Women Exploring the Oceans

Curriculum Vitae

Ashanti Pyrtle

Assistant Professor

College of Marine Science

University of South Florida

Research Interests

Utilization of biogeochemical indicators to interpret past events that have impacted various marine, estuarine and freshwater environments. Employing state-of-the-art analytical techniques to examine the distribution, behavior, transport and retention of man-made and naturally occurring radionuclides in Puerto Rico, Southwest Florida and Savannah (Georgia) area inland and coastal ecosystems.

Facilitating the advancement and professional development of students representing diverse socioeconomic, cultural, gender, racial and academic backgrounds.

Education

Ph.D. Chemical Oceanography, Texas A&M University (TAMU), 1999

B.S. Marine Science, Texas A&M University-Galveston (TAMUG), 1993

Professional

2003 - present - Assistant Professor, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida

2001 - 2003 - Adjunct Research Scientist II, School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology (GaTech)

2001 - 2003 Academic Professional, Office of the President, GaTech

2001 - 2003 Research Scientist II, School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, GaTech

2001 Assistant Research Professor, Marine Science Program, Savannah State University (SSU)

2000 - 2001 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Marine, Environmental Science & Biotechnology Research Center, SSU

1999 - 2001 Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, GaTech

1997 - 1998 Geochemist, Fundamental Geological Studies, Exxon Production Research Co.

1997 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Oceanography, TAMU

1990 - 1994 Intern Polymer Chemist, Central Research Laboratories, Texas Instruments, Inc.

Honors And Awards

Georgia Tech Teaching Fellow

Ford Foundation Post-doctoral Fellow

American Association of University Women Post-doctoral Research Leave Fellow

US EPA NCERQA STAR Fellow

American Geological Institute Minority Graduate Scholar

Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation Eva Evans Mathematics and Science Fellow

Ford Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellow

Profiled on the Black Entertainment Television's inaugural Careers web site

Profiled on the Remarkable Careers in Oceanography-Women Exploring the Ocean web site

Profiled on the ASLO Minorities in Aquatic Science Minority Aquatic Scientists web site

Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success Program Director

Publications in Refereed Journals

Wilborn U.S., Pyrtle A.J., Ingall E.D., Grantham M.C., Smith J., and Elliott W. C. (2003) Cs-137 Distribution and Geochemistry in Savannah (Georgia) Riverine, Estuarine and Marsh Environments, MTS/IEEE OCEANS 2003 Proceedings DVD. In press.

Pyrtle A.J., and Scott M.R. (2003) Lena Estuary-Laptev Sea System (Siberia) Sediment Cs-137, Pb-210(excess) Distribution, Transport and Geochemistry. The Science of the Total Environment. .

Pyrtle A.J., Wilborn U.S., Ingall E.D., Grantham M.C., Smith J., Christensen, B. A. and Elliott W. C. (2003) Radiogeochemistry of the Savannah (Georgia) Area Aquatic Environment, The Science of the Total Environment, In press.

Johnson-Pyrtle A. (2003) Marginal Seas. In Water: Science and Issues, ed. E. Julius Dasch. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, p.54-57 (Invited Contribution).

Johnson-Pyrtle A. (2003) Polar Oceans. In Water: Science and Issues, ed. E. Julius Dasch. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003, p. 167-171 (Invited Contribution).

Johnson-Pyrtle A., and Scott M. (2001) Distribution of Cs-137 in the Lena River Estuary-Laptev Sea System. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42(10), p. 912-926.

Johnson-Pyrtle A., Scott M., Laing T. and Smol J. (2000) Cs-137 Distribution and Geochemistry of Lena River (Siberia) Drainage Basin Lake Sediments. The Science of the Total Environment, 255(1-3), p. 145-159.

Weiler C., Beaulieu S., and other DIALOG III participants (including A. Johnson-Pyrtle) (2000) Perspectives on Graduate Education Experiences in Aquatic Science. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin, 9(1).

Gist G., Johnson-Pyrtle A., Bishop A., Pevear D., Ylagan R. and Longo J. (1999) Smectite Clay Characterization by Thermogravimetric Analysis. Exxon Production Research Co. Research Reports, EPR.6EX.99(January).