunities for students to develop a better understanding of the isotope basics and its application in several STEM disciplines while also contributing to the early career development of the PI.