UC TSR&TP

UC Toxics News Winter/Spring 99


	Table of Contents	Previous Article	Next Article
Collaborative Research Opportunities at LLNL's Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry by John P. Knezovich Director of the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry at LLNL
Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is an exceptionally sensitive technique for measuring concentrations of specific isotopes (i.e., ³H, ¹⁴C, ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, ³⁶Cl, ⁴¹Ca, ⁶³Ni, ⁹⁹Tc, ¹²9I) in relatively small samples (e.g., < 1mg). The sensitivity and precision of AMS has lead to a variety of applications in environmental and biological research. For example, ¹⁴C-AMS has been successfully used to overcome limitations in detection sensitivity for studying the molecular damage caused by exposure to chronic low-dose exposure of environmental carcinogens and pollutants. Recent work has demonstrated the feasibility of assessing the distribution and transformation of labeled compounds in humans. Such research is feasible because AMS provides for 10⁸ greater sensitivity over stable-isotope labeling techniques and 10⁶ greater sensitivity than decay counting, thereby permitting experiments to be conducted with negligible exposure to radiation.

Graduate Student Stephanie Jeske operates the CAMS nuclear microprobe that is being used to assess the concentrations and distributions of metals in biological samples. Photo courtesy of John Knezovich.
The Center for AMS (CAMS) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is part of the University of California Institutes program. The primary goal of this program is to enhance the opportunities of campus investigators by making available to them some of Livermore’s unique facilities and expertise, and to broaden the scientific scope of Laboratory investigators by encouraging collaborative work with campus scientists. This program provides support for new applications of AMS and nuclear microprobe technologies directed toward research in areas that are currently being emphasized in CAMS. These areas include: a) biology and biomedical applications using AMS to trace very small amounts of tagged chemicals; b) research in the geosciences covering broad areas relating to geophysics, hydrology, and atmospheric science as well as chronologies of pre-historical events; and c) research in elemental distribution at cellular levels using nuclear microprobe techniques. This list is intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. Through the CAMS Institute, funding is currently available to pursue joint research projects with campus faculty and graduate students. Proposals are due July 1 and selected projects will begin October 1, 1999. Detailed instructions for submitting proposals can be found either at the CAMS or LLNL University Relations Program websites (http://www-ep.es.llnl.gov/www-ep/cams.php or http://ep.llnl.gov/urp/URPTop.php). A CAMS staff member must be an integral collaborator on the project. Campus scientists should contact one of the CAMS staff members, who are listed below, for help in establishing appropriate contacts for projects they may wish to jointly pursue. Funding for individual projects will be in the range of $5,000 to $25,000 for one year with possibility of renewal. Support may be used for a variety of purposes including: salary support for graduate and post doctoral researchers, technicians, supplies, field work expenses, and travel costs to Livermore. The number of sample analyses at CAMS must be identified in the scope of work to be performed, and sample analysis may be requested in lieu of direct funding. The UC campus overhead charge is waived by the President's Office, and administrative costs are not supported. Investigators are encouraged to make enough progress under CAMS sponsorship that they can make a convincing case for obtaining follow-on funding, either from external agencies or from other LLNL programs. Opportunities for graduate student interaction with LLNL also are possible through the Student-Employee Graduate Research Fellowship (UCD students only) and Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs. Information about these programs can be obtained from the University Relations Program website listed above. CAMS currently has particular interest in soliciting resumes for postdoctoral positions in analytical biochemistry. In addition, the TSR&TP has individual travel awards of up to $500 available for graduate students to pursue campus-Lab collaborations. Information on these awards can be found on the TSR&TP website. CAMS Contact Information Mailing address: Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, L-397 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, California 94550 Postdoctoral positions: John Knezovich (925) 422-0925; knezovich1@llnl.gov Biology/toxicology: Bruce Buchholz (925) 422-1739; buchholz2@llnl.gov Geosciences: Bob Finkel (925) 422-2044; finkel1@llnl.gov Elemental distribution: Graham Bench: (925) 423-5155; bench1@llnl.gov Administrative: Nanette Sorensen: (925) 422-9670; sorensen5@llnl.gov CAMS FAX: (925) 423-7884
	Table of Contents	Previous Article	Next Article