Samantha D. Stanford
My research interests encompass invertebrate paleontology, marine biomineralization, predator/prey interactions, molluscan paleoecology, and extinction mechanisms. I am currently a PhD student at the University of Alabama working on stable isotope analysis of shell pathology in Late Cretaceous ammonites.
Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications:
Ottens, Kristina J., Dietl, Gregory P., Kelley, Patricia H., Stanford, Samantha D. A Comparison of Analyses of Drilling Predation on Fossil Bivalves: Bulk- vs. taxon-specific sampling and the role of collector experience. PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY. (319): 84-92, 201
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Harrell, Samantha D. and Schwimmer David R., Coprolites of Deinosuchus and Other Crocodylians from the Upper Cretaceous of Western Georgia, USA. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. (51): 209-213, 2010
K-12 Publications:
Stanford, Samantha D., 2011. Georgia, My State: State Standards Publishing, 2011. 5 mini-books.
-Rocks and Minerals of the Piedmont.
-Rocks and Minerals of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
-Rocks and Minerals of the Valley and Ridge.
Conference Presentations:
Stanford, Samantha D. and Kelley, Patricia H., Relationship of Drilling Predation to Molluscan Escalation as Indicated by Anti-Predatory Characteristics in the Choptank and St. Marys Formations, Maryland Miocene. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC: November 4-7, 2012.
Stanford, Samantha D. and Kelley, Patricia H., Analysis of Ornamentation as an Aspect of Prey Escalation and its Relationship to Drilling Predation in Miocene Molluscs of Maryland. Geological Society of America Southeastern Section Meeting, Asheville, NC: April 1-2, 2012.
Harrell, Samantha D. and Schwimmer, David R., Trace Fossils from Both Ends of Deinosuchus: Late Cretaceous Estuarine Crocodylian Bite Marks and Coprolites from West Georgia. Geological Society of America Meeting Northeastern Section (45th Annual) and Southeastern Section (59th Annual) Joint Meeting, Baltimore, MD: March 13-16, 2010.
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Harrell, Samantha D. and Schwimmer, David R., Coprolites of Deinosuchus: Late Cretaceous Estuarine Crocodylian Feces from West Georgia. Annual Meeting of the Georgia Academy of Science, Columbus, Georgia: November 1-2, 2010.
Education
August 2020 - Current
Ph.D., Geology
University of Alabama
PhD., Geology, expected completion 2025
Dissertation Topic:Â Isotopic analysis of shell pathologies of Late Cretaceous ammonites
Advisor: Dr. Tom Tobin
May 2016
M.S., Geology
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Thesis: Relationship of escalation to frequency of drilling predation in Miocene and Pleistocene molluscs of the U.S. coastal plain
Advisor: Dr. Patricia Kelley
May 2010
B.S., Geology
Columbus State University
Undergraduate Thesis: Coprolites of Deinosuchus and Other Crocodylians from the Upper Cretaceous of Western Georgia, USA
Advisor: Dr. David Schwimmer
Experience
Graduate Teaching Assistant
01/2011- 2013Â
08/2020 - current
University of North Carolina Wilmington Department of Geography and Geology, Wilmington, NC
Instructed Physical Geology and Invertebrate Paleontology laboratory
University of Alabama Department of Geological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL
Instructed Sustainable Earth laboratory
Project Professional
01/2018 – 01/2020​
TTL., Inc., Tuscaloosa, AL. Project professional assisting with permit applications and delineation reports as needed for TTL., Inc.
Assisting project managers with Clean Water Act section 404 Nationwide and Individual permitting applications
Compiling field data and writing wetland delineation reports
Completed desktop delineation reviews
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Geoscientists-In-Parks Educator
09/2013-11/2013
Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC.
Geoscientists-In-Parks intern and educator hosted at Congaree National Park in partnership with the Geological Society of America and National Park Service Geologic Resource Division
Instructed interactive soil program and guided nature walk incorporating South Carolina 3rd grade earth science
standards for 730 students
Edited LEAF program lesson plan and Congaree National Park Junior Ranger Program Activity booklet
Educator
06/2013-08/2013
MarineQuest, University of North Carolina Wilmington department of Youth Programs, Wilmington, NC.
Earth science educator for University of North Carolina Wilmington marine science summer enrichment camp Instructed hands-on marine geology and paleontology programs; incorporated North Carolina Science Olympiad and 5th/6th grade earth science standards for >250 students
Service
Department Roles
Unlearning Racism in the Geosciences (URGE) Committee Member 2020/2021
UA Homecoming Activities Dept of Geosciences 2021
Volunteering
Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center 2008-2010
Georgia and North Carolina Science Olympiad Event Supervisor 2007-2013
Southeastern Regional Science and Engineering Fair Judge 2011
Let’s Connect
Department of Geological Sciences
Box 870338 (Bevill 1068)
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0338
(205) 348-5095