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Sarah Quinn Foster

  • Assistant Professor
Academic Division: Mathematics, Analytics, Science, and Technology
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Dr. Sarah Foster joined Babson in 2020 and is currently teaching Oceanography (NST1060) in the Math and Science Division. Dr. Foster's research explores the response of coastal marine ecosystems to anthropogenic changes (such as nutrient pollution and climate change) across a variety of geographic and temporal scales. Dr. Foster earned her PhD (2019) and MA (2013) from Boston University in Earth Sciences with a certificate in Biogeosciences, and her BA from Hampshire College (2006). Prior to joining Babson, Dr. Foster taught at Boston University and worked for the United States Geological Survey in Menlo Park, CA on their long-term water-quality monitoring program in San Francisco Bay. As a marine ecologist and science educator she is dedicated to sharing her love of science and ocean ecosystems to diverse groups of people through outreach programs, workshops, and classroom teaching. She is also committed to supporting increased visibility and opportunity for historically underrepresented groups in STEM and academia in general. Dr. Foster is excited to contribute to the Babson community through education and basic research that helps to build a more sustainable and regenerative future for the planet.

Academic Degrees

  • Ph D, Boston University
  • MA, Boston University
  • BA, Hampshire College

Academic Interest / Expertise

Marine Science, Ecology, Biogeochemistry, Microbial Processes, Sustainability, Socio-Ecological Systems, Pollution, the Global Climate Crisis

Awards & Honors

  • 2022 — Joint Aquatic Sciences Conference Travel Award, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Yacano, M., Foster, S.Q., Ray, N.E., Oczkowski, A., Raven, J., Fulweiler, R.W. (2021). Marine macroalgae are an overlooked sink of silicon in coastal systems. Vol: 233, Page: 2330–2336. Wiley-Blackwell. link
  • Foster, S.Q., Fulweiler, R.W. (2019). Estuarine Sediments Exhibit Dynamic and Variable Biogeochemical Responses to Hypoxia. Vol: 124, Issue: 4, Page: 737-758. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, American Geophysical Union. link
  • Zakem, E.J., Al-Haj, A., Church, M.J., van Dijken, G.L., Dutkiewicz, S., Foster, S.Q., Fulweiler, R.W., Mills, M.M., Follows, M.J. (2018). Ecological control of nitrite in the upper ocean. Vol: 9, Issue: 1, Page: 1206. Nature Communications. link
  • Foster, S.Q., Fulweiler, R.W. (2016). Sediment Nitrous Oxide Fluxes Are Dominated by Uptake in a Temperate Estuary. Vol: 3, Issue: 40. Frontiers in Marine Science: Marine Ecosystems Ecology. link
  • Newell, S.E., Pritchard, K.R., Foster, S.Q., Fulweiler, R.W. (2016). Molecular evidence for sediment nitrogen fixation in a temperate New England estuary. Vol: 4, Issue: e1615. Peer J. link
  • Foster, S.Q., Fulweiler, R.W. (2014). Spatial and historic variability of benthic nitrogen cycling in an anthropogenically impacted estuary. Vol: 1, Issue: 56. Frontiers in Marine Science: Global Change and the Future Ocean. link
  • Cloern, J.E., Foster, S.Q., Kleckner, A.E. (2014). Phytoplankton primary production in the world's estuarine-coastal ecosystems. Vol: 11, Issue: 9, Page: 1-25. Biogeosciences, European Geophysical Union. link

Presentations

  • An undergraduate curriculum with a required, non-majors ecology course designed using the 4DEE framework Rodgers, V. Blodgett, D. Winrich, C. Carey, J. Foster, S. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Long Beach, California (2024)
  • Physical and biological drivers interact to increase frequency and duration of summer hypoxia in two temperate estauries Foster, S. Fulweiler, R. Babson Faculty Research Day , Babson Park, Massachusetts, USA (2023)
  • Long-term change through the oxygen looking glass: Altered hypoxia phenology in temperate estuaries Foster, S. Fulweiler, R. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA (2022)
  • Breathless: Coastal hypoxia and altered ecosystem services in shallow estuaries Foster, S. , . Babson Faculty Research Discussion, Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA (2021)
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