Facility for computed tomography (3D) imaging of objects in the Field Museum and part of the Museum’s Core Lab Group. Includes two North Star Imaging (NSI) XCT scanners. The larger of the two scanners is an X5000 with a dual tube setup: one 450kV mini-focus tube, and one 225kV micro-focus tube. This scanner can house samples up to 500lbs and 1.2m in longest dimension, and has excellent penetrating power for imaging dense samples like fossils and meteorites. The smaller scanner is an X25 with a 150kV Hamamatsu tube, which is excellent for imaging smaller and/or less dense samples in extremely high resolution, such as small animal skeletons. In addition to the scanners, the lab is equipped with two high-powered computers for post-scan data processing. Available software includes NSI’s suite of inspection and reconstruction software, VG Studio, ORS Dragonfly, 3DSlicer, Meshlab, and Blender.

Interdepartmental, multiuser core facility dedicated to genetic analysis and preservation of the world's biodiversity. Provides equipment used in molecular biology enabling to pursue study of genetic diversity throughout tree of life and at all taxonomic levels, from populations to classes to phyla of organisms.

An interdepartmental core facility for scanning electron microscope imaging and elemental analysis of objects in the Field Museum‘s collection by Field Museum staff and associates. This lab contains a Hitachi SU7000 field emission scanning electron microscope, an Oxford Ultim Max 170 infinity EDS detector with BEX (backscatter electron and X-ray imaging detector), a Leica EM Ace600 sputter coater and a Hitachi IM4000II ion milling system. The equipment was purchased and installed thanks to the generosity of The Grainger Foundation and The Negaunee Foundation.

Core consists of an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) laboratory, an X-ray Fluorescence laboratory, a Raman laboratory, and an optical mineralogy laboratory. Museum curators and researchers are using this instrumentation extensively to further research programs on early state expansion in the Andes, evolving social networks on the north coast of Papua New Guinea, the social dynamics of early village societies and the emergence of early states, African pre-industrial civilizations and, trade and exchange around the Indian Ocean (Laure Dussubieux). In addition to research conducted by Field Museum staff, the EAF collaborates with scientists from other institutions, bringing researchers and students from all over the country to The Field Museum to learn about compositional analysis of ancient materials to enhance their research on a very wide range of anthropological topics.

Facility dedicated to study of degraded and low DNA yield samples, such as environmental DNA, historical DNA, or ancient DNA. Offers positive pressure lab spaces that follow strict decontamination procedures to prevent human, bacterial, and fungal contamination. It is physically isolated from tissue samples or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products to avoid contamination from samples with higher DNA concentration and quality. The space has dedicated equipment necessary for DNA extraction and PCR-free sample preparation.