Kimberly O'Brien Laboratory
Explore the O'Brien Lab
The O'Brien Laboratory is located in room 2151 and 2152 of the Human Metabolic Research Unit (HMRU) in Martha Van Rensselaer Hall on the Cornell Ithaca campus.
Our main research interests in the laboratory focus on mineral dynamics with an emphasis on pediatric and pregnant populations. To undertake our research projects many of our studies utilize stable mineral isotopes as tracers. These tracers are measured using mass spectrometric instrumentation for high-sensitivity isotopic analyses. Our lab performs these analyses on a state of the art Thermoquest Triton TI magnetic sector thermal ionization mass spectrometer. Analytical services are also provided through collaboration with other academic institutions in the country.
O'Brien Lab Equipment
O'Brien Lab Equipment
The O'Brien Laboratory Triton was installed in the Human Metabolic Research Unit (HMRU) in September 2005 to measure stable mineral isotopes in biological samples. The Triton achieves very precise and accurate isotopic ratios for positive and negative ions and gives the ultimate precision for isotope ratio measurements on solid samples. It uses a proven thermal ionization source and has a unique variable multi-collector platform which can be configured with Faraday detectors and/or miniaturized ion counting detectors for smallest sample sizes. (Thermo Fischer Scientific, Inc., 2008)
The PerkinElmer AAnalyst™ 800 high-performance atomic absorption spectrometer has an automated motorized atomizer exchange that allows switching between flame and graphite furnace AA by a simple software command. The instrument is equipped with a high performance burner system, TotalFlow™ gas controls for flame AA and a Transversely Heated Graphite furnace (THGA) with longitudinal Zeeman-effect background corrector. The graphite furnace system includes True Temperature Control (TTC) and integrated platform tubes providing full Stabilized Temperature Platform Furnace (STPF) conditions for almost interference-free trace metal analysis. The built-in, high-capacity AS-800 autosampler adds exceptional productivity and flexibility. (PerkinElmer, 2008)
For Current O'Brien Lab Members
For Current O'Brien Lab Members
Lab Meetings take place Mondays at 12:30pm in Savage 232.
- Annual Nutrition Science Meeting (ASN)
- The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
- International Federation of Placenta Associations
- American Society of Hematology
- ASH offers premier educational and scientific meetings and workshops for hematology professionals worldwide. Upcoming ASH meetings.
- Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
- USDOHaD Conference
- International BioIron Society: The 9th Congress of the International BioIron Society will take place in 2021
- TEMA
If you are interested in working in Professor O'Brien's lab, fill out the O'Brien Lab Application and e-mail it to Dr. Kimberly O'Brien, at koo4@cornell.edu.
- Katie Delaney was put on the laboratory's NIH Training Grant.
Our alumni continue to shine:
- Dr. Christine Akoh is studying at NYU medical school since Fall 2018.
- Dr. Cora Best received her PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is now starting a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Andy Hoofnagle at University of Washington Medicine in Seattle.
- Dr. Yuan Ru is now a postdoctoral associate at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Carrie Thomas is currently an Assistant Professor at Regis College.
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Dr. Corrie Whisner is currently an assistant professor at Arizona State University.
Kimberly O'Brien, PhD
230 Savage Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3743
koo4@cornell.edu
For prospective graduate students interested in the Graduate Study in Nutrition program at Cornell, please visit: Graduate Studies