Education

B.A. University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Research Interests

All living organisms require nutrients for growth.  Nitrogen (N) is of particular importance because it limits primary production in much of the open ocean (i.e. constrains biomass because it is in lowest supply relative to the needs of the cell).  My research aims to investigate the competition for N between autotrophs and heterotrophs, and how this competition affects the biological pump and sequestration of organic matter in the deep ocean.  This information could also elucidate some of the major planktonic drivers of the N cycle in the ocean.

Field and Research Experience

York River, Gloucester Point, VA (2010-2011) Time-series study of nitrogen usage by bacterial and archaeal communities in the York River.

UMIAQ Station Barrow, Alaska (April, 2010; January, 2011; April, 2011; January 2012) Seasonal nitrogen uptake dynamics of polar microbial communities.

R/V Hugh R. Sharp, Chesapeake Bay (August, 2010) Part of a field study using cutting edge methods to determine rates of nitrogen and carbon uptake along a latitudinal gradient in the Chesapeake Bay.

R/V Atlantic Explorer, Bermuda (June, 2009) Cruise as part of the microbial oceanography course at BIOS, we took samples to elucidate community structure (via T-RFLP) and proteomics.

R/V Atlantic Explorer, Bermuda (April, 2009) Preliminary samples for archaeal ammonium uptake and oxidation at Bermuda Atlantic Time Series site.

R/V Pelican, Gulf of Mexico, Florida (October, 2008) Nutrient uptake kinetics of Karenia brevis, a harmful algal bloom species.

R/V Thompson, Monterey Bay, California (July, 2006) Investigation of photo-oxidative and bacterial breakdown products of zooplankton-produced FDOM signal.

Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Massachusetts, Boston (December, 2005 to May, 2006)  verification of in situ source of zooplankton produced fluorescence signal.

Honors and Awards

H. Booker Andrews, Jr. Fellowship (2012 - 2013)

Virginia Institute of Marine Science Council Fellowship (2007 - 2009)

William J. Hargis Jr. Fellowship Award (2007)

Publications

Baer, S.E., D.A. Bronk, R. Sipler, Q. Roberts (in preparation) Seasonal nitrogen uptake rates in the coastal Arctic.

Baer, S.E., T.L Connelly, P.L. Yager, D.A. Bronk (in preparation) Nitrogen uptake dynamics in Arctic landfast ice. 

Baer, S.E., T.L Connelly, D.A. Bronk, T.A. Yager (in preparation) Temperature effects on coastal Arctic nitrification.

Baer, S.E., D.A. Bronk (in preparation) Nitrogen uptake rates of low- and high-nucleic acid bacteria from the coastal western Arctic.

Sipler, R.E., D.A. Bronk,  S.E. Baer, Q. Roberts (in preparation) Humic impacts on nitrate uptake in a warming Arctic.

Baer, S.E., B. Wawrik, T.L Connelly, D.A. Bronk (in preparation) Species-specific bicarbonate uptake during the dark Arctic winter.

Cooper, J., B. Wawrik, S.E. Baer, D.A. Bronk, T.L. Connelly (in preparation) Urea uptake in the coastal Arctic as determined by stable isotope probing.

Urban-Rich, J., S.E. Baer, M. Sutor, H. Liu, R. Powell (submitted) Fine-scale measurements of zooplankton inputs to FDOM in the Gulf of Mexico.

Urban-Rich, J., S.E. Baer (in preparation) The fate of zooplankton-produced fluorescent dissolved organic matter.

Presentations

Invited Talks

Baer, S.E. (2012) Seasonal nitrogen uptake dynamics in the coastal Arctic.  University of South Florida. Host: Mya Breitbart

Presentations

Baer, S.E., T.L. Connelly, P.L. Yager, D.A. Bronk (2013) Ammonium uptake and nitrification in a warming Arctic. ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, New Orleans, LA

Posters

Finke, N., S.B. Joye, S.E. Baer (2012) Methane production in marine sea ice in the Chukchi Sea, Barrow AK.  Astrobiology Science Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Baer, S.E., T.L Connelly, D.A. Bronk (2012) Nitrogen uptake dynamics in Arctic landfast ice.  ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.

Baer, S.E. (2012) Arctic Research: Adventures in Extreme Cold. Yorktown High School, Yorktown, VA.

Baer, S.E. (2009) Marine trophic cascades.  Hampton Roads International Montessori School, Newport News, VA.

Urban-Rich, J., S.E. Baer (2008) Detection and fate of zooplankton-produced FDOM in Monterey Bay.  ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Orlando, FL.

Urban-Rich, J., S.E. Baer, M. Sutor (2007) Using FDOM to detect zooplankton in the Gulf of Mexico.  Estuarine Research Federation annual meeting, Providence, RI.

Teaching Experience

Arctic Oceanography, 1-credit undergraduate seminar, College of William & Mary (Fall 2012)

Calculus tutor, University of Massachusetts, Boston (2006 - 2007)

Professional Work Experience

eBusiness Manager, Electric Insurance Company (2001 - 2005)

Business Development Manager, Openpages, Inc. (2000 - 2001)

Worlwide Alliances Manager, Parametric Technology Corporation (1996 - 2000)