In May 2013, I finished my graduate research and earned a Master's of Science from Northeastern University in the Department of Biology. I am devoted to science education, ecology, and conservation. I have experience teaching at the junior high school, university, and community college level. Broadly, I have conducted research on the ecology of native bees and the effect non-native plant species have on native species. Specifically, my master's research aimed to understand how exotic plant invasion disrupts essential native plant-animal interactions and influences the structure of invaded communities.
Publications, Presentations, and Awards
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Shatkin, J.A., M.Wagle, S.Kent, and C.A. Menzie. 2002. Development of a Biokinetic Model to Evaluate Dermal Absorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Soil. Journal of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 8(4): 713-734. pdf
Sinu, P.S., S.M. Kent, and Chandrashekara, K. 2012. Forest resource use and perception of farmers on conservation of a usufruct forest (Soppinabetta) of Western Ghats, India. Land Use Policy. 29(3): 702-709. pdf
In preparation:
Kent, S.M., Stage, G.I., and Ascher, J.S. Bee diversity, richness, and abundance, of the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts, from the 1970s to 2010.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G. S. The identity and diversity of co-occurring exotic plant species influence consumption of the native forb Asclepias syriaca by monarch butterfly larvae.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. The effect of floral similarity between co-flowering native and exotic plants on pollinator visitation to a native forb (Achillea millefolium).
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. The independent and combined effect of consumption and competition with exotic plants on native plant growth and herbivory.
Awards
Kent, S.M. 2013 The Importance of Ecological Context: The Effect of Neighboring Exotic Plants on the Herbivory of Common Milkweed by the Monarch Butterfly. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting. February 14 – 18, 2013. This research was awarded first place in the student poster competition for the environment and ecology section. http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2013/program/posters/
Graduate Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, August 2012
Graduate Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, March 2012
Biology Department Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, December 2010
Biology Department Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, August 2008
Varsity Crew, Lawrence Chick award recipient for dedication, leadership, and teamwork, Holy Cross, May 2002
Selected Conference Presentations and Published Abstracts
Shatkin, J.A., S. Kent, M.Wagle, M.Pirnie, and C.A. Menzie. 2001. Use of Fugacity Model to Evaluate the Effects of Sorption of PAHs on Dermal Bioavailability in Soils. International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments, and Water. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
Kent, S.M. 2008 Plant-Pollinator Interaction Networks of the Boston Harbor Islands. Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium. University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA. October 3.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. 2010. The effects of exotic plant richness on pollinator foraging behavior and richness. Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference. Newton, MA. April 25 – 27.
Kent, S.M., Stage, G., and Asher, J. 2010. Bee richness, abundance, and population dynamics of Cuttyhunk and Penikese Island, MA, from the 1970s to 2009. Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference. Newton, MA. April 25 – 27.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. 2010. Experimental evaluation of the effect of co-flowering exotic species richness on pollinator diversity. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. December 12-15.
Allesh, S., K. Chandrashekara, S.M. Kent. 2011. Conservation of unprotected forests of Western Ghats, India: forest resource utilization, biodiversity value and land use policy. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation and the Society of Conservation Biology Annual Meeting. Arusha, Tanzania. June 12 – 16.
Kent, S.M. 2012. Monarch (Danaus plexippus L.) caterpillar abundance on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is reduced in experimental patches of ex-eye daisy and common milkweed. Eastern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Hartford, CT. March 17-18th.
Kent, S.M. 2012 The important of the ecological neighborhood: Quantifying the effect of exotic plants on native species interactions. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. August 6th – 10th.
Kent, S.M. 2013 The Importance of Ecological Context: The Effect of Neighboring Exotic Plants on the Herbivory of Common Milkweed by the Monarch Butterfly. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting. February 14 – 18, 2013. This research was awarded first place in the student poster competition for the environment and ecology section. http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2013/program/posters/
Kent, S.M., Ascher, J.S., and Stage, G.I. Bee Richness and Abundance of Penikese Island and Cuttyhunk Island of the Elizabeth Islands, MA. Northeast Natural History Conference. April 15, 2013.
Invited Public Lectures
Kent, S.M. 2011. Uncovering the buzz about bees: the ecology of bees of eastern New England. Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts. Public Lecture Series. 18 January 2011.
Kent, S.M. 2011. The ecology of bees of eastern New England. RoboBees Lab, Harvard University Annual Retreat. Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts. August 2011
Technical Reports
Kent, S. 2004. Report on Diamondback Terrapin Populations in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Report to: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. From: Lloyd Center for the Environment. Report #2004-3.
Mello, M. and Kent, S. 2004. Inventory of Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Tiger Beetles at Camp Curtis Guild, Reading, Massachusetts. Report to: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. From: Lloyd Center for the Environment. Report #2004-4.
Guest Lectures
Evolution. 31 January & 2 February 2011. Lecture on Plant-Pollinator Specialization and the Ecology of Bees
Topics in Biology: Conservation Biology. 23 September 2010. Lecture on Conducting Academic Research
Invertebrate Marine Zoology. 10 November 2008. Lecture on Experimental Field Ecology and Ecology of Bees
Shatkin, J.A., M.Wagle, S.Kent, and C.A. Menzie. 2002. Development of a Biokinetic Model to Evaluate Dermal Absorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Soil. Journal of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 8(4): 713-734. pdf
Sinu, P.S., S.M. Kent, and Chandrashekara, K. 2012. Forest resource use and perception of farmers on conservation of a usufruct forest (Soppinabetta) of Western Ghats, India. Land Use Policy. 29(3): 702-709. pdf
In preparation:
Kent, S.M., Stage, G.I., and Ascher, J.S. Bee diversity, richness, and abundance, of the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts, from the 1970s to 2010.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G. S. The identity and diversity of co-occurring exotic plant species influence consumption of the native forb Asclepias syriaca by monarch butterfly larvae.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. The effect of floral similarity between co-flowering native and exotic plants on pollinator visitation to a native forb (Achillea millefolium).
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. The independent and combined effect of consumption and competition with exotic plants on native plant growth and herbivory.
Awards
Kent, S.M. 2013 The Importance of Ecological Context: The Effect of Neighboring Exotic Plants on the Herbivory of Common Milkweed by the Monarch Butterfly. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting. February 14 – 18, 2013. This research was awarded first place in the student poster competition for the environment and ecology section. http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2013/program/posters/
Graduate Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, August 2012
Graduate Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, March 2012
Biology Department Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, December 2010
Biology Department Student Travel Award, Northeastern University, August 2008
Varsity Crew, Lawrence Chick award recipient for dedication, leadership, and teamwork, Holy Cross, May 2002
Selected Conference Presentations and Published Abstracts
Shatkin, J.A., S. Kent, M.Wagle, M.Pirnie, and C.A. Menzie. 2001. Use of Fugacity Model to Evaluate the Effects of Sorption of PAHs on Dermal Bioavailability in Soils. International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments, and Water. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
Kent, S.M. 2008 Plant-Pollinator Interaction Networks of the Boston Harbor Islands. Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium. University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA. October 3.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. 2010. The effects of exotic plant richness on pollinator foraging behavior and richness. Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference. Newton, MA. April 25 – 27.
Kent, S.M., Stage, G., and Asher, J. 2010. Bee richness, abundance, and population dynamics of Cuttyhunk and Penikese Island, MA, from the 1970s to 2009. Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference. Newton, MA. April 25 – 27.
Kent, S.M. and Jones, G.S. 2010. Experimental evaluation of the effect of co-flowering exotic species richness on pollinator diversity. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. December 12-15.
Allesh, S., K. Chandrashekara, S.M. Kent. 2011. Conservation of unprotected forests of Western Ghats, India: forest resource utilization, biodiversity value and land use policy. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation and the Society of Conservation Biology Annual Meeting. Arusha, Tanzania. June 12 – 16.
Kent, S.M. 2012. Monarch (Danaus plexippus L.) caterpillar abundance on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is reduced in experimental patches of ex-eye daisy and common milkweed. Eastern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Hartford, CT. March 17-18th.
Kent, S.M. 2012 The important of the ecological neighborhood: Quantifying the effect of exotic plants on native species interactions. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Portland, OR. August 6th – 10th.
Kent, S.M. 2013 The Importance of Ecological Context: The Effect of Neighboring Exotic Plants on the Herbivory of Common Milkweed by the Monarch Butterfly. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting. February 14 – 18, 2013. This research was awarded first place in the student poster competition for the environment and ecology section. http://www.aaas.org/meetings/2013/program/posters/
Kent, S.M., Ascher, J.S., and Stage, G.I. Bee Richness and Abundance of Penikese Island and Cuttyhunk Island of the Elizabeth Islands, MA. Northeast Natural History Conference. April 15, 2013.
Invited Public Lectures
Kent, S.M. 2011. Uncovering the buzz about bees: the ecology of bees of eastern New England. Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts. Public Lecture Series. 18 January 2011.
Kent, S.M. 2011. The ecology of bees of eastern New England. RoboBees Lab, Harvard University Annual Retreat. Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts. August 2011
Technical Reports
Kent, S. 2004. Report on Diamondback Terrapin Populations in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Report to: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. From: Lloyd Center for the Environment. Report #2004-3.
Mello, M. and Kent, S. 2004. Inventory of Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Tiger Beetles at Camp Curtis Guild, Reading, Massachusetts. Report to: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. From: Lloyd Center for the Environment. Report #2004-4.
Guest Lectures
Evolution. 31 January & 2 February 2011. Lecture on Plant-Pollinator Specialization and the Ecology of Bees
Topics in Biology: Conservation Biology. 23 September 2010. Lecture on Conducting Academic Research
Invertebrate Marine Zoology. 10 November 2008. Lecture on Experimental Field Ecology and Ecology of Bees
