Stable Isotopes in Environmental Biology
January 23 - 24, 2024
Stable Isotopes in Environmental Biology: Analyses of stable isotopes at the root-soil-microbe interface
January 23-24, 2024 | Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
Virtual registration open for January 23 presentations. In-person registration has closed.
Are you interested in learning how to apply stable isotope techniques to your research?
Join the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) for a workshop on stable isotope theory and application related to environmental fluxes at the root-soil-microbe interface. Presenters will demonstrate how using different spatial scales and stable isotope techniques contribute to advancing the fundamental understanding of environmental and plant science, Earth and climate science, forensics, and biogeochemistry, as well as promote cross-disciplinary partnerships.
Attendees will learn about analytical instrumentation, sample preparation techniques (including stable isotope probing), and state-of-the-art methodologies for stable isotope measurements. These capabilities are available through the EMSL User Program.
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sessions also available online.
Session 1: Stable Isotope Profiling Using IRMS Capability at EMSL
8 a.m. Opening remarks and overview of EMSL and the Rhizosphere Function Integrated Research Platform (IRP)
- Amir Ahkami | Biologist and Rhizosphere Function IRP Leader | EMSL
8:15 a.m. Overview of the Biogeochemical Transformations IRP
- Emily Graham | Earth scientist and Biogeochemical Transformations IRP Leader | EMSL
8:30 a.m. Introduction to stable isotopes and overview of the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS)
- James Moran | PNNL Joint Appointee and Associate Professor| Michigan State University
- Sophie Lehmann | Earth scientist | EMSL and PNNL
9:25 a.m. Networking break
Session 1: Contributing Talks
9:45 a.m. | Session 1 | Speaker #1
"Using stable isotopes to unveil feeding relationships of soil fauna"
- Katalin Szlavecz | Research professor | Johns Hopkins University
10:10 a.m. | Session 1 | Speaker #2
"Use of stable isotopes to study plant metabolism and root exudation"
- Doug Allen | Principal investigator | Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
10:35 a.m. | Session 1 | Speaker #3
"Don't balk at bulk stable isotopes: δ13C applications to advance fundamental understanding of soil carbon formation, turnover, and loss"
- Courtney Creamer | Research soil scientist | U.S. Geological Survey
Session 1: Flash Talks
11 a.m. | Session 1 | Flash Talk #1
"Fungal necromass contributions to soil organic matter and carbon pools"
- Stephanie N. Schmid | PhD student | Syracuse University
11:07 a.m. | Session 1 | Flash Talk #2
"Dead or alive: expanding mycorrhizal influence on soil C storage"
- Lang Delancey | PhD student | University of Minnesota
11:14 a.m. | Session 1 | Flash Talk #3
"Carbon dynamics of a long-term litter manipulation in Wisconsin woodlands and restored prairie"
- Mia Keady| PhD student | University of Wisconsin
11:25 a.m. Lunch and Hands on tutorial: Sample Preparation Using Tin Capsules
Session 2: Stable Isotope Profiling Using NanoSIMS and NMR Capabilities at EMSL
12:40 p.m. Overview of NMR capability at EMSL for stable isotope work
- Robert Young | Chemist | EMSL
1:10 p.m. Overview of NanoSIMS capability at EMSL for stable isotope work
- Jeremy Bougoure| Chemist | EMSL
Session 2: Contributing Talks
1:40 p.m. | Session 2 | Speaker #1
"The use of Laser Ablation-IRMS for rhizosphere study"
- James Moran | PNNL Joint Appointee and Associate Professor| Michigan State University
2:05 p.m. | Session 2 | Speaker #2
Temperature-dependent oxygen and carbon isotope fractionation in otoliths of juvenile Chinook salmon"
- Megan Nims | Chemist | PNNL
2:30 p.m. | Session 2 | Speaker #3
"Tracing fertilizer fates through the sorghum rhizosphere with 15N omics, geochemistry, and trace gas isotopocules"
- Holly Andrews | Postdoctoral researcher | University of Arizona
Session 2: Flash Talks
2:55 p.m. | Session 2 | Flash Talk #1
"Developing a Method to Make Isotopically Labeled Mineral Associated Organic Matter"
- Elaine Hoffman | PhD student | Indiana University
3:02 p.m. Session 2 | Flash Talk #2
"The network between rhizosphere microbes and host plant"
- Wei Ren | Postdoctoral researcher | Oklahoma State University
3:10 p.m. Session 2 | Flash Talk #3
- Jessica Edmonds | PhD student | University of Idaho
3:17 p.m. Networking break
3:40 p.m. EMSL User Program involvement and upcoming LSR & FICUS calls
4 p.m. One-on-one with IRMS staff
5 p.m. End of Day One
6 p.m. No host reception/networking (optional)
- Bombing Range Brewing Company, 200 Logston Blvd., #126, Richland, Wash., 99354
Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024
7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
EMSL
Session 3: EMSL Tours of IRMS, NanoSIMS, and NMR Labs
7:45 a.m. | Tour Groups/Networking (Morning refreshments provided)
8 to 11 a.m. | Tours
IRMS Lab Tour
- Sophie Lehmann| Earth scientist | EMSL
Plant Lab Tour for SIP and sample preparation
- Vimal Balasubramanian | Biologist | EMSL
NMR Lab Tour
- John Cort | Chemist | EMSL
NanoSIMS Lab Tour
- Jeremy Bougoure | Chemist | EMSL
11:10 a.m. | IRMS data normalization and final questions on capabilities and EMSL collaboration