REBECCA T. BARNES
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, U.S. Geological Survey
3215 Marine Street, Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303
303.541.3026 | becca.barnes@gmail.com
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Biogeochemistry and ecology of watersheds with an emphasis on carbon and nitrogen cycling,
land use change & development, environmental education and science literacy
EDUCATION
YALE UNIVERSITY
New Haven, CT
Ph.D., Forestry & Environmental Studies, 2008
Dissertation Title: Determining the Relative Importance of Fluxes and Processes to
Nitrogen and Carbon Export from Temperate Watersheds
M.Phil., Forestry & Environmental Studies, 2005
INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
M.S. Environmental Sciences, Water Resources, 2003
M.P.A, Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management, 2003
OBERLIN COLLEGE
B.A., Geology and Environmental Studies, 1998
Bloomington, IN
Oberlin, OH
GRANTS & HONORS
NSF EARTH SCIENCES POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP, 2008-2010
Boulder, CO
U.S. Geological Survey & University of Colorado
“Linking Carbon Quality to In-Stream Nitrogen Processing Across an Ecosystem
Gradient” ($160,000)
YALE UNIVERSITY
New Haven, CT
EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship, 2004-2007
“Managing nutrients in two New England estuaries: The feasibility of using
stable isotopes to monitor nitrate sources” ($110,000)
The Sounds Conservancy, Quebec-Labrador Foundation, 2003 ($2000)
NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research Fellowship, 2003
“Managing nutrients in two New England estuaries: The feasibility of using stable
isotopes to monitor nitrate sources” (funded, declined)
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Bloomington, IN
Academic Excellence Award, School of Public & Environmental Affairs, 2003
Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society Inductee, 2002
OBERLIN COLLEGE
Wharton Prize in Geology, 1998
President’s Leadership Award, 1997, 1998
Howard Hughes Teaching Fellowship, 1997-1998
Oberlin, OH
TRAVEL & CONFERENCE FUNDING
Biogeosphere-Atmosphere Stable Isotope Network (BASIN)
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Doctoral Program
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
YALE UNIVERSITY
New Haven, CT
Research Assistant, Dr. Shimon Anisfeld, 2003-2005
Laboratory assistant: measurement and quantification of nutrient loads and isotopic composition
of nitrate used to apportion atmospheric and sewage nitrogen sources
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Bloomington, IN
Research Assistant, Dr. David Good, 2001-2003
Statistical analyst: using BRS and TRI data to examine the role of state regulations in the
production, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials
Research Assistant, Dr. Philip Stevens, 2000-2001
LabView programmer: examining the role of natural hydrocarbons (isoprene & pinene) on
tropospheric ozone formation
INDIANA CLEAN LAKES PROGRAM
Bloomington, IN
Volunteer Coordinator, 2002-2003
Coordinated statewide volunteer monitoring and sampling efforts of Indiana lakes.
Analyzed volunteer data, prepared summary reports for the State and the volunteers.
Assessed the health of watersheds using macroinvertebrate, water chemistry and habitat
analysis data as part of Indiana’s Lake and River Enhancement Program.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
YALE UNIVERSITY
New Haven, CT
Instructor, Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Mods Program
Ecosystem Measurement, Stream Ecology portion (2007)
Urban Ecosystems (2005, 2006)
Coastal Ecosystem Mini-Mod (2004)
Teaching Fellow, Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 2004-2007
Classes: Multivariate Statistics for Environmental Sciences, Introduction to
Environmental Statistics (2 semesters), Isotopes in Environmental Science, Organic
Pollutants
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Bloomington, IN
Instructor, Collins Living and Learning Center, 2003
Social Evolution of the Environmental Movement in the U.S. (service learning)
Instructor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, 2003
Supplemental course for Introductory Statistics
Teaching Assistant, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, 2000-2002
Classes: Lake and Watershed Management, Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision
Making, Environmental Problems & Solutions
Assistant Instructor, Department of Geological Sciences, 1998
Field Geology in the Rocky Mountains, 7 week field course
OBERLIN COLLEGE
Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, 1998
Physical Geology
Oberlin, OH
RELATED EXPERIENCE
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
Washington, D.C
Regional Conservation Intern, Summer 2002
Worked with national, regional and state level organizations to protect lands within the
Potomac River’s watershed.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Boston, MA
National Network for Environmental Management Studies Fellow, Summer 2001
Wrote a guide for community planners concerning factors that needed to be considered
when choosing school locations
THE FUND FOR PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH
Boston, MA
Assistant Canvass Director, Regional Field Organizer, Summer 1999
Ran a canvass and campaign office for the Sierra Club and Massachusetts Public
Interest Research Group.
MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY WATER WATCH
Worcester, MA
AmeriCorps member, 1998-1999
Organized college students to raise awareness and create a stewardship around the city's
waterways. Ran after-school programs, lead stream teams in testing local waterways,
organized waterway cleans ups, held press conferences, managed interns, created and
taught environmental curriculum, built community coalitions, and worked across the
Commonwealth to increase citizens' commitments to service.
PUBLICATIONS
Anisfeld, S.C., R.T. Barnes, M.A. Altabet and T.Wu, 2007. Isotopic apportionment of atmospheric and
sewage nitrogen sources in two Connecticut rivers. Environmental Science & Technology, 41 (18): 6363 6369.
Barnes, R. T., P.A. Raymond, K.L. Casciotti. 2008. Dual isotope analyses indicate efficient processing of
atmospheric nitrate by forested watersheds in the northeastern U.S. Biogeochemistry, DOI:
10.1007/s10533-008-9227-2
Walters, A.W., R.T. Barnes, D.M. Post. In press. Anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus)
contribute marine-derived nutrients to coastal stream food webs. Canadian Journal of Fisheries &
Aquatic Sciences
MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION OR REVIEW
Barnes, R.T. and P.A. Raymond. Land use controls on the delivery, processing, and removal of nitrogen
from small watersheds: Insights from the dual isotopic composition of stream nitrate. in review,
Ecological Applications
Barnes, R.T. and P.A. Raymond. The contribution of urban and agricultural activities to inorganic carbon
fluxes in Southern New England. in review, Chemical Geology
Griffith, D.R., R.T. Barnes, P.A. Raymond. Fossil carbon in wastewater treatment plant effluent.
submitted, Nature GeoSciences
INVITED LECTURES
Determining the Relative Importance of Fluxes and Processes to Nitrogen and Carbon Export from
Temperate Watersheds, National Research Program Seminar Series, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver.
January 2009
Urban ecology, Environmental Biology, Holy Cross College. March 2008
Using spatial analyst tools to describe a landscape: A research application, Introduction to Geographic
Information Systems, Wesleyan University. February 2008
Determining the Relative Importance of Fluxes & Processes: A Multivariate Approach. Multivariate
Statistics for Environmental Sciences, Yale’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. April 2007
Stepwise Regression: Land Use and Nitrate Export in Small Temperate Watersheds, Statistics for
Environmental Sciences, Yale’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. November 2006
Tracing Nitrogen Sources and Cycles through Landscapes, Isotopes in Environmental Sciences, Yale’s
School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. February 2005
PRESENTED PAPERS & ABSTRACTS
Barnes, R.T. and P.A. Raymond. 2008. Land use controls on the delivery, processing, and removal of
nitrogen from small watersheds: insights from the dual isotopic composition of stream nitrate, Eos Trans.
AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract H23J-05.
Barnes, R.T. and P.A. Raymond. Scaling up to the Whole: Using Nitrate Isotopic Signatures to Assess
Processing and Export. Estuarine Research Federation Conference, November 2007.
Barnes, R.T. and P.A. Raymond. Scaling up to the Whole: Using Nitrate Isotopic Signatures to Assess
Processing and Export. Nitrogen 2007: 4th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference, October 2007.
Barnes, R. T., P.A. Raymond and K.L. Casciotti. Dual isotope analyses indicate efficient processing of
atmospheric nitrate by forested watersheds in the northeastern U.S. Gordon Research Conference:
Catchment Science: Interactions of Hydrology, Biology & Geochemistry, July 2007.
Barnes, R.T. and P.A. Raymond. The Dual Isotopic Composition of Nitrate Exported from Small
Temperate Watersheds of Different Land Uses. ASLO, Aquatic Sciences Meeting, February 2007.
Barnes, R.T. and P.A. Raymond. 2007. The Dual Isotopic Composition of Nitrate Exported from
Temperate Watersheds of Different Land Uses, Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract
B13A-1049.
Barnes, R. T. Nitrogen Export to Long Island Sound: Determining Fluxes and Processes within the
Connecticut River Watershed. EPA STAR Graduate Fellow Research Conference, September 2006.
Barnes, R. T., G. Benoit and S.C. Anisfeld. 2004. Managing Nutrients in Long Island Sound: The
Feasibility of Using Stable Isotopes to Monitor Nitrate Sources, Eos Trans. AGU, 85(47), Fall Meet.
Suppl., Abstract H41D-0327.
Barnes, R. T. The Feasibility of Using Stable Isotopes to Monitor Sources of Nitrate to Long Island
Sound. EPA STAR Graduate Fellow Research Conference, September 2004.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Session Chair: Estuarine Research Federation Conference, November 2007.
15
N as a Tracer for Nitrogen Pollution Sources
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Service: Curriculum Committee (2005-2007),
Student Affairs Committee (2006), Doctoral Student Committee (2008)
Organized Doctoral Research Conference for School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 2005
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
American Geophysical Union (AGU), American Society of Limnology & Oceanography (ASLO),
Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation (CERF), Geological Society of America (GSA)