Overview of Research

The lab's research focuses on living and fossil organisms, and how they are chemically linked to the global environment. Using measurements of the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen our group is working to elucidate information about metabolism and environment, both in the Human environment, and through Geologic Time.

We have the capability to perform carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur stable isotope analyses on most geological and biological substrates. Our facilities include two stable isotope mass spectrometer systems: a Micromass Isoprime configured with a Eurovector elemental analyzer, an HP6890 GC with combustion interface, and a micro dual inlet with an Aquaprep water equilibrator; and a Thermo DeltaV Advantage configured with a Costech ECS 40210 elemental analyzer and a TC/EA. We also have a full complement of vacuum lines for offline sample and standard gas preparation.