Isotope Geochemistry

The Center for Isotope Geochemistry (CIG) at Boston College is a state-of-the-art analytical facility specializing in the high-precision measurement of both radiogenic and stable isotopes across a broad array of geological, biological, and environmental materials.

It serves as a collaborative research hub for faculty, students, and external researchers, all working to deepen our understanding of Earth's processes and history, including crust and mantle evolution, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, biogeochemical cycling, and chronostratigraphy. Research conducted at the CIG contributes to both fundamental and applied geoscience, with implications for tectonic processes, paleoclimate studies, geochronology, and environmental change.

The Center emphasizes a collaborative approach to research, wherein users are actively trained in sample preparation, chemical separation, purification, and isotopic analysis under the guidance of Center personnel. Educational engagement is a core value, and motivated undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in ongoing research activities to gain hands-on experience in geochemical techniques. Prospective collaborators and external users are invited to contact the Center’s management to discuss potential research partnerships and access to facilities.

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Director:Diksha Bista
Assistant Director: Andrew Lonero


Faculty Advisory Committee:
Ethan Baxter (TIMS)
Xingchen (Tony) Wang (IRMS)
Seth Kruckenberg (SEM)


Capability

The Center for Isotope Geochemistry (CIG) at Boston College offers a comprehensive suite of analytical capabilities for high-precision isotope and trace element analysis across a wide range of materials.


Facility Space

The Center for Isotope Geochemistry operates across two primary laboratory spaces located in Devlin Hall and 245 Beacon Street at Boston College.


Instruments

Center for Isotope Geochemistry

Diksha Bista, PhD

Diksha Bista, PhD
Director, Centre for Isotope Geochemistry

Dr. Diksha Bista joined Boston College in 2025 as the Director of the Centre for Isotope Geochemistry. Prior to this, she worked at the British Geological Survey, where she initially served as the lab manager for the high-precision uranium-lead geochronology laboratory and later as a research scientist within the Stable Isotope Facility. Dr. Bista earned her PhD in isotope geochemistry from the University of Bristol in 2019. She also holds a BSc in Earth and Space Sciences from Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University) in Germany and an MSc in Oceanography from Dalhousie University in Canada.

With extensive hands-on experience operating a range of mass spectrometers, Dr. Bista’s expertise encompasses both radiogenic and stable isotopic systems. Her interest lies in understanding Earth system processes, with a particular focus on the dynamic interactions that shape the planet’s geological and environmental history.

Center for Isotope Geochemistry
Diksha Bista, PhD
Director, Centre for Isotope Geochemistry
diksha.bista@bc.edu
617-552-2785
Devlin Hall 314


Andrew Lonero, M.S.

Andrew Lonero, M.S.
Assistant Director, Center for Isotope Geochemistry

Andrew Lonero received his B.S. from the University of Hawaii, Hilo and his M.S. from Washington State University. During his graduate research, he worked on the stable isotopes of hydrothermal alterations in volcanic rocks from Yellowstone National Park. His expertise spans stable isotope (CHONS) geochemistry, major and trace-element chemistry (ICP-OES, ICP-MS, XRF) on solid materials and solutions, and method development in mass spectrometry. Before arriving at Boston College as the Assistant Director of the Center for Isotope Geochemistry in 2022, he was the geochemistry lab manager at Utah State University.

Center for Isotope Geochemistry
Andrew Lonero, M.S.
Assistant Director
loneroa@bc.edu
617-552-3711
245 Beacon 004