About Us

The Pitt Isotope Tracers Lab (PIT) is Directed by Professor Emily Elliott and housed in the Department of Geology & Environmental Science.  The PIT Lab is one of several isotope labs in the Department of Geology & Environmental Science.  The PIT Lab facilitates research focused on: 
  1. Deepening knowledge of human impacts to ecosystems through the application of stable isotope tracers in aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric systems, and 
  2. Unraveling nutrient dynamics in contemporary and past environments through development of novel isotope tracers.​

We are moving.

The PIT Lab is moving into newly renovated labs in 202X.   (It's a long, long saga, but newest estimates are April 2025.)
The newly renovated 3000 ft2 space will include a new IRMS lab and a new trace and greenhouse gas lab.  

Existing Instrumentation

Continuous Flow-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer

A continuous  flow GV Instruments IsoPrime™ stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer with  universal triple collector. This instrument is equipped with high throughput  continuous flow, an adjustable height Gilson GX271 autosampler, and a Trace Gas  system for cryogenic trapping of low concentration atmospheric gases.


Dual Inlet - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer

GV Instruments (Micromass) IsoPrime™ stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer with universal triple collector and additional H/D assembly. The instrument is equipped with both traditional dual inlet and high throughput continuous flow modes. The system includes a Multi-Prep™ inlet module and Gilson autosampler for high precision determinations of carbonate δ18O and δ13C  and water sample δ18O and D/H ratios.


Elemental Analyzer

EuroVector  high temperature elemental analyzer for combustion or pyrolysis sample  preparation and determination of elemental and isotopic ratios (C, H, N, and S)  of sediments, soils and biological materials. The EuroVector system includes a  diluter kit for sequential carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis and a liquid  autosampler for the analysis of H/D through chrome reduction techniques.

Analytical Capabilities

The Pitt-Isotope Tracers Lab has capacity for a wide variety of isotopic measurements in a multitude of sample media.  Our  capabilities include:
  •  Nitrate  (δ15N, δ18O, D17O);
  •  Greenhouse  and trace gases:  carbon dioxide (δ13C, δ18O), nitrous oxide (δ15N, δ18O), methane  (δ13C);
  •  Nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur (δ15N, δ13C, δ34S) in organic and other solid materials (e.g., biota, soils);
  •  Ammonium (δ15N);
  •  Dry reactive nitrogen deposition (δ15N-NH3, δ15-NO2, and δ15N-HNO3); and
  •  Carbonates  (δ13C, δ18O)
Support for the Pitt Isotope Tracers Lab is provided by NSF award #0929182 to PI Elliott and the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh.  From 2010-2021, the Pitt Isotope Tracers Lab was referred to as the "Regional Stable Isotope Lab for Earth and Environmental Science Research" .