Autoclave and multiport injector for removing experimental bottlenecks in microbial isotopic assays

这里要求的RTI资金将用于消除两个实验瓶颈，这两个瓶颈正在影响我们高效和准确地运行地质导向的微生物进化实验的能力。具体地说，我们要求支持台式大容量高压灭菌器和用于质谱分析的定制多端口进样系统。这两台设备将使我们能够在目前所需时间的50%左右进行微生物分馏实验的同位素分析。该RTI奖支持的设备将是一系列研究项目的一部分，范围从博士水平的实验到短期的本科生研究经验。特别是，它将成为麦吉尔稳定同位素实验室为NSERC合作研究和培训经验加拿大天体生物学培训计划下的博士后、研究生和本科生培训计划的核心内容。

The RTI funding requested here will go to remove two experimental bottlenecks that are affecting our ability to efficiently and precisely run geologically directed microbial evolution experiments. Specifically, we are asking for support for a benchtop high-volume autoclave and a custom-built multiport injection system for mass spectrometric analyses. Both of these pieces of equipment will enable us to run isotopic assays of microbial fractionation experiments in ~50% of the time that it currently takes. The equipment supported under this RTI award will be part of a host of research projects, ranging from PhD-level experiments to short-term undergraduate research experiences. In particular, it will become a centerpiece in the McGill Stable Isotope Laboratory's training program for post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate trainees under the NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience Canadian Astrobiology Training Program.