SOMMER STARR

sfs20bb@my.fsu.edu | 404.542.8253

Tallahassee, FL, 32308 | ORCID: 0000-0002-0182-5368

Doctor of Philosophy, Physical Environmental Science| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL (Dec 2023)

Master of Science, Biological Sciences| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL (May 2020)

Bachelor of Science, Biology | Univ. of West Georgia | Carrollton, GA (May 2018)

Associate in Applied Science, Aviation Maintenance Technology | Community College of the Air Force | Montgomery, AL (April 2012)

Graduate Teaching Assistant (2018-2019) – Biological Sciences, University of Alabama

            Introduction to Biology I (BIO-115)

            Introduction to Biology II (BIO-117)

Lab Instructor (2017-2018) – Department of Biology, University of West Georgia

            Biological Diversity (BIOL-1110)

Teaching Assistant (2017-2018) – Department of Chemistry, University of West Georgia

            Principles of Chemistry I (CHEM-1211L)

            Principles of Chemistry II (CHEM-1212L)

            Introductory Chemistry (CHEM-1100)

Peer Tutor (2017) – Center for Academic Success, University of West Georgia

PhD Research (2020-Present) – Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Florida State Uni.

Analysis of carbon dynamics in the Arctic, including estimating DOC yield in understudied Arctic rivers, microbial ecology and C cycling in a continuum of permafrost age, evaluating landcover type and permafrost extent as drivers of DOC characteristics in Western Siberia. Relevant skills: Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), fluorescence and absorbance analyses of DOM, TOC analysis, solid phase extraction, microbial ecology.

Graduate Research (2018-2020) – Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama

Analyzed denitrification potential, microbial biomass, and fungal diversity in natural and constructed salt marshes. Relevant skills: gas chromatography, membrane-inlet mass spectrometry, fluorescence analysis of nutrients, microbial ecology.

Research Assistant (2017-2018) – Department of Biology, University of West Georgia

Compared wetland water chemistry to known aquatic salamander species ranges in Georgia as independent undergraduate research; Assistant  on project “Response in growth, scute development, and whole-body ion composition of Acipenser fulvescens reared in water of differing chemistries”. Relevant skills: spectrometric analysis of nutrients and metals, laboratory animal handling, geographic analysis.

Ledford, T., Mortazavi, B., Tatariw, C., Starr, S.F., Smyth, E., Griffin Wood, A., Simpson, L.T., Cherry, J. (2021) Ecosystem carbon exchange and nitrogen removal rates in two 33-year-old constructed salt marshes are similar to those in a nearby natural marsh. Restoration Ecology, 29(7), e13439. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13439

Tatariw, C., Mortazavi, B., Ledford, T., Starr, S.F., Smyth, E., Griffin Wood, A., Simpson, L.T., Cherry, J. (2021) Nitrate reduction capacity is limited by belowground plant recovery in a 32-year-old created salt marsh. Restoration Ecology, 29(1), e13300. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13300

Griffin Wood, A., Smyth, E., Tatariw, C., Ledford, T., Singh, N., Starr, S.F., Kuehn, K.A., Mortazavi, B., Cherry, J. (Aug 2020) Nutrient loading effects on biological contributions to elevation dynamics in a constructed and natural tidal marsh. Ecological Society of America annual conference; online.

Smyth, E., Cherry, J., Griffin Wood, A., Ledford, T., Starr, S.F., Tatariw, C., Kuehn, K.A., Mortazavi, B., Cherry, J. (Aug 2020) Differences in microbially-mediated organic matter decomposition in natural and constructed coastal wetlands. Ecological Society of America annual conference; online.

Starr, S.F., Ledford, T., Smyth, E., Griffin Wood, A., Tatariw, C., Simpson, L., Cherry, J., & Mortazavi, B. (Nov 2019) Carbon quality: effects on nitrogen removal and fungal succession in a constructed salt marsh. Poster presented at the 25^th Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation biennial conference; Mobile, AL

Smyth, E., Cherry, J., Griffin Wood, A., Ledford, T., Mortazavi, B., Simpson, L., Tatariw, C., & Starr, S.F. (Nov 2019) Differences in carbon storage between a constructed and natural brackish marsh. Poster presented at the 25^th Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation biennial conference; Mobile, AL

Tatariw, C., Ledford, T., Starr, S.F., Simpson, L., Smyth, E., Griffin Wood, A., Cherry, J., & Mortazavi, B.

(Nov 2019) Building ecosystem function: Do constructed salt marshes remove nitrogen as well as their natural counterparts? 25^th Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation biennial conference; Mobile, AL

Starr, S.F., Tatariw, C., & Mortazavi, B. (Sep 2019) Controls on nitrogen removal capacity in an engineered Gulf coast salt marsh. Poster presented at the University of Alabama Department of Biology Annual Graduate Student Research Poster Colloquium; Tuscaloosa, AL

Starr, S.F., Zou, E., & Genz, J. (2018) Mudpuppies in the marsh: the effect of water chemistry on aquatic salamander distribution across Georgia watersheds. Poster presented at the University of West Georgia Annual Undergraduate Research Conference; Carrollton, GA