Analytical Services

Biogeochemical Laboratory

The Biogeochemical Lab is equipped for the extraction and analysis of organic compounds from sediments and waters. Instrumentation includes two gas chromatographs (GC), a GC-MS, and a Leco Carbon-Sulfur analyzer. The University has recently upgraded its basic instrumentation for a wide range of inorganic geochemical analyses, centered in the Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory.

Central Microscopy Facility

The Central Microscopy Facility has advanced analytical equipment available for use at reasonable fees by qualified industry researchers when schedules permit. Facilities include Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Cryo-Microscopy Services, and Bio-Rad Laser-Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM).

Electron Microprobe Facility

The Electron Microprobe Facility provides researchers with access to equipment, service, and information resource for microscopy. By supporting the staff and large equipment service costs from broad-based funding contributions derived from competitive grant overhead and other sources, high quality equipment, facilities, and staff are accessible to all researchers at very modest fees. Some service is available for non UMass clients when schedules permit. We do not intend to compete with commercial enterprises performing microscopy services and will make referrals whenever possible.

Environmental Analysis Laboratory

The Environmental Analysis Laboratory provides a broad range of inorganic analysis of water, sediment, and tissue samples in support of environmental research and monitoring activities on campus and for public agencies and non-profit clients. The EAL is well established as a premier source of high quality analytical services for inorganic substances in water.  These include nutrients, inorganic anions and metals.  It has especially distinguished itself in the analysis of trace levels of phosphorus.  More recently, the EAL has expanded its scope of services into the area of microbial analysis.  Lab staff can provide expertise and training for campus research labs working on analytical and monitoring activities. The Lab plays a key role in analyzing water samples for volunteer water quality monitoring efforts across the state.

Floricultural Diagnostics Laboratory

The Floricultural Diagnostics Lab is located in room 109 Fernald Hall. Commercial flower growers who have a problem with their crop and are in need of diagnostic services should contact one of the following specialists directly: Diseases - Dr. Rob Wick, Tina Smith, Paul Lopes; Insects- Dr. Roy Van Driesche, Tina Smith, Paul Lopes;Plant nutrition - Dr. Doug Cox

Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory

The Pesticide Analysis Lab provides analytic services and expertise to regulate and enforce pesticide use in Massachusetts. Common pesticides analyzed include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and their metabolites using state-of-the-art liquid and gas chromatograph techniques.

Mass Spectrometry Facility

The Mass Spectrometry Facility maintains state-of-the-art equipment for mass spectrometric analysis of compounds by a number of ionization methods. Instrumentation includes an electrospray ion-trap for protein analysis as well as LC-MS applications. A high resolution MALDI-TOF instrument is routinely used for analysis of synthetic polymers and proteins. The facility also houses a double sector instrument equipped with ESI, EI/CI, FAB and FDI capabilities. Equipment includes a Bruker Daltonics Esquire-LC Ion trap mass spectrometer; Bruker Daltonics Reflex III MALDI-TOF; JEOL MStation JMS700; and an HP 5890 GC - HP 5894 MS Engine Quadrupole GC-MS System.

High Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility

The High Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility offers access to a range of state-of-the-art solids and liquids NMR spectrometers as well as expert assistance in data interpretation. The Facility is open to any research program on a time-available basis. Most previous users have made use of the AMX-500MHz liquids or DSX300MHZ solids spectrometers. The Facility can perform almost any NMR experiment currently described in the literature.

Microanalysis Laboratory

The Microanalysis Lab provides elemental analyses in-house and students get to experience the workings of an industrial style laboratory in an academic environment.  The shared facility extends its capabilities to the Five College system and any Massachusetts state college, university or agency requiring analytical data.

UMASS Turf Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

The Turf Disease Diagnostic Lab provides diagnostic services for turfgrass professionals in the northeastern states; services are available only to green industry professionals such as landscapers, lawn care companies, and golf course managers.

Soil Testing Laboratory

The Soil Lab tests soils to identify lead and other heavy metal contamination, to help in the diagnosis of plant culture problems, and to help optimize crop production. 

Urban Forestry Diagnostics Laboratory

The Urban Forestry Diagnostics Lab accepts specimens related to problems of woody plants and turf caused by insects, diseases and weeds.

Other Analytical Services

For other services on campus, please refer to the searchable datatbase maintained by Research Laison and Development.

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