Curriculum Vitae: Karen Bushaw-Newton, PhD
Education
1988 Ph.D., Ecology, University of Georgia, USA
1992 B.S. with Honors, Microbiology, University of Georgia, USA

Professional Experience
2002 Assistant Professor, Biology Department, American University
2000 Post-Doctoral Associate, Patrick Center for Env. Research, Academy of Natural Sciences
1998 Knauss Sea Grant Fellow, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration

Grants, Fellowships, Awards
  • 2008, Water Resources Research Institute (USGS). Assessing the Distribution of Synthetic Organics and the Degradation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons in the Anacostia River through Microbial and Stable Isotope Studies. (Co-Pi-S. MacAvoy, $15,000)
  • 2006, Water Resources Research Institute (USGS). Nutrient flow and Biological dynamics in the Anacostia River. (Co-Pi-S. MacAvoy, $15,000)
  • 2004, Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust. Biogeochemistry of Cove Point Marsh, Maryland. ($3,364)
  • 2000, New Jersey Sea Grant Marsh Ecology Research Program, Relative effects of photochemical transformations of Phragmites-derived and Spartina-derived dissolved organic matter on secondary production in Delaware Bay Salt Marshes. (Co-PI with DJ Velinsky and DA Kreeger $87,916)
  • 2000, Private Foundation, Organic matter dynamics in impounded systems. ($37,000)

Publications
  • Bushaw-Newton, K.L., E. Ewers, C. S. Fortunato, J.T. Ashley, D. J. Velinsky, and S. MacAvoy. Microbial diversity snapshots from sediments of the Anacostia River. In prep.
  • MacyAvoy, S.E., E. Ewers, and K. L. Bushaw-Newton. A Biogeochemcial Survey of the Anacostia River, Washington DC. In prep.
  • Fortunato, C.S., D. B. Carlini, E. Ewers, and K.L. Bushaw-Newton. Nitrifier and denitrifier molecular operational taxonomic unit compositions from sites of a freshwater estuary of Chesapeake Bay. In prep.
  • Bushaw-Newton, K.L., D. A. Kreeger, S. Doaty, and D.J. Velinsky. 2008. Utilization of Spartina-and Phragmites-derived dissolved organic matter by bacteria and Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia demissa) from Delaware Bay Salt Marshes. Estuaries and Coasts. DOI 10.1007/s12237-008-9061-8.
  • Velinsky, D.J., K.L. Bushaw-Newton, T.E. Johnson, and D.A. Kreeger. 2006. Changes in riverine chemistry following the removal of a small dam in SE Pennsylvania. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 25:569-582.
  • Ashley, J.T. F., K. Bushaw-Newton, M. Wilhelm, A. Boettner, G. Drames, and D.J. Velinsky. 2006. The effects of small dam removal on the distribution of sedimentary contaminants. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 114:287-312.
  • Bushaw-Newton, K.L., J.A. Ashley, and D.J. Velinsky. 2005. A process for assessing the ecological effects of a proposed dam removal. Hydro-Review, 24: 36-44.
  • Hart, D.D., T.E. Johnson, K. L. Bushaw-Newton, R. Horwitz, and J. E. Pizzuto. 2003. Ecological effects of dam removal: an integrative case study and risk assessment framework for prediction. In Dam Removal Research: Status and Prospects, edited by W. Graf, H. John Heniz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment, Washington, D.C. p. 67-80.
  • Bushaw-Newton, K.L. D. D. Hart, T. E. Johnson, J. Pizzuto, J. Egan, M. Keeley, J. Lawrence, J. T. Ashley, R. J. Horwitz, D. Charles, C. Gatenby, D. A. Kreeger, T. Nightengale, R. L. Thomas, and D. J. Velinsky. 2002. An integrative approach towards understanding dam removal: the Manatawny Creek Study. Journal of American Water Resources Association. 38:1581-1599.
  • Hart, D.D., T.E. Johnson, K.L. Bushaw-Newton, R.J. Horwitz, A.T. Bednarek, D. Charles, D.A. Kreeger, and D.J. Velinsky. 2002. Dam Removal: Challenges and Opportunities for Ecological Research and River Restoration. BioScience , 52: 669-681.
  • Hart, D.D., K.L. Bushaw-Newton, R.J. Horwitz, T.E. Johnson, J.E. Pizzuto, and J.R. Thomson. 2002. Effectiveness of river restoration via dam removal: status reports and research needs. Bulletin of the North American Benthological Society. 19: 211-212.
  • Bushaw-Newton, K.L. and D.J. Velinsky. 2002. Leaf litter decomposition in three streams with small dams in the Brandywine River Drainage. 19:221.
  • Bushaw-Newton, K. L. and M. A. Moran. 1999. Photochemical formation of biologically available nitrogen from dissolved humic substances in coastal marine systems, Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 18: 285-292.
  • Bushaw, K. L., R. G. Zepp, M. A. Tarr, D. Schulz-Jander, R. A. Bourbonniere, R. E. Hodson, W. L. Miller, D. A. Bronk, and M. A. Moran. 1996. Photochemical release of biologically available nitrogen from aquatic dissolved organic matter, Nature, 381: 404-407.

Professional Meeting Presentations (recent) (†AU Undergraduate Student)
  • MacAvoy, S. E. Ewers, and K. L. Bushaw-Newton. 2007. Biogeochemical snapshot of an urban water system: The Anacostia River, Washington DC. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. December, San Francisco, CA.
  • Fortunato, C. and K. L. Bushaw-Newton. 2007. Assessing the Nitrogen Processes of a Freshwater Tidal Estuary through Microbial Community and Nutrient Composition. Estuarine Research Federation Annual Meeting, November, Providence, RI.
  • Jensen, K. and K. L. Bushaw-Newton. 2007. Detection of Tetracycline Resistant Bacteria in Ecologically Disturbed Environments 2007 Annual Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. June 2007, Bethesda, MD.
  • Fortunato, C. and K. L. Bushaw-Newton. 2007. Assessing the Biogeochemical Processes of a Freshwater Tidal Estuary through Microbial Community and Nutrient Composition American Society of Microbiology Annual Meeting. May, Toronto, CA.
  • Fortunato, C. and K. L. Bushaw-Newton. 2006. Microbial Diversity of Jug Bay Marsh, MD. Scientist’s Meeting, Jug Bay National Estuarine Reserve, September 21, 2006.
  • Adams, E. †, D.J. Velinsky, and K.L. Bushaw-Newton. 2006. Relative microbial diversity of Anacostia River sediments using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Atlantic Estuarine Research Society Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. March 9-11.
  • Bushaw-Newton, K.L., L. Caspar, C. Whitehead†, A. Baron, E. Ewers†, and E. Adams†. 2006. Investigations of the Biogeochemistry and microbial diversity of Cove Point Marsh, MD. Atlantic Estuarine Research Society Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. March 9-11.
  • Lidstrom, J.L. † and K. L. Bushaw-Newton. 2004. Antibiotic Resistance Among Stream Bacteria in Two Streams of the Potomac River Watershed. Poster Presentation. American Society of Microbiology Graduate Student Research Conference, Washington, DC Area Branch. George Washington University, April 2004.

Presentations (recent)
  • Invited Research Seminar, Department of Biology, Howard University, April 2008
  • Plenary Presentation. Symposium on New Currents in Conserving Freshwater Systems sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. New York City, NY. April 2005
  • Expert Panel, Biological effects of dam removal, American Society of Civil Engineers special meeting on Dams and Dam Removal, Baltimore, MD. August 2003

Membership and Professional Activities
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Ecological Society of America
  • American Society of Microbiology
  • Estuarine Research Federation
  • American Geophysical Union