Dr. Ashley Smyth

Assistant Professor — Biogeochemistry

Dr. Smyth is an Assistant Professor of Biogeochemistry in the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences. Before joining the Tropical Research and Education Center she was a postdoc at the University of Kansas and a David H. Smith Conservation Fellow at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She has a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Smyth’s research includes aspects of biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and marine ecology. She uses field observations and laboratory manipulation experiments to understand how environmental change and disturbance alter the structure and function of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Research in the lab focuses on the biogeochemical response of restoration and management activities. Current projects include using sensors to predict the timing and intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and assessing the efficacy of using bivalve aquaculture and restoration to improve water quality. Dr. Smyth is investigating the effects of climate variability and sea level rise on biogeochemistry of South Florida’s coastal habitats.

• Education
  • Ph.D. Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, 2013
  • B.S. Environmental Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006
• Publications
  • Google Scholar Profile
  • ResearchGate Profile
  • Extension Publications
• Awards and Honors
  • 2022 Outstanding Specialist, issued by the Florida Association of Natural Resource and Extension Professionals (FANREP)
  • David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow