Academic, private, and government researchers from around the globe have relied on the SINLAB for their isotope analyses for over 20 years

History

The Stable Isotopes in Nature Laboratory (SINLAB) was established as part of University of New Brunswick's Canadian Rivers Institute (CRI), in June 1999. Funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) were used to purchase a Finnigan Delta Plus Mass spectrometer and Carlo Erba Elemental Analyzer (EA). This was the first continuous flow mass spectrometry (CFIRMS) laboratory in the Maritime Provinces. In 2001, a second CFI grant was awarded in order to purchase a Finnigan Delta XP and Thermoquest Thermochemical Elemental Analyzer (TC/EA), helping to expand the lab's capabilities to include hydrogen analysis. A larger lab was constructed and additional staff were hired.  With an increased demand for C&N isotope analysis in ecological studies, the lab expanded once again in 2007.  The CFI continued to support Dr. Cunjak’s Canada Research Chair by providing funds to purchase a Costech 4010 for C&N and Sulfur analysis. An additional CFI grant in 2014 funded the purchase of a Thermo-Finnigan Delta V Mass Spectrometer and GasBench allowing us to analyse water and inorganic material.

Following Dr. Cunjak’s retirement in 2018, Dr. Brian Hayden was appointed as Scientific Director of the SINLAB and the lab became part of the Biology Department at the University of New Brunswick. We continue to support a wide range of academic and industry focussed research both in Canada and overseas.