Shared labs

Visit our shared labs

Many of our students and faculty start their examination of specimens in our comprehensive Earth Materials Preparation lab. Assessment and measurement resources are available in our collection of shared labs which offer everything from gas, liquid, and solid analyses to isotopic analysis for geochronology and deciphering (bio)geochemical processes.

See our Shared Lab Culture Statement

Learn more about the shared labs technical team see Laboratory Staff

• Ecosystems Lab (EL)
  The Ecosystems Shared Laboratory provides bench space, laboratory supplies, chemicals, sample preparation equipment, and short-term sample storage space to enhance and facilitate environmental research.
  • Supervising PIs: Alison Hoyt and Elliott White
  • Laboratory Manager: Taylor Broek, tbroek@stanford.edu
     
• Environmental Measurements Facility (EMF)
  Multiple types of state-of-the-art equipment to test and analyse solid, aqueous, and gaseous samples.
  • Supervising PI: Scott Fendorf
  • Laboratory Managers: 
    Guangchao Li, gcli@stanford.edu
    Taylor Broek, tbroek@stanford.edu
    Juan Lezama Pacheco, jlezama@stanford.edu. 
     
• Geochronology Cluster (GC)
  High resolution trace element analysis and measurement in three ways:
  • SHRIMP-RG Lab: Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe - Reverse Geometry
  • Noble Gas Lab: Produces data for geochronologic & thermochronologic applications
  • Supervising PI: Marty Grove
  • Laboratory Manager: Christie Jilly, cjilly@stanford.edu
     
• Geomicrobiology Shared Laboratories (GML)
  Provides equipment to analyze biochemical and molecular aspects of microbes in the marine environment.
  • Supervising PIs: Paula Welander, Anne Dekas and Chris Francis
  • Laboratory Manager: Gert Van Dijken, gertvd@stanford.edu
     
• Microchemical Analysis Facility (MAF)
  Our state-of-the-art labs feature advanced instrumentation, including the JEOL JSM-IT500HR environmental scanning electron microscope and the JEOL JXA-8230 "SuperProbe" electron microprobe. These cutting-edge tools enable high-precision analyses and imaging, supporting innovative research in material sciences, environmental studies, and other fields.
  • Supervising PI: Marty Grove
  • Laboratory Manager: Dale Burns, dhburns@stanford.edu
     
• MicroCT Facility (MCT)
  The X-ray microtomography (microCT) system provides a way to non-destructively image the internal 3D structure of a wide variety of natural and engineered materials. Resources for analyzing the image data are also available.
  • Supervising PI: Ayla Pamukçu
  • Laboratory Manager: Doug Meisenheimer, meisenhd@stanford.edu
     
• Mineralogy and Petrology Lab (M&P)
  This lab facilitates the qualitative and quantitative characterization of Earth materials by providing optical microscopes for high-resolution imaging of loose materials and thin sections, computational resources for image processing, and bench space for light processing of samples before or after use of the Sample Preparation Lab.
  • Supervising PI: Ayla Pamukçu
  • Laboratory Manager: Doug Meisenheimer, meisenhd@stanford.edu
     
• Sample Preparation Lab (SPL)
  Our lab provides guidance, access, and hands on training for rock preparation equipment and mineral separation techniques. Common usages include zircon, quartz, and feldspar separation; powdering samples for geochemical or isotopic analysis; and cutting rocks for thin sections or further analysis.
  • Supervising PI: Angela Halfpenny
  • Laboratory Manager: Alex Grande, agrande1@stanford.edu
     
• Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry Lab (SIBL)
  Provides analytical facilities and technical expertise to determine stable isotope ratios of a variety of organic and inorganic materials from both terrestrial and marine environments.
  • Supervising PIs: Rob Dunbar and Page Chamberlain
  • Laboratory Managers: 
    David Mucciarone, dam1@stanford.edu
    Julie Weitzman, Julie.Weitzman@stanford.edu
     
• Stanford Cosmogenic Isotope Lab (Cosmo)
  A clean lab space dedicated to the processing of water, soils, and rock material for cosmogenic isotope analyses.
  • Supervising PI: Jane Willenbring
  • Laboratory Manager: Aaron Steelquist, steelqat@stanford.edu
     
• Stanford Isotope Geochemistry Measurement & Analysis (SIGMA)
  Our facility for the analysis of isotopes and trace elements using mass spectrometry.
  • Supervising PI: Kate Maher
  • Laboratory Manager: Karrie Weaver, weaverk@stanford.edu

More information about these labs

To utilize the Shared Analytical Labs above, contact Angela Halfpenny at halfpeny@stanford.edu.

Civil and Environmental Engineering Labs

• Environmental Engineering and Science Lab (EESL)
  The Environmental Engineering and Science Laboratory is comprised of several laboratories. These well-equipped research facilities contain the latest analytical and specialized experimental equipment. 
  Lab Contact: Royal Kopperud, royalk@stanford.edu
   
• John A. Blume Earthquake Engineering Center (Blume)
  The John A. Blume Earthquake Engineering Center at Stanford University is devoted to the advancement of research, education and practice in earthquake engineering. Through its activities, the Blume Center contributes to the understanding of earthquakes and their effects on structures.
  Lab Contact: Racquel Hagen, racquelh@stanford.edu
   
• The Bob and Norma Street Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (EFML)
  The Bob and Norma Street Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (EFML) is home to research conducted in the Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology (EFMH) Program.
  Lab Contact: Derek Fong, dfong@stanford.edu