CV

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

2012 B.A., Zoology (major), Geology(minor), Cum Laude, University of Vermont

2007 B.A., Professional Writing, Champlain College

Teaching Experience

Senior Lecturer, Norwich University, 2020-current

Course Developer, Norwich University, 2023

BI122 Concepts in Biology (College of Graduate and Continuing Studies)

Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Vermont, 2013 – 2019

BCOR 012 Exploring Biology lab

BIOL 001 Principles of Biology lab

BIOL 002 Principles of Biology lab

BIOL 255 Comparative Physiology lab

Guest Lecturer

2018 Hysteresis in a Teacup: Organic Enrichment and Eutrophic Collapse of the Pitcher Plant
Food Web.
Course: Comparative Physiology, University of Vermont.
Professor: Brent Lockwood

2013 Carnivorous Plants and Ecological Research..
Course: Plant-Animal Interactions, University of Vermont.
Professor: Allison Brody.

Professional Experience

2012 Lay Monitoring Program Assistant, Vermont Department of Environmental
Conservation

2011-2012 Editorial Associate, Pediatrics, American Association of Pediatrics

2011 Editorial Assistant, Dartmouth Journal Services, Waterbury, VT

Grants and Scholarships

2017 Botanical Society of America travel grant to attend the XIX International Botanical
Congress, Shenzhen, China ($2,500)

2011 URECA! (Undergraduate Research Endeavors Competitive Award), University of Vermont
(declined) ($1,900)

2011 Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Internship, University of Vermont ($4,900)

2011 David 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

2025 Judge, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School Science Fair

2017-2025 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