UC Santa Cruz
Stable Isotope Laboratory

We provide light stable isotope ratio analysis services to scientists from UCSC and around the world.

For heavy isotope ratio analysis user facilities please refer to our friends in the UCSC Plasma Analytical Laboratory.


Analysis highlights

Isotope ratios δ13CCO3  and δ18OCO3 of 5-200 µg carbonate measured with a KielIV + MAT253

Isotope ratios δ15N  and δ13C of nanomolar samples measured with a custom nanoEA device

Compound specific isotope ratios δ13CAA or δ15NAA of amino acids measured with GC-C-iRMS

Staff (Contact us)

Erick
Cano

Contact for general questions and isotopic analysis inquiries

ecano4@ucsc.edu

Stephanie
Christensen

Contact for compound specific isotope analysis of amino acids

stchrist@ucsc.edu

Faculty PIs

Dr. James Zachos

Dr. Christina Ravelo

Dr. Matthew McCarthy

Dr. Pratigya Polissar

Dr. Raphe Kudela

Dr. Paul Koch

Dr. Vicky Oelze

Dr. Margaret Zimmer

Green labs

Laboratories consume a disproportionate amount of resources compared to other university spaces like classrooms and offices. We are working with UCSC Green Labs and UCSC Carbon Fund to reduce our energy consumption.

Land honoring

The land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands and heal from historical trauma.