What ISOLAB does

IsoLab is a shared research facility within the University of Washington's Department of Earth and Space Sciences that provides light stable isotope analysis services to academic researchers studying the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. The facility was co-founded in 2001 by Eric J. Steig and Roger Buick and traces its institutional lineage to the Quaternary Isotope Laboratory established by Dr. Minze Stuiver in 1969; it is currently steered by PIs Becky Alexander, Roger Buick, Kate Huntington, and Eric Steig, and managed by Andrew Schauer. Operations are housed in Johnson Hall (Seattle, WA) and comprise an 890 sq ft analytical laboratory, a 780 sq ft sample preparation laboratory, an ice-core processing freezer, and a kerogen extraction laboratory.

The facility's technical core consists of five isotope ratio mass spectrometers (Thermo MAT253 and DeltaPlus Advantage), three cavity ring-down spectroscopy lasers (Picarro L2140i and L2120i), an Orbitrap isotope ratio mass spectrometer, and elemental analyzers (Costech, Eurovector) supporting analysis of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur isotopes across water, carbonates, nitrates, sulfates, and solid samples. Methodologies include bacterial denitrifier nitrate reduction, cobalt (III) fluoride water fluorination for triple oxygen isotopes (with reproducibility at 0.002 permil for Δ17O), silver salt pyrolysis, and dual-inlet carbonate digestion, all calibrated to international reference standards (VSMOW, SLAP, GISP).

IsoLab does not operate as a commercial enterprise. Its operating support is provided almost exclusively by research grants from NSF and NASA, and external access is restricted to collaborative arrangements with IsoLab Principal Investigators under a four-tier model — PI-led research, Participating Researchers, Collaborative Researchers, and Exploratory Research — with priority given to collaborations within UW's College of the Environment and methods typically booked 6–12 months in advance.

Name

ISOLAB

Legal name

IsoLab

Website

https://isolab.ess.washington.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

IsoLab is a University of Washington shared research facility that provides light stable isotope analysis (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur) to academic researchers studying climate, glaciology, astrobiology, geology, and atmospheric chemistry, operating through collaborative research arrangements funded by NSF and NASA grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

IsoLab provides high-precision stable isotope ratio analysis of light stable isotopes (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur) across sample types including water, carbonates, nitrates, solids, and ice cores, delivered through a shared University of Washington research facility using IRMS, Orbitrap MS, cavity ring-down spectroscopy lasers, and elemental analyzers. Access is granted through collaborative arrangements with IsoLab Principal Investigators rather than commercial sales, with all methods calibrated to international reference standards such as VSMOW, SLAP, and GISP.

Product overview

IsoLab is a shared research facility at the University of Washington that provides stable isotope analysis services using light stable isotopes to study the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. The facility operates as a collaborative research laboratory offering access to sophisticated instrumentation including isotope ratio mass spectrometers (Thermo MAT253, Orbitrap), cavity ring-down spectroscopy lasers (Picarro L2140i, L2120i), and elemental analyzers (Costech, Eurovector). The core offerings encompass comprehensive isotope analysis services covering carbonates (δ13C, δ18O, Δ47), nitrates (δ15N, δ18O, δ17O), solids (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S), and water (δD, δ17O, δ18O, Δ17O). IsoLab does not function as a traditional product company but rather as a fee-for-service research laboratory with tiered access: Principal Investigator led research, Participating Researchers with direct funding support, Collaborative Researchers aligned with IsoLab PIs, and Exploratory Research for proof-of-concept studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carbonate Isotope Analysis Service Dual-inlet carbon and oxygen isotope measurement of CO2 evolved from phosphoric acid digested carbonates using Nu Perspective with NuCarb, providing δ13C, δ18O, Δ47, and Δ48 measurements for carbonate samples submitted by collaborating researchers.
• Nitrate Isotope Analysis Service Nitrogen and oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate using the bacterial denitrifier method to reduce nitrate to nitrous oxide, with subsequent purification and analysis using Thermo Finnigan Precon and GasBench coupled to a DeltaPlus Advantage IRMS, providing δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O data for collaborating researchers.
• Solid Sample Isotope Analysis Service Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope analysis of solid materials via combustion and purification into CO2, N2, or SO2 using Costech or Eurovector elemental analyzers coupled to a Thermo MAT253 IRMS, providing δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S measurements for solid samples submitted by collaborating researchers.
• Water Isotope Analysis Service High-precision water isotope measurements using Picarro L2140i and L2120i cavity ring-down spectrometers calibrated to VSMOW via VSMOW and SLAP, providing δD, δ17O, δ18O, and Δ17O data for water samples submitted by collaborating researchers.
• Triple Oxygen Isotope (Δ17O) Analysis via Water Fluorination Triple oxygen isotope analysis using a water fluorination method with Cobalt (III) fluoride to convert H2O into O2 for subsequent dual-inlet analysis on a Thermo MAT253 IRMS, with internal reproducibility of 0.002 permil for δ17O, 0.004 permil for δ18O, and 0.0037 permil for 17O-excess.
• Sulfate/Nitrate Δ17O Analysis Service Oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate or sulfate using silver salt pyrolysis in a TC/EA coupled to a Thermo Finnigan MAT253 for continuous-flow based analysis of Δ17O.
• Sample Preparation Laboratory Services Comprehensive sample preparation services in the 780 sq ft sample preparation laboratory, including carbonate digestion and CO2 purification vacuum line, water fluorination vacuum line, multipurpose glass vacuum line, in-tube combustion vacuum line, CO2/O2 equilibration line, two microbalances, three coarse balances, two drying ovens, one muffle furnace, and a freeze dryer for samples submitted by collaborating researchers.
• Ice Core Processing and Storage Service In-lab ice core processing and short-term sample storage in a 140 sq ft freezer at -18°C, equipped with an Inca band saw for modest ice core processing, available to collaborating researchers studying ice core samples.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Department of Earth and Space Sciences (UW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsoLab is a consolidated unit within the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington. The facility operates under the department's administration and shares resources, staff, and infrastructure.
• Department of Atmospheric Sciences (UW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating department within the University of Washington focused on atmospheric science research. IsoLab provides stable isotope analysis services supporting atmospheric chemistry studies.
• Quaternary Research Center (UW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary research center at UW focused on Quaternary studies. IsoLab's origins trace to the Quaternary Isotope Laboratory founded in 1969, and the center remains a key collaborator for paleoclimate research using isotope analysis.
• Astrobiology Program (UW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Washington astrobiology program. IsoLab supports astrobiology research through isotope analysis capabilities, particularly for studying extraterrestrial materials and biosignatures.
• Program on Climate Change (UW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUW program focused on climate research. IsoLab provides analytical support for climate studies using ice core analysis, water isotopes, and other stable isotope measurements.
• College of the Environment (UW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege at UW that encompasses multiple departments and research centers. Priority for IsoLab services is given to collaborations within the College of the Environment.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Picarro: Picarro manufactures the L2140i and L2120i cavity ring-down spectroscopy analyzers IsoLab uses for water isotope analysis. A key infrastructure provider — Picarro's product evolution drives IsoLab's high-throughput capabilities.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher manufactures the MAT253 and DeltaPlus IRMS instruments that IsoLab operates. Not a peer in services, but the dominant supplier whose instrument roadmap directly affects IsoLab's technical capabilities and refresh economics.

Direct peers

• SIRFER Stable Isotope Research Facility (University of Utah): University of Utah's SIRFER provides light stable isotope analysis for biomedical, ecological, and earth science research. Directly comparable in scope, instrumentation (IRMS), and academic shared-facility funding model.
• University of California Davis Stable Isotope Facility: UC Davis SIF is a university shared facility offering light stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, δD) for ecology, archaeology, and environmental research — the closest direct peer in mission, customer base, and academic funding model.
• Colorado Plateau Stable Isotope Laboratory (NAU): Northern Arizona University's stable isotope lab serves a similar academic earth-science clientele with comparable instrumentation (IRMS, laser spectroscopy). Operates under analogous grant-funded, collaborative-access model.
• Oregon State University Stable Isotope Lab: OSU's stable isotope facility serves earth, ocean, and atmospheric science researchers at a Pacific Northwest university — geographically closest peer with overlapping instrumentation and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Beta Analytic: Beta Analytic is a large commercial radiocarbon and stable isotope laboratory serving archaeology, geology, and environmental science. Closely comparable technology footprint (IRMS-based isotope analysis), but operates as a for-profit business serving global commercial clients.
• Isotech Laboratories: Isotech is a commercial stable isotope laboratory providing δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, δ34S, and radiocarbon analyses. Comparable in analytical capability, but unlike IsoLab, Isotech operates on a fee-for-service commercial basis with broad market reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uwisolab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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