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