The Biogeochemistry Laboratory houses necessary equipment and protocols for biogeochemical sample collection, preparation and analysis. Tools for characterization of natural organic matter include:

• DOC analyzer
• elemental analyzer coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer
• equipment for lipid biomarker isolation
• capillary and packed column GC's (for lipid biomarkers and gas headspace, respectively)
• GC-MS
• Curie point pyrolysis-GC for characterization of kerogen, coals, soil OM and POM

Tools for microbiological characterization include equipment for:

• anaerobic and aerobic sampling and enrichment culturing
• DNA extraction/isolation/amplification
• hybridization ovens
• gel electrophoresis
• sample storage

The lab enjoys close association with the Department of Microbiology and the Central Microscopy Facility at UMass (both next door), which includes TEM, SEM, lasar scanning sonfocal, fluorescence and brightfield microscopy.