Stable isotope short courses - University of Utah

[Alex Bond]

2013 Stable Isotope Short Courses at the University of Utah

 

Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry and Ecology, June 3-14, 2013

 

Isotopes in Spatial Ecology and Biogeochemistry, June 17-28, 2013

 

https://itce.utah.edu/courses.html

 

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We are pleased to open the application period for the 2013 Stable Isotope Short Courses at the University of Utah. In addition to the 18^th annual offering of the Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry and Ecology Course (aka “Iso-Camp”) this year we are introducing a new companion course, Isotopes in Spatial Ecology and Biogeochemistry (aka “The SPATIAL Short Course”), focused on large datasets, spatial analysis and modeling, and scaling with isotopic data.

 

Both classes will be limited-enrollment, multi-instructor lecture (morning) and laboratory (afternoon) short courses. The courses are targeted to graduate students and postdoctoral investigators interested in learning more about the applications of stable isotopes at natural abundance levels to environmental, biogeochemical, marine, and ecological studies. A limited number of lecture-only slots will be reserved for postdocs and faculty looking to gain exposure to scientific and technical course content without the full emersion experience offered by the full lecture+lab sequence. The courses will:

 

1) be offered at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City

 

2) be limited to 25-27 participants in order to maximize interaction and access to laboratory resources; an additional 5 openings for the lecture-only course will be made available for postdocs and faculty

 

3) consist of a morning lecture/discussion and an afternoon laboratory; each course will feature ~17 instructors, experts selected from across the country for their breadth and for their interest in teaching and interacting with students

 

4) include a hands-on laboratory experience each day.

 

For Iso-Camp the laboratory experiences will include full access and use of ThermoElectron isotope ratio mass spectrometers and Picarro cavity-ring down spectrometers; the IRMS is equipped with elemental analyzers, continuous flow capacities, GC, TCEA, pre-con, laser, common-acid-bath; available also are vacuum preparation lines for organic and inorganic compounds of biological and environmental interest.

 

For the SPATIAL short course students will work with Picarro CRDS analyzers and a range of geospatial data management and modeling software, including ArcGIS, IsoMAP, and various research software packages developed and used by the instructors, their students, and collaborators.

 

Many of the evenings in both courses will be set aside for discussions of current research interests, group dinners, additional talks, and also there will be opportunities for social events in the nearby Wasatch Mountains.

 

Typically our applicants have come from all across the United States as well as from many different foreign countries. We select students with a diversity of academic interests, geographical diversity, and research experiences in mind. We seek students with broad interests who are interested in learning broadly about stable isotope applications and in interacting with both other students and faculty. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups. Past participants have had backgrounds in disciplines including animal and plant physiology, ecology and ecosystem science, biogeochemistry, anthropology, atmospheric science, marine science, oceanography, paleontology, forensic science, industry, and geology.

 

Applications will be accepted until February 8, 2013. Application forms for both courses can be reached through the webpage https://itce.utah.edu/apply.html. We will notify applicants about February 28, 2013 regarding acceptance into the course and how to begin planning for lodging arrangements, tuition payments, reading materials, etc.

 

We will be offering a limited number of scholarships to support course fees and lodging expenses for participants in each course. If you are interested in being considered for one of the scholarships, additional information beyond the initial application is required. Details are posted on the application website. We will announce scholarship recipients on or about February 28, 2013 as well.

 

On behalf of the other instructors who participate in these courses from our campus as well as from across the United States, let us say that we look forward to your application and encourage you to explore our website.

 

Happy Holidays.

 

Gabe Bowen, Thure Cerling, and Jim Ehleringer