Cornell University Stable Isotope Laboratory Staff

Cornell University Stable Isotope Laboratory 2004-2005

Arthur T. Kasson – Laboratory Manager
Contact information:
Office: (607) 254-1382
Fax: (607) 255-8088
coil@cornell.edu

Art graduated from Mansfield University in 1998 with a Bachelors degree in Biology. The main focus of his research dealt with quantitative evaluation of macrobenthic invertebrates in varying aquatic conditions as a measure of watershed sustainability. He also performed an independent study on evolutionary processes in regards to island population biogeography.

After graduation, Art worked for Friend Laboratory Inc., an independently owned environmental laboratory located in Waverly, NY until the spring of 2000. There he worked in the field of atomic absorption spectrophotometry, performing trace metal analyses on water and soil samples. He was also involved in measuring landfill related samples for levels of mercury, arsenic, and selenium using approved EPA methodologies.

Beginning in May 2000, Art began working for the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) as a research assistant in Jonathan Comstock’s laboratory. During the summer of 2000 he collected samples for isotopic analysis from various national parks in the western United States. In 2001, Art transferred to the Cornell-Boyce Thompson Stable Isotope Laboratory as a research technician. Throughout the course of 2001, he became proficient in the field of IRMS. Art became the facility manager in January 2002. His duties as laboratory manager include maintenance and troubleshooting of instrumentation; calibration of instruments; prepping of various sample types, as well as teaching students proper prepping techniques; preliminary evaluation of sample data; laboratory invoicing; and establishing an annual budget.

Art has remained active in the field of continuous flow IRMS. He attends the Canadian CF-IRMS Workshop on an annual basis. During April 2003 he attended the Isomass Scientific Training Course held at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario. During this time he was certified in specific aspects of isotope ratio mass spectrometry related to Finnigan MAT instrumentation, peripherals, and software.

In 2004 Art moved along with the facility to a new location on Cornell University's campus. The facility is now located within Corson Hall and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Kimberlee L. Sparks - Research Support Specialist II
Office: (607) 254- 4209
Fax: (607) 255-8088
Corson Hall E409
kls37@cornell.edu

Kim joined the COIL technical staff in July 2004 and is responsible for daily operation of the Delta Plus IRMS and assisting researchers with sample preparation. She began studying biology at UC Santa Barbara, majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (B.S. 1997) and continued to study plant ecology at Washington State University (M.S. 2000). From Washington State she moved to the University of Colorado, Boulder, working as a technician in the sub-alpine forest zone of the Rocky Mountains. She was primarily involved with quantifying the terrestrial carbon pools associated with an Ameriflux tower. In 2002 she began working at Cornell University as a Research Support Specialist. Her research includes a variety of topics focusing on the interaction of plants and their environment. In particular she has studied plant geographical range characteristics, effects of ozone on photosynthesis, plant ability to use gaseous reactive nitrogen compounds, and nitrogen cycling in the Mojave Desert and southern Florida. She has continued to gain valuable experience by attending seminars such as Light Element Isotopic Analysis (Cornell University, Tom Brenna) and Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry (Michigan State University, Nathanial Ostrom and Peggy Ostrom).

For more information on Kim's publications and research experience visit http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/sparks/kim/kimpage.html

COIL Steering Committee

Jed P. Sparks – COIL Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

J. Thomas Brenna – Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences, member of the Graduate Fields of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and of Geological Sciences

Louis A. Derry – Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Current Student Workers and Interns

Elizabeth Giorgos – Laboratory Assistant III – Lizz is currently a junior studying Biology at Cornell University. She has been with the facility since August 2003. Past research experience has included DNA analysis at the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center and working with restriction fragment length polymorphisms as part of the Stonybrook Biotechnology Program. Lizz has also been involved with the Cornell University Theatre Department productions throughout her time here in Ithaca. Lizz is from Long Island, NY.

Robert Jones – Laboratory Assistant II - Rob is currently a sophmore Cornell Tradition Fellow studying Biology and Chemistry in a pre-med capacity. Rob has been with COIL since September 2004. Rob spent the 2003 summer studying Information Technology at Drexel University. Rob is from Scranton, PA.

Past student workers and interns