Laboratory Technician Support: National sample preparation facility for broadening participation, research, and hands-on research training in cosmogenic nuclide studies

该项目将佛蒙特大学的一个已建立的、最先进的、高通量的地质测年实验室转变为一个国家设施，供更广泛的科学界使用。它将提供智力资源和场所，使用整合研究和研究培训的实践模式，进行一致，可靠，高质量和以安全为重点的样品制备。在过去的几十年里，这些核素在地球科学中的使用迅速增加;然而，样品制备仍然繁琐，困难和危险，需要强酸和复杂而昂贵的清洁实验室设施和专业知识，这些都不是现成的。这一设施的做法具有成本效益，因为它依赖于现有的物质和知识基础设施，并建立在已证明的研究和研究培训成功的基础上。与专家密切合作，设施的工作人员将扩大参与，并通过积极参与学生，教师和管理人员在本科院校和研究生院服务的社区在干代表性不足，建立长期的关系。该设施将利用合作推广活动，包括校园访问和种子赠款计划，使少数民族学生和他们的教师导师到实验室这是一种新的方法，旨在扩大参与迅速扩大领域的宇宙成因同位素地球科学开放一个成功的宇宙成因地球化学实验室，以更广泛的社区。在经过测试的样品处理和培训协议的基础上，我们将通过增加10 Be和26 Al样品制备的使用来促进研究和研究培训。由于实验室有限，宇宙成因核素群体仍然很小。提供国家样品制备设施将促进新的和不同的科学家的参与，增加涉及这些同位素的项目的数量和多样性-这是变革性研究的催化剂。支持社区设施进行样本处理和研究培训具有许多不同的广泛影响。1)它直接解决了宇宙成因核素研究中的一个瓶颈：在同位素测量之前从岩石、土壤和沉积物中提取10 Be和26 Al。2)它扩大了参与，为许多学生和教师谁没有这样的设施，在他们的家庭机构提供开放的访问国家的最先进的处理设施。3)推广计划，由Semken和惠特克的经验支持，直接到教师和学生在服务于少数民族社区的机构和种子补助金计划带来教师/学生团队从历史上的黑人学院和大学以及部落学院到实验室进行有意义的合作和实践培训。4)技术人员的支持将提供研究培训同位素清洁实验室方法的学生，研究人员，教师和年轻的调查人员在各种地球科学学科通过实验室驻地，实验室咨询，每年的培训课程，为那些希望采用这些方法或开始类似的实验室。

This project transforms an established, state-of-the-art, high-throughput, geologic dating laboratory at the University of Vermont into a national facility open for use by the broader science community. It will provide both intellectual resources and a venue for consistent, reliable, high-quality, and safety-focused preparation of samples using a hands-on model that integrates research and research training. Over the past several decades, the use of these nuclides in Earth Science has increased rapidly; however, sample preparation remains tedious, difficult, and hazardous, requiring strong acids and complicated and expensive clean laboratory facilities and expertise that are not readily available. The approach of this facility is cost-effective because it relies on existing physical and intellectual infrastructure and builds on demonstrated research and research training successes. Working closely with experts, the facility staff will broaden participation and build long-term relationships by proactively engaging students, faculty, and administrators at both undergraduate institutions and graduate institutions serving communities underrepresented in STEM. The facility will use collaborative outreach activities including campus visits and a seed grant program to bring minority students and their faculty mentors to the laboratoryThis is a new approach aimed at broadening participation in the rapidly expanding field of cosmogenic isotope geoscience by opening a successful cosmogenic geochemistry laboratory to the broader community. Building upon tested sample-processing and training protocols, we will facilitate research and research training by increasing access to 10Be and 26Al sample preparation. Because of limited laboratory availability, the cosmogenic nuclide community has remained small. Providing a national sample preparation facility will catalyze the inclusion of new and different scientists, increasing the number and diversity of projects involving these isotopes - a catalyst for transformative research. Supporting a community facility for sample processing and research training has numerous different broader impacts. 1) It directly addresses a current bottleneck in cosmogenic nuclide studies: the extraction of 10Be and 26Al from rock, soil, and sediment that precedes isotopic measurement. 2) It broadens participation by providing open access to a state-of-the-art processing facility for the many students and faculty who do not have such a facility at their home institutions. 3) The outreach program, supported by the experience of Semken and Whittaker, goes directly to faculty and students at institutions serving minority communities and the seed grant program brings faculty/student teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as Tribal Colleges to the laboratory for meaningful collaboration and hands-on training. 4) Technician support will provide for research training in isotopic clean lab methods for students, researchers, faculty, and young investigators in a variety of geoscience disciplines through lab residencies, lab consultancies, a yearly training course for those wishing to adopt these methods or start a similar laboratory.