Education

Ph.D.  Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science.  Expected date of completion, May 2011.

B.S. Environmental Science, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 2006

Research Interests

My research interests center around understanding the effects of hypoxia on trophic dynamics and the functional importance of benthos in coastal ecosystems.  I am also interested in the significance of biodiversity on ecosystem function, and the effects of global climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on estuarine and coastal processes.

Publications

Sturdivant, S.K., R.J. Diaz, D.M. Dauer, and R. Llanso. 2010. Relationship between hypoxia and benthic secondary production in Chesapeake Bay.  Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.  In review.

Sturdivant, S.K. and K.L. Clark 2010.  A mechanistic view of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) behavior on crab trap efficacy. Fish. Bull. In review.

Sturdivant, S.K., R.J. Diaz, G.R. Cutter 2010. Bioturbation in a declining oxygen environment, in situ observations. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. In prep.

Grants Awarded

8/2009-present NOAA Graduate Sciences Program: Graduate research fellowship for students pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in the fields of science, mathematics, or engineering.

8/2006-5/2009  NSF Hall-Bonner Program for Minority Doctoral Scholars in Ocean Sciences: Graduate research fellowship for minority students interested in pursuing a Ph.D.-level career in the ocean science community. 

Professional Experience

8/2009 - Present: Research coordinator NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries Program.

8/2006 - Present: Graduate research assistant as part of theVIMS Benthic Ecology Lab, studying the impacts of hypoxia on estuarine production and energy transfer.

4/2009: Research specialist on R/V Pelican expedition.  Conducted Sediment Profile Imagery during a 7 day research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico assessing the impact of hypoxia  benthic community composition and sediment processes.

11/2007: Research assistant (Surfnaut) on Project "Sea CAMEL" (Classroom Aquarius Marine Education Live). Provided support in3 days of interactive coral-reef experiments from Aquaris, while being broadcasted live as an educational experience.

5/2005-8/2006: Intern at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Conducted research over two summers assessing loggerhead sea turtle usage of reef ledges.

9/2005-5/2006: Research assistant at Black Water National Wildlife Refuge. Assisted on a baseline assessment of fish population dynamics in the Blackwater and Little Blackwater river.

5/2003-8/2003: Intern in the Crab lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Provided assistance on the Nearshore  project, and studied blue crab behavior on catch efficacy.

Awards

2006-Present: NSF Hall-Bonner Fellowship Scholar

2009: ASLO Award of Recgonition, Best Presentation

2005-2006: NOAA Educational Partnership Program Scholar

2004-2006: NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center Scholar

2004-2006: Richard A. Henson Leader Scholar

2002-2003: Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar

Oral Presentations

Sturdivant, S.K. and R.J. Diaz 2009. Bioturbation in a declining oxygen environment, in situ observations. Presented at the 20th Biennial Coastal and Researh Federation Conference.

Sturdivant, S.K., R.J. Diaz, and R.D. Seitz 2008. Effects of hypoxia on secondary production.  Presented at the 14th Ocean Sciences Meeting/ASLO.

Sturdivant, S.K. and G. McFall 2007. Assessing the utilization of reef ledges by loggerhead sea turtles in and around Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia, USA to scour epibionts.  Presented at the Aquatic Sciences Meeting/ASLO.

Sturdivant, S.K. and K.L. Clark 2006. The behavioral interactions of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) affects the efficiency of commercial crab pots. Presented at the 13th Ocean Sciences Meeting/ASLO.

Poster Presentations

Sturdivant, S.K., R.J. Diaz, and R.D. Seitz 2009. Effects of seasonal hypoxia on benthic secondary production and community function in the Rappahannock River, VA, USA.  Presented at the 15th Ocean Sciences Meeting/ASLO.

Petrone,CJ., K.L. Brodie, A.C. Foxgrover, D.O.B. Jones, L.M. Kraatz, S.J. Lake, N.J. Relles, C. Rodriguez-Calderon, T. Shen, C.R. Spier, S.K. Sturdivant, M.R. Patterson 2008. Lesson from Project SeaCAMEL: Integrating science education and ocean observing system (OOS) technology. Presented at the 14th Ocean Sciences Meeting/ASLO.

Sturdivant, S.K. and G. McFall 2006. Usage of reef ledges by loggerhead sea turtles in and around Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia, USA to scour epibionts. Presented at the 4th NOAA Education and Science Forum

Sturdivant, S.K., J. Gill, D. Birch, B. Giese, R. Packett, and M. MacKinnon 2006. Watershed restoration of the Blackwater and Little Blackwater Rivers. Presented at the 15th Annual Mid-Atlantic HBCU Science Research Meeting.

Sturdivant, S.K., J. Gill, D. Birch, B. Giese, R. Packett, and M. MacKinnon 2006. Watershed restoration of the Blackwater and Little Blackwater Rivers. Presented at the 3rd Annual Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex Meeting.

Sturdivant, S.K. and K.L. Clark 2005. The behavioral interactions of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) affects crab pot efficacy. Presented at the 135th Annual American Fisheries Society Meeting.

Sturdivant, S.K. and K.L. Clark 2004. Effects of blue crab behavior on crab pot efficacy.  Presented at the 33rd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting.