University of Texas Marine Science Institute

 

Overview of Services

• Introduction:

The Core Facilities Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin – Marine Science Institute (UT-MSI) is located in Port Aransas, Texas and was established in 2015. The Core Facilities Laboratory specializes in natural science applications and environmental research. The goals of the Core Facilities Laboratory are to provide cost effective analyses, strict QA/QC oversight and increased sample throughput.  We are back online after being down (but not out) for 1.5 years due to Hurricane Harvey.

• Services:

• Provide accurate mass detection and molecular discovery of analytes, including but not limited to, proteins, metabolites, lipids, and carbohydrates.
• Separate complex samples of interest (fatty acids, n-alkanes, alcohols and amino acids) and measure carbon-, nitrogen- and hydrogen-compound specific stable isotopic compositions. 
• Measure the oxygen- and hydrogen-isotopic composition of water, the carbon isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon and the carbon- and oxygen-isotopic composition of carbonates.
• Measure triple carbon-, nitrogen- and sulfur-isotopic compositions of marine material such as sea grass, soils/sediments, fish tissue and nutrient filters. 
• Measure oxygen- and hydrogen-isotopic compositions of material using high-temperature combustion
• Measure total organic carbon and total nitrogen is aqueous samples (seawater, riverwater, groundwater).
• Quantify nutrients (ammonium, nitrate/nitrite, silicate, phosphate) in aqueous samples (seawater, riverwater, groundwater).
• Cell separation, sorting and counting in a variety of aqueous media. 
• Available laboratory sample preparation space and the ability to use a suite of sample preparation devices (macro- and micro-analytical balances, muffle furnace, pipettes, fridge, freezer, fume-hood). 

• Major analytical instrumentation includes: 

• Agilent 6560 Ion-Mobility Quadruple-Time-of-Flight Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS IM-QTOF).
• Thermo Delta V Plus Isotope-Ratio-Mass-Spectrometer (IRMS) connected to a Trace GC 1310-Isolink and Gasbench II through a Conflo IV interface. 
• Thermo Delta V Plus Isotope-Ratio-Mass-Spectrometer (IRMS) connected to a EA-Isolink through a Conflo IV interface. 
• Shimadzu TOC-V CSH and TN analyzer. 
• Lachat (HACH) nutrient analyzer.
• BD FACSAria III Flow Cytometer.

Leadership

Dr. Ryan Hladyniuk	Manager/Research Scientist	361-749-3099	r.hladyniuk@austin.utexas.edu
Patty Garlough			garlough@utexas.edu

Location and hours of operation

Hours	Location
Staffed Monday - Friday; 8 AM - 5 PM      Trained users may access 24/7	750 Channel View Drive Port Aransas, Texas 78737

Links and Resources

1. UTMSI Core Facilities

Contacts

Name	Role	Phone	Email	Location
Dr. Ryan Hladyniuk	Manager	361-749-3099	r.hladyniuk@austin.utexas.edu	ERC 3.120F

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