Sample Submission Process – Updated! 

We have now integrated our sample submission process with our internal project management system, which includes a new web order form (found at the link below) that will improve efficiency in our work flows and ease tracking throughout the various life stages of your project, from order placement to sample receipt to data reporting. We are excited to announce these improvements in project and order management at the SIF and we thank you for your patience and assistance in following our updated submission instructions located in the link below.  

https://stableisotopefacility.ucdavis.edu/order-placement

New Hires 

Attempting to return to pre-COVID staffing levels, the SIF has been busy hiring new staff the past several months.  We are happy to announce that we are now fully staffed!  Please meet our new hires. 

James Farlin is our new Research Engineer and joined the SIF in 2023. James graduated with a PhD from the UC Davis Graduate Group in Ecology in 2016 where he used isotopes to investigate the hydrologic cycle in agricultural and natural systems.  Prior to the SIF, he worked as a field technician, field service engineer, and provided analytical instrumentation consulting and repair services on a range of analytic equipment. When not working James is often riding either a motorcycle or a mountain, depending on the season. 

Luster Serrano joined the SIF in late 2022. She was first affiliated with UC Davis Department of Chemistry in 2018 while doing her thesis to complete her master’s degree in Biochemistry. She is responsible for incoming sample processing, providing assistance to the EA-IRMS group, and for general laboratory maintenance. She likes Star Wars, and longs to meet her favorite Jedi, Ahsoka Tano. 

Madeline Wilson joined the SIF in late 2022. She assists with bacterial denitrifier preparation, as well as sample preparation for compound-specific analysis. Madeline earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Physics and a minor in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity from UC Davis. She enjoys playing video games, watching live music, and spending time with her pets. 

Katie McCarty joined the SIF in early 2023 as our Accounting and Finance Associate. Katie has worked in the finance industry for more than ten years. Current responsibilities include processing invoices, quotes, responding to SIF Accounting email inquiries and other accounts receivable tasks.

New Equipment to Support Bulk SIA of Solids (CN,S) 

In effort to help reduce our turnaround times for CN (and S) solids, alongside an increase in staffing, we recently added a 7th EA-IRMS system (“Nook”!) to our roster.  An 8th EA-IRMS will also be up and running very soon!

Carbonates 

Due to the degree of prep work required to analyze carbonates for d13C and d18O, we now accept carbonate sample submissions by appointment only.  Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

ISOBANK 

The UC Davis Stable Isotope Facility continues to serve and support ISOBANK in an advisory role. We are happy to report that the ISOBANK team has completed database development and ISOBANK is ready for use. Future developments for ISOBANK include the integration of analytical tools (e.g. spatial tools for building isoscapes), a universal laboratory quality control and database interface, DOI minting, and, so much more. We are excited by the present and future of ISOBANK and encourage you to consider ISOBANK as an open-repository for stable isotope data. Look for more information on ISOBANK as development progresses. 

https://isobank.tacc.utexas.edu

Winter Break is coming, sooner than you think 

While it’s only early August, the November and December breaks will be upon us soon enough. Please check our website for our holiday schedule and expected impacts to receipt of shipments and contact us early for billing and data timelines. 

We hope all of you have an enjoyable and productive rest of your summer.

Thank you from all of the staff at the UC Davis Stable Isotope Facility