James Moran | Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Expanding EMSL's isotope analysis capability to additional environmentally relevant sample types

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

We seek to modify instrument peripheral devices and develop needed methods to expand the suite of analytes that can be analyzed using the EMSL isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) capability…

Comprehensive comparison of taxonomic composition and metabolic functioning in oxygenic and anoxygenic microbial mats of Yellowstone hot springs

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Thomas Metz

This proposal focuses on comparing a rare, but evolutionarily important, modern laminated microbial mat formed exclusively by anoxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms and a well-studied mat formed by…

Stable Isotope Ratios of Cyanides and Phosgene

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Helen Kreuzer

This is funded research from NSD, which comes under the umbrella of NSDs 80% access to the isotope ratio mass spectrometer.

Position-specific stable isotope analysis for elucidating provenance and fate of organic matter

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

The EMSL 21T FTICR MS is amongst the highest mass resolution of any mass spec ever developed (> 6M at m/z 700 (Shaw et al., 2016)). We seek to provide a proof of concept that suitable stability…

Biological Forensics & Attribution: Chemical and Physical Analysis -- Organic Signatures

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Helen Kreuzer

Investigators of a planned or actual biocrime or bioterror incident require well characterized, independent analytical methods that will allow them to discern which growth and "weaponization…

Influences of Hydrologic Exchange Flows on River Corridor and Watershed Biogeochemical Function

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Stegen

We are developing predictive understanding of the processes that govern influences of hydrologic exchange flows on water quality, nutrient dynamics, and ecosystem health in dynamic river corridor…

Development of O-18 Isotope Ratio Measurements of Uranium Oxides and Surface Metal Oxides for Forensic Analysis

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Helen Kreuzer

Oxygen isotopic composition has proven to be useful in the forensic analysis of a variety of materials because variations in isotopic composition can reflect regional geographic differences or…

The Effects of Earthworms on Ecosystem Multifunctionality (E3M)

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Christer Jansson

In a collaborative endeavor between EMSL and the CNRS Ecotron facility in Monpellier, France, we are launching a pilot project, E3M, to explore how Ecotron’s Macrocosm platform with ecosystem-scale…

Stable Isotope Forensics: Acid Scavenger/ Agent Stabilizer Signatures Development

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Helen Kreuzer

This proposal supports the Department of Homeland Security's need for improved forensic and attribution technologies for chemical weapons. The product of the proposed work is methodology for…

Phosphorus and Carbon Cycling Directed by Spatial Plasticity in Root Exudation

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

Project type

Exploratory Research

Plant root exudates provide a significant carbon (C) source for rhizosphere microbial communities. In return, these communities help mobilize nutrients needed for plant growth. For instance,…

Combined Castor Marker and Isotope Profile for Ricin Forensics

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Helen Kreuzer

There is a need for a number of independent analytical techniques to associate different ricin samples with each other, correlate to source materials, or demonstrate processing steps have occurred…

Tracing rhizosphere carbon exchange processes and nutrient interactions

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

Rhizodeposition represents the largest flux of photosynthetically derived organic matter into soil for most terrestrial systems and, in so doing, serves as a major point of connection between…

Spatially-resolved, consortial approaches towards a mechanistic understanding of soil nitrogen fate

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Principal Investigator

Stephen Lindemann

Nitrogen acquisition is a key determinant of plant productivity and the fate of nitrogen, both applied and endogenous, is largely controlled by microbial processes. Furthermore, microbially-induced…

Elucidation of the Roles of Diazotrophic EndoPopulus: Endophyte Communities in Promoting Productivity and Resilience of Populus through Systems Biology Approaches (EndoPopulus)

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Amir Ahkami

The plant microbiome, including microbial endophytes living within plants and the epiphytes living on the plant surface, has a profound influence on the productivity and resilience of the host plant…

Integrated Stable Isotope Probing for the Comprehensive Quantitative- Characterization of Biological Dynamics and Elemental Cycling

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mary Lipton

Biological organisms dynamically function in relationship to their environment and neighboring organisms, creating a continual interplay that constitutes the ecological state. Fundamental…

Use of IRMS and Los Gatos water analyzer capabilities to support analysis of environmental and laboratory samples

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

This resource owner proposal encompasses activities exploring carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and other element reactions and transfers under environmental and laboratory conditions. The activities…

Comprehensive comparison of taxonomic composition and metabolic functioning in oxygenic and anoxygenic microbial mats of Yellowstone hot springs

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Thomas Metz

This proposal focuses on comparing a rare, but evolutionarily important, modern laminated microbial mat formed exclusively by anoxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms and a well-studied mat formed by…

Integrating mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) colloid characteristics into dissolved organic matter (DOM) representation in Earth system models

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Ravi Kukkadapu

We propose developing a workflow to generate colloids from operationally defined DOM solutions using aerosol-based techniques, then develop a spectroscopic/microscopic capability pipeline to…

Influences of Hydrologic Exchange Flows on River Corridor and Watershed Biogeochemical Function

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Stegen

We are developing predictive understanding of the processes that govern influences of hydrologic exchange flows on water quality, nutrient dynamics, and ecosystem health in dynamic river corridor…

Integrated Pennycress Resilience Project (IPReP)

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Pubudu Handakumbura

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is under development as a winter annual oilseed bioenergy crop for the 80 million-acre U.S. Midwest Corn Belt and other temperate regions including the Pacific Northwest…

Linking phosphorus and carbon in rhizosphere nutrient cycling

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

Project type

FICUS Research

Plant root exudates provide a significant carbon (C) source for rhizosphere microbial communities. In return, these communities help mobilize nutrients needed for plant growth. For instance,…

TWIN Ecosystems Project

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Nancy Hess

The goal of the TWIN ecosystem project (‘TWINS’) is to pilot laboratory and field ‘twin’ ecosystems that use sensors and autonomous controls to test the hypothesis that compositional changes in root…

Stable Isotope Probing Informatics Infrastructure for High Throughput Analyses

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

The ability to identify, quantify and trace organic compounds through a soil ecosystem is essential for characterization of the molecular mechanisms that regulate biomolecule interactions with soil…

Isotope ratio measurements for chemical provenance determination

Lead Institution

Michigan State University

Principal Investigator

James Moran

At its core, stable isotope analysis is a well-established technique for supporting chemical forensic attribution efforts. Here, we seek to employ non-traditional isotope methods by leveraging…

Model-Driven Datasets for Plant-Soil-Microbe Interactions using a RhizoCell Experimental System

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Timothy Scheibe

A critical aspect of SSA system-level studies is the iterative integration of models and experiments (ModEx) across multiple physical scales and processes. This project will produce holistic…

Influences of Hydrologic Exchange Flows on River Corridor and Watershed Biogeochemical Function

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Stegen

We are developing predictive understanding of the processes that govern influences of hydrologic exchange flows on water quality, nutrient dynamics, and ecosystem health in dynamic river corridor…

Mapping Nutrient Flow through a Plant-Microbe Symbiont System using Stable Isotope Probing under Drought and Salinity Stress

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Kim Hixson

Red alder (Alnus rubra) is one of the fastest growing, commercially important, hardwood species for biomass/timber production in North America, and is also involved in a nitrogen-fixation symbiosis…

Projects