Melbourne TrACEES Platform
Melbourne TrACEES Platform (Trace Analysis for Chemical, Earth and Environmental Sciences) is the first University platform to support existing and initiate new research requiring high quality surface chemical analysis, trace elemental and speciation analysis, and associated structural chemical analysis.
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Capabilities
TrACEES Platform’s core capabilities are identification and quantitation of elements, chemicals and structures on the surface of a sample, or within a complex matrix.
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Access
The platform is a key research infrastructure in the University, and houses a range of state-of-the-art equipment. We offer training and access for selected equipment and analytical services.
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Our people
Learn about our people behind the Melbourne TrACEES Platform.
Our mission
Melbourne TrACEES Platform is dedicated to providing high quality and unique surface and chemical analysis, technical support and expertise for researches in chemical, earth, environmental, and life sciences together with ongoing training of research students and staff.
Our vision
Melbourne TrACEES Platform will offer world class surface and chemical analysis services to researchers of the University, other academic and research institutions and industry to support cutting edge researches and training development of research partnerships and excellence.
Other platforms
For more information about the wider platform community, please visit Research Website, which is available to all visitors. Details about the University’s research infrastructure related resources and services can be found on Research Gateway, which is available to the University of Melbourne staff and Graduate Researchers.
TrACEES Platform’s core capabilities are identification and quantitation of elements, chemicals and structures on the surface of a sample, or within a complex matrix.
Our services
Melbourne TrACEES Platform offers a range of general and specialised analytical services for water, soil, biological, polymers, constructions and geological samples including nutrients, trace elements, toxic heavy metals (e.g. Hg, Se, As), organic compounds (semi-volatiles, fatty acids and alcohols). These services allow researchers and clients to enjoy peace of mind and is the best option for those who have limited knowledge and skills in analytical instrumentation.
Our technologies
Melbourne TrACEES Platform is a key research infrastructure in the University and houses a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment.
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EMPA
Electron microprobe analyser is able to visualise and analyse all elements from Boron to Uranium.
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ESEM
Environmental scanning electron microscope permits wet and insulating samples to be imaged at micron scales.
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GCMS
GCMS is an analytical tool to identify and quantify volatile organic molecules.
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ICPOES
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer is an analytical tool to identify and quantify over 70 elements at low parts per million level.
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IRMS
Isotope ratio mass spectrometry is used to measure the relative abundance of isotopes in a sample.
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ICPMS
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer is an analytical tool to identify and quantify over 70 elements at low parts per billion (or even trillion) level.
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Micro-CT
micro-Computed Tomography reconstructs 3D image and enable to visualise inside the object without destroying the structure.
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PY-GCMS
Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry is widely applied for the identification of polymeric materials.
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SFA
Segmented flow analyser is a highly automated and high throughput technique for multiple anions analysis.
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TCN
Total carbon and nitrogen analyser determines content of carbon and nitrogen (in percentages) in a sample (soil and plant).
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TGA
Thermal gravimetric analysis is a method of thermal analysis in which the mass of a sample is measured over time as the temperature changes.
The platform is a key research infrastructure in the University, and houses a range of state-of-the-art equipment. We offer training and access for selected equipment and analytical services.
Make a booking now
Equipment training and booking is generally open to all academic users from the University of Melbourne or other universities and research institutes. TrACEES also offers a range of analytical services which best meet most external requirement.
iLab reference guides
Melbourne TrACEES Platform has adopted a new equipment booking and service request system - iLab. Please refer to the following reference guides for Principle Investigator (supervisor) and Researcher (user) such as lab group creation (PI), account registration, etc.
Contact TrACEES
If you have an enquiry about our capabilities or services, or would like to discuss how we can help you, please phone +61 3 8344 6485 or email us.
Melbourne TrACEES Platform is governed by Capability Steering Committee who provides strategic direction and senior leadership, and Users Committee who brings invaluable guidance and feedback representing a broad multi-disciplinary user community.
Platform staff
Our specialised academic and technical expertise provide consultation and assist researchers and clients with their analytical enquiries.
Dr. Alex DuanPlatform manager | Dr. Jay BlackAcademic specialistGeo node, micro-CT | Dr. Augustine DoronilaSenior analystChemistry node |
Michael HallNode supervisorSoil node | Lachlan Hurley-ShawTechnical analystSoil node | Graham HutchisonTechnical specialistGeo node, EMPA & ESEM |
Dr. Yukie O'BryanTechnical specialistChemistry node | Najib AhmadyTechnical analystSoil node |
Steering Committee
The Capability Steering Committee provides strategic direction and senior leadership to the Melbourne TrACEES Platform.
Prof. Spas KolevChair of Steering CommitteeProfessor School of Chemistry Faculty of Science | Dr. Maria Ines AlmeidaResearch fellowSchool of Chemistry Faculty of Science | Prof. Deli ChenProfessorSchool of Agriculture and Food Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences |
Prof. Ralf HaeseProfessorSchool of Earth Sciences Faculty of Science | Prof. Richard O'HairProfessor, Head of SchoolSchool of Chemistry Faculty of Science | Prof. David PhillipsProfessor, Head of SchoolSchool of Earth Sciences Faculty of Science |
A/Prof. Helen SuterAssociate ProfessorSchool of Agriculture and Food Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences |
Users Committee
The Users Committee who brings invaluable guidance and feedback representing a broad multi-disciplinary user community.
Dr. Petronella NelChair of Users CommitteeLecturer, Grimwade Centre for Culture Materials Conservation Faculty of Arts | A/Prof. Suzie ReichmanDirector of CAPIMSchool of Biosciences Faculty of Science | Dr. Maria Ines AlmeidaRepresentative of Steering Committee, Research fellowSchool of Chemistry Faculty of Science |
Dr. Clayton ButterlySenior lecturerSchool of Agriculture and Food Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences | Dr. Shuaijun PanResearch fellowSchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Melbourne School of Engineering | Dr Sameera SirisenaTutor, Research fellowSchool of Agriculture and Food Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences |