About

History

UCSC Stable Isotope Laboratory (SiL) was established in 1994, originally operating with two autocarbonate dual inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometers, a Fisons Optima and a Fisons Prism III, under the direction of principle investigators Dr. Christina Ravelo and Dr. Jim Zachos.

In 1996 Dr. Paul Koch joined UCSC SIL as a principle investigator and added a continuous flow elemental analyzer peripheral device to the Optima.

In 2006 a National Science Foundation Major Research Initiative grant, in cooperation with funding from UCSC Division of Physical and Biological Sciences and the UCSC Vice Chancellor of Research, added three Thermo Scientific Delta Plus XP continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometers to UCSC SIL. These systems were complimented with elemental analyzers, a Thermo Scientific Gas Bench II, a Thermo Scientific TC/EA, and a Thermo Scientifc gas chromatograph combustion peripheral system for analysis of compound specific isotope systems. Dr. Christina Ravelo, Dr. Raphe Kudela, Dr. Matt McCarthy, and Dr. Paul Koch are the principle investigators of this expanded facility.

In 2009 A Thermo Scientific Kiel IV autocarbonate device with a MAT 253 isotope ratio mass spectrometer was installed to replace the Fisons Optima system.

In 2018 a National Science Foundation Major Research Initiative in cooperation with funding from the UCSC Office of Research, the UCSC Division of Physical and Biological Sciences, the UCSC Division of Social Sciences, funded the expansion of new instrumentation for analysis of compound specific isotope systems along with the addition of sulfur isotope ratio measurement capability.