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Ashley R Booth
PhD Candidate
Addressing coastal resilience needs through science-based decision making, strategic relationship-building, and interdisciplinary, collaborative partnerships.
In addition to her academic and professional experience, Ashley has extensive:
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experience presenting academic and technical information at regional, national, and international conferences;
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formal training in project and personnel management, policy and legislative process, science communication, and diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
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community-service experience in coastal restoration and resilience, science communication, science outreach, and general community engagement.
Education
April 2017 - May 2024
August 2014 - May 2016
PhD Renewable Natural Resources - Louisiana State University
Concentration in Wildife: Minor in Mass Communication
Dissertation Title: Understanding mechanisms for coastal marsh sustainability in a changing climate.
summa cum laude
MS Marine and Environmental Biology - Nicholls State University
Thesis Title: Impact of molt-disrupting PBDEs on epidermal ecdysteroid signaling in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in vitro: an initial mechanistic look into disruption of crustacean molting.
summa cum laude
BS Animal and Veterinary Science - Clemson University
AS Health Science - Veterinary Technology
- Tri-County Technical College
Selected Work Experience
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Knauss Marine Policy Legislative Fellow,
US Senate
February 2023 - February 2024
Cover oceans, water, coastal resilience, and environmental policy issues for US Senator Brian Schatz (D- HI).
![IMG-6250.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/17d1cc_feacbaf289ff4fbbb397663e2b9c8af1~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_505,y_0,w_3022,h_3022/fill/w_121,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/IMG-6250_JPG.jpg)
Environmental Scientist,
SynTerra Corporation
January 2017 - August 2017
Conducted long-term ground and surface water monitoring, industrial site assessments, and ensured regulatory compliance.
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Graduate Research Assitant,
Louisiana State University
August 2017 - May 2024
Lead multi-year research efforts to address wetland and waterfowl management needs in Gulf Coast marshes.
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Research Associate and Crew Leader,
Nicholls State University
April 2016 - August 2016
Characterized soils and vegetation at 52 wetland sites across Louisiana as part of the EPA's 2016 National Wetland Condition Assessment program.
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USFWS Directorate Fellow,
Hispanic Access Foundation
May 2022 - August 2022
Assess elevation change and adaptive management strategies at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge.
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Graduate Research Assistant,
Nicholls State University
August 2014 - May 2016
Conducted research to assess the impacts of aquatic toxins on blue crab molting. Monitored breeding populations of nesting royal and sandwich terns.
Selected Publications
Cadigan, JA, R Bain, E Holzenthal, AR Booth, D Krafft, R Styles, and E Bailey. Under review. Apparent relationship of navigation channel dredging volumes, energy production, and land loss in southwest Louisiana. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering.
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Booth, AR. In progress. Science engagement, media trust, and the role of trust and knowledge gap hypotheses in science communication in the United States.
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Booth, AR, JA Nyman, SL King, SN Parks, and JE Martingayle. In progress. Flooding and salinity alter organic matter accumulation in perennial marsh plant species: implications for managing coastal impoundments.
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Cadigan, JA, JH Bekkaye, NH Jafari, L Zhu, AR Booth, Q Chen, B Raubenheimer, BD Harris, C O’Conner, R Lane, GP Kemp, J Day, JW Day, and HO Ulloa. 2022. Impacts of coastal infrastructure on shoreline resilience to major hurricanes in southwest Louisiana. Frontiers in Built Environment.
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Ringelman, KM, ES Bonczek, JR Marty, AR Booth, and AL Dopkin. 2021. Survival of Western Gulf Coast Mottled Ducks (Anas fulvigula) in the path of a category 4 hurricane. Ecology and Evolution. 11:15477-15483.
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Booth, A and E Zou. 2016. Impact of molt-disrupting BDE-47 on epidermal ecdysteroid signalling in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in vitro. Aquatic Toxicology. 177:373-379.