Summary of Qualifications
Trained as an ecosystem ecologist and biogeochemist, I have a wide range of interests focused on understanding and protecting the natural environment. Currently I am a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and I am learning about the intersection of science and policy. Specifically I am exploring the role of ecosystem service valuation and environmental markets in conservation efforts. I am examining nutrient trading as a strategy for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and the use of coastal carbon services (the “blue carbon” stored in coastal ecosystems) to further habitat protection and restoration efforts.
I also continue to have a strong interest in undergraduate education and mentoring and how to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in science. I find balancing all of these interests immensely fun and rewarding.
Experience
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Habitat Conservation, 2010-present
Adjunct Faculty, Goucher College, Towson, MD, teaching "BIO 240: Ecology and Evolution," Fall 2009
Smithsonian Fellow, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 2008-2010
Education
Ph.D., Ecology. Duke University, 2008.
B.S., Environmental Science. Oregon State University, 2000.
B.A., International Studies. Oregon State University, 2000.
Research Interests
Ecosystem ecology and restoration, ecosystem services and environmental markets, biogeochemistry, biodiversity and ecosystem function, climate change, wetland restoration
Publications
* Denotes undergraduate or post-baccalaureate mentee
Sutton-Grier, A.E., J. Wright, and C. Richardson. In Press. Different plant traits affect two pathways of riparian nitrogen removal in a restored freshwater wetland. Plant and Soil.
Keller, J., A.E. Sutton-Grier, A. Bullock*, and J.P. Megonigal. In Press. Anaerobic metabolism in tidal freshwater wetlands: I. Plant removal effects on iron reduction and methanogenesis. Estuaries and Coasts.
Emerson, D., W. Bellows, J. Keller, C. Moyer, A.E. Sutton-Grier, and J.P. Megonigal. In Press. Anaerobic metabolism in tidal freshwater wetlands: III. Effects of plant removal on Archaeal microbial communities. Estuaries and Coasts.
Sutton-Grier, A.E., J. Keller, R. Koch*, C. Gilmour, and J.P. Megonigal. 2011. Electron donors and acceptors influence anaerobic soil organic matter mineralization in tidal marshes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 43: 1576-1583.
Sutton-Grier, A.E. and J.P. Megonigal. 2011. Plant species traits regulate methane production in freshwater wetland soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43:412-420.
Sutton-Grier, A.E., J. Wright, B. McGill*, and C. Richardson. 2011. Environmental conditions influence the plant functional diversity effect on denitrification potential. PLoS ONE 6(2): e16584. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0016584.
Unghire, J.M.*, A.E. Sutton-Grier, N. Flanagan, and C. Richardson. 2011. Spatial Impacts of Stream and Wetland Restoration on Riparian Soil Properties in the North Carolina Piedmont. Restoration Ecology (In Press). DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00726.x
Brantley, S.L., J.P. Megonigal, F.N. Scatena, Z. Balogh-Brunstad, R.T. Barnes, M.A. Bruns, P. van Cappellen, K. Dontsova, H. Harntnett, T. Hartshorn, A. Heimsath, E. Herndon, L. Jin, C. K. Keller, J.R. Leake, W.H. McDowell, F.C. Meinzer, T.J. Mozdzer, S.Petsch, J. Pett-Ridge, K.S. Pregitzer, P. Raymond, C.S. Riebe, K. Shumaker, A. Sutton-Grier, R. Walter, and K. Yoo. 2011. Twelve Testable Hypotheses on the Geobiology of Weathering. Geobiology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2010.00264.x.
Sutton-Grier, A.E., M. Kenney, and C.J. Richardson. 2010. Examining the relationship between ecosystem structure and function using structural equation modeling: A case study examining denitrification potential in restored wetlands. Ecological Modelling. 221:761-768.
McGill, B.M.*, A.E. Sutton-Grier, and J. P. Wright. 2010. Plant trait diversity buffers variability in denitrification potential over changes in season and soil conditions. PLoS One 5(7): e11618. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011618.
Smith, Z. and A.E. Sutton-Grier. 2010. Making the Most of Your Postdoc. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Published online July 16, 2010.
Sutton-Grier, A.E., M. Ho, and C.J. Richardson. 2009. Organic amendments improve soil conditions and denitrification in a restored riparian wetland. Wetlands. 29:343-352.
Kenney, M.A., A.E. Sutton-Grier, R. Smith, and S. Gresens. 2009. Benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality: the intersection of science and policy. Terrestrial Arthopod Review. 2(2): 99-128.
Freidenburg, T.L., B.A. Menge, P.M. Halpin, M. Webster, and A.E. Sutton-Grier. (2007). Cross-scale variation in top-down and bottom-up control of algal abundance. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology(2). 347:8-29.
Sutton-Grier, A.E. & M.A. Kenney. (2005). Recruiters and Academia: A Class Act. Nature. 436: 886.
Grants
- National Academicies Keck Futures Initiatives (NAKFI) Ecosystem Services Symposium Travel Grant. (2011)
- Women Evolving Biological Sciences (WEBS) Symposium travel grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE program. (2010)
- National Postdoctoral Association “National Summit on Gender and the Postdoctorate.” Travel grant from the NSF ADVANCE program. (2010)
- National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant. 2005.
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. 2003-2006.
- Society of Wetland Scientists Student Research Grant. 2005.
- FORWARD to the Professorship (Focus on Reaching Women for Academics, Research, and Development). Funding from the NSF ADVANCE leadership award. 2007.
- Sigma Xi Annual Conference Travel Grant. 2006.
- Conference Travel Grant. Funding from the Duke University Graduate School and the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
- Oreon State University Research Innovation, Scholarship, Creativity Undergraduate Incentive Program Award. 1999.
Awards
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Policy Fellow, 2010-Present.
- ESA Academic Excellence Award for Young Women in Ecology, Honorable Mention (2010)
- Duke University Young Trustee Finalist (2009)
- Smithsonian Fellow, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 2008-2010.
- American Association of University Women American Fellowship, 2007-2008.
- 10th International Symposium on Wetland Biogeochemistry "Exceptional Oral Presentation," 2007.
- 2002 OSU Waldo Cummings Outstanding Senior Award.
- 2000 OSU College of Science Outstanding Woman in Science Scholarship, 1999.
Activities
- NSF-Sponsored Faculty Institutes for Reforming Science Teaching (FIRST IV) Postdoctoral Scholar in Biology Teaching and Learning (2009-present)
- Teaching Workshop: "101 Ways to Effectively Use Journal Articles as Teaching Tools.” Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas, 2011. Co-Organizers: J.L. Momsen, J. Dauer, and E. Rauscher.
- Teaching Workshop: "Scientific Teaching and Active Learning in Undergraduate Science.” National Postdoctoral Association Annual Meeting, Bethesda, Maryland, 2011. Co-Organizers: D. Ebert-May and A. Roark
- Teaching workshop: "In Full Bloom: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Align Class Learning Objectives and Assessments in Introductory Biology." Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2010. Co-Organizers: J.L. Momsen, J. Dauer, and E. Rauscher
- Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Chair of the Global Change Section, 2011-present
- Adjunct Faculty, Goucher College, Towson, MD, teaching "BIO 240: Ecology and Evolution," Fall 2009
- SWS Women in Wetlands Section Member (2008-present)
- Reviewer: Ecological Applications, Biogeochemistry, Journal of the North American Benthological Society, Soil Science Society of America, Restoration Ecology, Aquatic Botany
- Symposium Organizer. "Biodiversity and Restoration in a Changing World." Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Jose, 2007. Co-Organizers: Justin Wright and Roberto Lindig-Cisneros.
- Duke University Representative at the National Conference on Graduate Student Leadership, 2007
- Duke University Graduate and Professional Women's Network (2002-2008), Advisory Board (2006-2008)
- PBS Dragonfly TV "SciGirls" Mentor, 2006.
- Wetland Educator for the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, 2005-2007.
- N.C. State "Expanding Your Horizons" Math and Science Conference for 8th Girls, 2004, 2005, 2007.
- Duke University Consortium on Teaching and Learning (2005-2008)
Research and Career Featured In
- Baker, B. 2011. “Having a Life in Science.” BioScience 61: 429-433.
- Johns-Hopkins University Global Water Magazine, October 2010. “Four Lessons from Restoration Research.”
- Public Broadcasting (PBS) Dragonfly TV "Wetlands of North Carolina" Kids' science show, Spring 2007
- Duke Magazine "Plant Manager," July-August 2006
- News and Observer, Raleigh, NC. "Duke scholars work to restore wetlands-on campus" Aug. 22, 2005
Technology Skills
- On camera training and filming experience (see Professional Development page)
- Amos
- PCOrd
- ImPLAN
- Dreamweaver
- Blackboard
(Last updated December 29, 2011)
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