Research Interests
Aquatic ecosystems conservation, pitcher plants, microbial communities, ecosystem regime shifts, early warning signals, meta-omics, alternative stable states, hysteresis.
Education
2021 Ph.D., Biology, University of Vermont, Co-Advisors: Nicholas J. Gotelli & Bryan A. Ballif
2012B.A., Zoology (major), Geology(minor), Cum Laude, University of Vermont
2007B.A., Professional Writing, Champlain College
Teaching Experience
Lecturer
2022 – Present BI 122, Concepts in Biology, Norwich University
2021 BI 226, Cell Biology, Norwich University
2020 BI 101, Introductory Biology lab, Norwich University
Graduate Teaching Assistant
2019BIOL 002, Principles of Biology lab, University of Vermont
2018BIOL 255, Comparative Physiology lab, University of Vermont
2018BCOR 012, Exploring Biology lab, University of Vermont
2017BIOL 255, Comparative Physiology lab, University of Vermont
2013BIOL 001, Principles of Biology lab, University of Vermont
Guest Lecturer
2018Hysteresis in a Teacup: Organic Enrichment and Eutrophic Collapse of the Pitcher Plant
Food Web.
Course: Comparative Physiology, University of Vermont.
Professor: Brent Lockwood
2013Carnivorous Plants and Ecological Research..
Course: Plant-Animal Interactions, University of Vermont.
Professor: Allison Brody.
Research Mentor/Advisor
2017-2018Noelani Rupp, VTSTEM science fair project, South Burlington High School
2017-2018Lindsey Robinson (UVM ’20), Research Apprenticeship, University of Vermont
2017-2018Ryan Lutrzykowskin (UVM ’20), Research Apprentice Advisor, University of Vermont
2016-2017Vanessa Avalone (Fullbright Scholar), Research Apprentice Advisor, University of
Vermont
2015 Jessica Duarte Sousa (Universidade Federal da Bahia ’18), Honors Research
Advisor, Saint Michael’s College
2013-2015Kyla Montgomery (Mediation, Inc.), Undergraduate Research Advisor, University of
Vermont
2013-2014Nathaniel Fuchs (Fulbright Scholar), Research Apprentice Advisor, University of
Vermont
2013 Alex Gordon, Research Apprentice Adivsor, University of Vermont
Research Experience
2022Lecturer, Norwich University
Survey of herbivory by E. fax on S. purpurea in Vermont bogs.
2013-2017Graduate Research Assistant, University of Vermont
Forecasting and forestalling tipping points in a aquatic ecosystem.
Co-advisors: Nicholas J. Gotelli and Bryan A. Ballif
2013 Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Vermont
Effect of juvenile hormone on timing of harvester ant development.
Advisor: Sara Helms Cahan
2011-2012 Undergraduate Student Researcher, University of Vermont
Use of lithium heteropolytungstate heavy liquid in condont microfossil recovery
for biostratigraphy from the Middlebury Formation (Middle Ordovician) of west
central Vermont.
Advisor: Charlotte Mehrtens
2011Undergraduate Student Researcher, University of Vermont
Gene by environment interaction governs developmental rates in hybridizing
harvester ant species
Advisor: Sara Helms Cahan
Professional Experience
2012Lay Monitoring Program Assistant, Vermont Department of Environmental
Conservation
2011-2012Editorial Associate, Pediatrics, American Association of Pediatrics
2011 Editorial Assistant, Dartmouth Journal Services, Waterbury, VT
Grants and Scholarships
2017Botanical Society of America travel grant to attend the XIX International Botanical
Congress, Shenzhen, China ($2,500)
2011URECA! (Undergraduate Research Endeavors Competitive Award), University of Vermont
(declined) ($1,900)
2011Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Internship, University of Vermont ($4,900)
2011David Hawley Award, Department of Geology, University of Vermont ($905)
Honors and Awards
2013 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (Honorable mention)
2012 Kurt Milton Pickett Award, Department of Biology, University of Vermont
2009 David Bucke Award, Department of Geology, University of Vermont
2005 Creative Writing Award in Non-Fiction, Champlain College
Publications
Northrop, A. C.,V. Avalone, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, N.J. Gotelli. 2020. Clockwise and counterclockwise hysteresis characterize state changes in the same aquatic ecosystem. Ecology Letters, 24, 94-101.
Lau, M., B. Baiser, A. Northrop, N.J. Gotelli and A.M. Ellison. 2018. Regime shifts and hysteresis in the pitcher-plant microecosystem. Ecological Modeling, 382, 1-8.
Northrop, A. C., R. K. Brooks, A. M. Ellison, N. J. Gotelli, and B. A. Ballif. 2017. Environmental proteomics reveals taxonomic and functional changes in an enriched aquatic ecosystem. Ecosphere, 8(10):e01954.
Northrop, A. and Mehrtens, C. (2012). Use of lithium heteropolytungstate heavy liquid inconodont microfossil recovery for biostratigraphy from the Middlebury Formation (Middle Ordovician) of west central Vermont[Abstract]. The Green Mountain Geologist, 39, 10.
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Water Quality Remediation, Implementation and Funding Report Part II: LakeShoreland Protection and Restoration Management Options. (Online). January 2013. Available: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/reports/2013ExternalReports/285836.pdf
Conference Presentations
Invited
2018 Northrop, A.C., A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, and N.J. Gotelli. Hysteresis in a teapot:
organic enrichment and eutrophic collapse of the pitcher-plant food web. Presentation.
Ecological Society of America.
2017 Northrop, A.C., R.K. Brooks, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, and N.J. Gotelli. Sarracenia purpurea
microecosystem as a model system for understanding and predicting aquatic ecosystem
dynamics and tipping points. Presentation. International Botanical Congress XIX.
2015 Northrop, A.C., R.K. Brooks, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, and N.J. Gotelli. The Northern Pitcher
Plant, Sarracenia purpurea, as a model ecosystem for identifying novel proteomic
predictors of aquatic ecosystem tipping points. Presentation. Joint Aquatic Sciences
Meeting.
2013 Northrop, A.C., R.K. Brooks, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, and N.J. Gotelli. Proteomic approaches
to predicting and forestalling state changes in aquatic ecosystems. Presentation. Harvard
University, Pringle Lab.
ContribuTed
2018 Northrop, A.C., V. Avalone, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, and N.J. Gotelli. Driver-dependent
hysteresis in an enriched aquatic ecosystem. Poster. New England Natural History
Conference.
2015 Northrop, A.C., R.K. Brooks, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, and N.J. Gotelli. Metaproteomic profiling
of microbial composition and function reveals distinct states in a dynamic aquatic
ecosystem. Poster. University of Vermont Student Research Conference.
2015 Northrop, A.C., R.K. Brooks, A.M. Ellison, B.A. Ballif, and N.J. Gotelli. Metaproteomic survey
reveals differences in composition and function between microbial communities in
detritus-enriched and unmanipulated ecosystems. Poster. Ecological Society of America.
Service
2019 Judge, Vermont Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fair.
2017 Judge, Vermont Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fair.
2014 Senator, Graduate Student Senate, University of Vermont
2014 STEM Diversity Institute’s Research Opportunities Fair, UMASS Amherst.
2013 Graduate Student Panel, Harvard Forest REU Program
Society Memberships
Ecological Society of America
Botanical Society of America
Peer Reviewer
International Journal Of Plant Sciences
Amanda Northrop 