Education
2011 Ph.D. Geosciences and Biogeochemistry, Pennsylvania State University, August 2011
Title: Biogeochemistry of isoprenoid production and anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation
2005 B.A. Cum laude, Chemistry, Goucher College, May 2005
Title: Fluorescence of 4(1)-Pyrrolyl-Pyridine
Professional Appointments
Assistant Professor, 2017-present
Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ
Geobiology postdoctoral scholar, 2013-2017
California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Pasadena, CA
PSARC postdoctoral scholar, 2011-2013
California Institute of Technology/Pennsylvania State University, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Pasadena, CA
Postdoctoral scholar, 2011
Pennsylvania State University, Department of Geosciences, University Park, PA
Courses Taught
At Rutgers University
Fall 2021 Biological Principles of Environmental Science (11:375:201) (enrollment 65)
Spring 2021 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World (11:375:474) (enrollment 12)
Fall 2021 Biological Principles of Environmental Science (11:375:201) (enrollment 35)
Spring 2020 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World (11:375:474) (enrollment 18)
Spring 2020 Environmental Science Literacy (11:375:197) (enrollment 12)
Fall 2019 Environmental Science Analysis (16:375:501) (enrollment 4)
Fall 2019 Biological Principles of Environmental Science (11:375:201) (enrollment 35)
Spring 2019 Byrne Seminar: Life on Earth, Mars, and Beyond (90.101.03) (enrollment 18)
Spring 2019 Environmental Science Literacy (11:375.197) (enrollment 18 + 1 audit)
Spring 2018 Environmental Science Literacy (11:375.197) (enrollment 16)
Guest Lectures
At Rutgers University
Fall 2019 Astrobiology (01:460:225) Biomarkers lecture
Fall 2019 Seminar in Microbial Biology (11:682.521) Biogeochemistry lecture
Fall 2019 Seminar in Environmental Sciences (16:375.613) Biogeochemistry lecture
Spring 2019 Isotope Geochemistry (16:460:551) (enrollment 4) Sulfur isotopes lecture
Fall 2018 Seminar in Microbial Biology (11:682.521) (enrollment 18) Biogeochemistry lecture
Fall 2018 Seminar in Environmental Sciences (16:375.613) (enrollment 4) Biogeochemistry lecture
Fall 2018 Biodegradation and Bioremediation (16:375.529) (enrollment 6) Analytical techniques lecture
Field Experience
Oceanographic Cruises
2018 ROC-HITS-2, Costa Rica, WHOI, R/V Atlantis 15 Oct – 22 Oct 2018, Return cruise
2017 ROC-HITS, Costa Rica, WHOI, R/V Atlantis 18 May – 11 Jun 2017, Transects of activity and colonization experiments at methane seeps using DSV Alvin
2016-2017 DSEL, MBARI, R/V Western Flyer 18-22 May 2016, 7-9 Sept 2016, 22-23 Feb 2017, 10-12 Jul 2017. In situ stable isotope probing experiments. Geochemical analysis.
2013 SEEPS-13 Santa Barbara Basin, WHOI, R/V Atlantis; 25 Sept- 16 Oct. Stable isotope probing incubation experiments, analysis of sulfur species/pore water geochemistry.
2013 Southern California Expedition, MBARI, R/V Western Flyer; 5-14 May. Analyzed the geochemistry and microbiology of sediment and microbial mat samples.
2012 San Diego Coastal Expedition, Scripps, R/V Melville; 10-15 Dec. Analyzed the geochemistry and microbiology of sediment samples.
Other Expeditions and Courses
2018 - 2019 Raritan River, New Jersey; Sediment coring, geochemical and microbial community analysis.
2013 - 2016 White Point, CA sulfidic springs; Environmental geochemistry, stable isotope probing experiments and microbiological investigation of sulfur cycling in intertidal, sulfidic springs.
2011 Frasassi cave system, Italy; 1-14 Aug. Sampled cave waters for geochemistry and microbial biofilms within the cave system.
2011 Medellin/Bogota/Pasto, Colombia; 2-7 Jan. Traveled with a NASA Astrobiology group to meet the Colombian Astrobiology program and acted as a Spanish interpreter for the group. Sampled waters from Lago Verde, Volcan Azufral for metagenomic and geochemical analysis.
2008 Yellowstone National Park/Boar’s Tusk, Wyoming; 8 Jun – 8 Jul. Agouron International Geobiology Course.
2007 Cook Inlet, Alaska; 23-31 Jul. Sampling of production water from a natural gas field with ConocoPhillips.
Research Experience
2011-2017 California Institute of Technology, Postdoctoral Researcher (with V. Orphan)
2011 Pennsylvania State University, Postdoctoral Researcher (with J. Macalady)
2005-2011 Pennsylvania State University, Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant (with J. Macalady and K. Freeman)
2007 ConocoPhillips, Geochemistry Intern (Basin Characterization Group)
Selected Presentations and Invited Talks
Dawson, K.S. (2019) Microbial methane metabolism: From the Deep Sea to the Raritan River [invited talk], University of Pennsylvania, Department of Earth and Environmental Science
Dawson, K.S. (2018) Biogeochemistry and Ecology: Charismatic microbial and macrofaunal studies [invited talk], Rutgers University, Department of Ecology and Evolution
Ramos Padilla, N.M., Thieringer, P., Yee, N. and Dawson, K.S. Exploring Changes in Sediment Carbon Cycling in the Tidal Raritan River Using a Natural Salinity Gradient. (2018) [poster] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, B43G-2930.
Dawson, K.S. (2018) Integrating geochemical and molecular biological tools to explore microbial metabolism [invited talk] Princeton University.
Dawson, K.S., Scheller, S., Dillon, J.G., and Orphan, V.J. (2016) Stable isotope phenotyping via cluster analysis of FISH-NanoSIMS reveals distinct ecophysiology in sulfur-cycling microbes [talk] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, B22D-07.
Dawson, K.S. (2014) Shifts in hydrogen isotope fractionation as a consequence of syntrophic associations between bacteria and archaea [invited talk] University of Southern California, Geobiology, February 2014.
Dawson, K.S., Sessions, A.L. and Orphan, V.J. (2013) Hydrogen isotope fractionation in lipids of syntrophically associated sulfate-reducing bacteria. [poster] Goldschmidt Research Conference, August 2013.
Dawson, K.S., Freeman, K.H. and Macalady, J.L. (2012) Anaerobic biodegradation of the isoprenoid biomarker analogues pristane and phytane. [invited talk] Gordon Research Conference: Organic Geochemistry, July 2012.
Dawson, K.S., Freeman, K.H., and Macalady, J.L. (2011) Molecular characterization of archaeal lipids across a hypersaline gradient. [talk] Goldschmidt Research Conference, August 2011.
Dawson, K.S., Strapoć, D., Huizinga, B., and Macalady, J.L. (2010) Quantitative FISH analysis of microbial consortia from a biogenic gas field in the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska. [poster] Gordon Research Conference: Organic Geochemistry, August 2010.
Dawson, K.S., Macalady, J.L. and Freeman, K.H. (2008) Anaerobic Biodegradation of Isoprenoid Biomarkers by Nitrate Reducing Bacteria. [talk] Astrobiology Science Conference 2008, 9-02-O.
Dawson, K.S., Macalady, J.L. and Freeman,K.H. (2007) Anaerobic Biodegradation of Pristane by Nitrate Reducing Bacteria. [talk] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 134, B52A-05.
2011 Ph.D. Geosciences and Biogeochemistry, Pennsylvania State University, August 2011
Title: Biogeochemistry of isoprenoid production and anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation
2005 B.A. Cum laude, Chemistry, Goucher College, May 2005
Title: Fluorescence of 4(1)-Pyrrolyl-Pyridine
Professional Appointments
Assistant Professor, 2017-present
Rutgers University, Department of Environmental Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ
Geobiology postdoctoral scholar, 2013-2017
California Institute of Technology, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Pasadena, CA
PSARC postdoctoral scholar, 2011-2013
California Institute of Technology/Pennsylvania State University, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Pasadena, CA
Postdoctoral scholar, 2011
Pennsylvania State University, Department of Geosciences, University Park, PA
Courses Taught
At Rutgers University
Fall 2021 Biological Principles of Environmental Science (11:375:201) (enrollment 65)
Spring 2021 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World (11:375:474) (enrollment 12)
Fall 2021 Biological Principles of Environmental Science (11:375:201) (enrollment 35)
Spring 2020 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World (11:375:474) (enrollment 18)
Spring 2020 Environmental Science Literacy (11:375:197) (enrollment 12)
Fall 2019 Environmental Science Analysis (16:375:501) (enrollment 4)
Fall 2019 Biological Principles of Environmental Science (11:375:201) (enrollment 35)
Spring 2019 Byrne Seminar: Life on Earth, Mars, and Beyond (90.101.03) (enrollment 18)
Spring 2019 Environmental Science Literacy (11:375.197) (enrollment 18 + 1 audit)
Spring 2018 Environmental Science Literacy (11:375.197) (enrollment 16)
Guest Lectures
At Rutgers University
Fall 2019 Astrobiology (01:460:225) Biomarkers lecture
Fall 2019 Seminar in Microbial Biology (11:682.521) Biogeochemistry lecture
Fall 2019 Seminar in Environmental Sciences (16:375.613) Biogeochemistry lecture
Spring 2019 Isotope Geochemistry (16:460:551) (enrollment 4) Sulfur isotopes lecture
Fall 2018 Seminar in Microbial Biology (11:682.521) (enrollment 18) Biogeochemistry lecture
Fall 2018 Seminar in Environmental Sciences (16:375.613) (enrollment 4) Biogeochemistry lecture
Fall 2018 Biodegradation and Bioremediation (16:375.529) (enrollment 6) Analytical techniques lecture
Field Experience
Oceanographic Cruises
2018 ROC-HITS-2, Costa Rica, WHOI, R/V Atlantis 15 Oct – 22 Oct 2018, Return cruise
2017 ROC-HITS, Costa Rica, WHOI, R/V Atlantis 18 May – 11 Jun 2017, Transects of activity and colonization experiments at methane seeps using DSV Alvin
2016-2017 DSEL, MBARI, R/V Western Flyer 18-22 May 2016, 7-9 Sept 2016, 22-23 Feb 2017, 10-12 Jul 2017. In situ stable isotope probing experiments. Geochemical analysis.
2013 SEEPS-13 Santa Barbara Basin, WHOI, R/V Atlantis; 25 Sept- 16 Oct. Stable isotope probing incubation experiments, analysis of sulfur species/pore water geochemistry.
2013 Southern California Expedition, MBARI, R/V Western Flyer; 5-14 May. Analyzed the geochemistry and microbiology of sediment and microbial mat samples.
2012 San Diego Coastal Expedition, Scripps, R/V Melville; 10-15 Dec. Analyzed the geochemistry and microbiology of sediment samples.
Other Expeditions and Courses
2018 - 2019 Raritan River, New Jersey; Sediment coring, geochemical and microbial community analysis.
2013 - 2016 White Point, CA sulfidic springs; Environmental geochemistry, stable isotope probing experiments and microbiological investigation of sulfur cycling in intertidal, sulfidic springs.
2011 Frasassi cave system, Italy; 1-14 Aug. Sampled cave waters for geochemistry and microbial biofilms within the cave system.
2011 Medellin/Bogota/Pasto, Colombia; 2-7 Jan. Traveled with a NASA Astrobiology group to meet the Colombian Astrobiology program and acted as a Spanish interpreter for the group. Sampled waters from Lago Verde, Volcan Azufral for metagenomic and geochemical analysis.
2008 Yellowstone National Park/Boar’s Tusk, Wyoming; 8 Jun – 8 Jul. Agouron International Geobiology Course.
2007 Cook Inlet, Alaska; 23-31 Jul. Sampling of production water from a natural gas field with ConocoPhillips.
Research Experience
2011-2017 California Institute of Technology, Postdoctoral Researcher (with V. Orphan)
2011 Pennsylvania State University, Postdoctoral Researcher (with J. Macalady)
2005-2011 Pennsylvania State University, Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant (with J. Macalady and K. Freeman)
2007 ConocoPhillips, Geochemistry Intern (Basin Characterization Group)
Selected Presentations and Invited Talks
Dawson, K.S. (2019) Microbial methane metabolism: From the Deep Sea to the Raritan River [invited talk], University of Pennsylvania, Department of Earth and Environmental Science
Dawson, K.S. (2018) Biogeochemistry and Ecology: Charismatic microbial and macrofaunal studies [invited talk], Rutgers University, Department of Ecology and Evolution
Ramos Padilla, N.M., Thieringer, P., Yee, N. and Dawson, K.S. Exploring Changes in Sediment Carbon Cycling in the Tidal Raritan River Using a Natural Salinity Gradient. (2018) [poster] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, B43G-2930.
Dawson, K.S. (2018) Integrating geochemical and molecular biological tools to explore microbial metabolism [invited talk] Princeton University.
Dawson, K.S., Scheller, S., Dillon, J.G., and Orphan, V.J. (2016) Stable isotope phenotyping via cluster analysis of FISH-NanoSIMS reveals distinct ecophysiology in sulfur-cycling microbes [talk] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, B22D-07.
Dawson, K.S. (2014) Shifts in hydrogen isotope fractionation as a consequence of syntrophic associations between bacteria and archaea [invited talk] University of Southern California, Geobiology, February 2014.
Dawson, K.S., Sessions, A.L. and Orphan, V.J. (2013) Hydrogen isotope fractionation in lipids of syntrophically associated sulfate-reducing bacteria. [poster] Goldschmidt Research Conference, August 2013.
Dawson, K.S., Freeman, K.H. and Macalady, J.L. (2012) Anaerobic biodegradation of the isoprenoid biomarker analogues pristane and phytane. [invited talk] Gordon Research Conference: Organic Geochemistry, July 2012.
Dawson, K.S., Freeman, K.H., and Macalady, J.L. (2011) Molecular characterization of archaeal lipids across a hypersaline gradient. [talk] Goldschmidt Research Conference, August 2011.
Dawson, K.S., Strapoć, D., Huizinga, B., and Macalady, J.L. (2010) Quantitative FISH analysis of microbial consortia from a biogenic gas field in the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska. [poster] Gordon Research Conference: Organic Geochemistry, August 2010.
Dawson, K.S., Macalady, J.L. and Freeman, K.H. (2008) Anaerobic Biodegradation of Isoprenoid Biomarkers by Nitrate Reducing Bacteria. [talk] Astrobiology Science Conference 2008, 9-02-O.
Dawson, K.S., Macalady, J.L. and Freeman,K.H. (2007) Anaerobic Biodegradation of Pristane by Nitrate Reducing Bacteria. [talk] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 134, B52A-05.
