SAM ROSSMAN
ADDRESSES
Department of Zoology Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute
Michigan State University Marine Mammal Ecology Lab
203 Natural Science 3830 South Highway A1A #4-181
East Lansing, MI 48824 Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
rossmans@msu.edu srossman@hswri.org
Phone: (616)334-1676
EDUCATION
2015-Present Postdoctoral Research Associate in Marine Ecology, Hubbs
SeaWorld Research Institute, Melbourne Beach, Florida
2014-present Postdoctoral Fellow, Quantitative Biology: modeling of demographic
rates using unmarked individuals, in the laboratory of Dr. Elise
Zipkin, Michigan State University
2009-2014 PhD in Zoology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior
Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, GPA: 3.8
2005-2009 Bachelors of Science in Zoology
Michigan State University
EXPERIENCE
2016 Adjunct Faculty, Grand Valley State University
2014 Adjunct Faculty, Jackson College
2013 Learner-Centered Curriculum Developer, Introductory Biology,
Michigan State University
2013-present Reviewer for Oecologia, Ecology, and Oikos
2011 Teaching Assistant: ZOL 483, Environmental Physiology
2010 Teaching Assistant: ZOL 353, Marine Biology
2010 Teaching Assistant: BS 110, Organisms and Populations, Helped
developed new inquiry based curriculum
2009 Teaching Assistant: ZOL 353, Marine Biology
2009-2014 Field Assistant, Chicago Zoological Societys Sarasota Dolphin
Research Program: Purse seine net fish abundance survey
2009-2014 Field Assistant, Chicago Zoological Societys Dolphin Research
and Conservation Institute: Assisted with dolphin health
assessment procedures
2009 Lead Coordinator, Great Lakes Regional Biogeochemistry
Symposium, W. K. Kellogg Biological Station
2007-2008 Research Assistant, Global Change Education, Michigan State
University, Geocognition laboratory, Dr. Julie Libarkin
1
HONORS AND AWARDS
2015 WaterCube Research Grant ($60,000)
2014 Dissertation Completion Fellowship ($6000)
2012 College Hensley Research Fellowship ($6000)
2012 Environmental Science and Policy Summer Research Fellowship ($6000)
2011 Marine Mammal Society Travel Award Recipient ($500)
2011 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship ($120,000)
2010 Dissertation Continuation Fellowship ($6000)
2009 Rasmussen Memorial Graduate Fellowship ($5000)
2009 Graduate Assistantship, Michigan State University ($25,000/year)
2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement and Promise in
Zoology: Given to one student annually
2008 College of Natural Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($1000)
2008 Undergraduate Hensley Award, Michigan State University ($6000)
2008 Biogeochemistry Environmental Research Initiative, Michigan State
University ($1000)
2008 MPI Research Grant, Michigan State University ($1000)
2008 Deans List
2008 First Place, University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, in
education category for work in student conceptions of global change
PUBLICATIONS
Ostrom, P.H., Willey, A.E., James, H.F., Rossman, S., Walker, B., Zipkin, E.F.,
Chikaraishi, Y. 2017. Broad-Scale Trophic Shift in the Pelagic North Pacific
Revealed by an Oceanic Seabird. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B:
Biological Sciences, 284.
Zipkin, E.F., Rossman, S., Yackulic, C.B., Thorson, J.T., Campbell Grant, E.H. 2016.
Integrating count and occupancy data to model population dynamics. Ecology, 98:
16401650.
Rossman, S., Yackulic, C.B., Saunders S.P., Reid, J., Davis, R., Zipkin E.F. Dynamic
N-occupancy models: estimating demographic rates and local abundances from
detection-nondetection data. Ecology, 97: 33003307
Rossman, S., Ostrom, P.H., Gordon, F., Zipkin, E. E. 2016. Beyond carbon and
nitrogen: guidelines for estimating three-dimensional isotopic niche space. Ecology
and Evolution, 6: 24052413.
Rossman, S., Ostrom, P.H., Stolen, M., Gandhi, H., Stricker, C.A., Barros, N.B., Wells,
R.S. 2015. Individual specialization in the foraging habits of female bottlenose
dolphins living in a trophically diverse and habitat rich estuary. Oecologia,178: 415-
425.
Rossman, S., Barros, N.B., Gandhi, H., Ostrom P.H., Striker, C.A., Berens McCabe, E.,
Wells, R.S. 2015. Foraging habits in a generalist predator: Sex and age influence
habitat selection and resource use. Marine Mammal Science, 31:155-168.
2
PUBLICATIONS CONTINUED
Ostrom, P.H., Willey, A.E., Rossman, S., Stricker, C.A., James, H.F. 2014. Unexpected
Hydrogen Isotope Variation in Oceanic Pelagic Seabirds. Oecologia, 175: 1227-
1235.
Yordy, J.E., Rossman, S., Ostrom, P.H., Reiner, J.L., Bargnesi, K., Hughes, S., Elliot,
J.D. 2013. Levels of chlorinated, brominated, and perfluorinated contaminants in
birds of prey spanning multiple trophic levels. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 49:347-
354.
Rossman, S., Barros, N.B., Gandhi, H., Ostrom P.H., Striker, C.A., Hohn, A. A., Wells,
R.S. 2013. Retrospective analysis of bottlenose dolphin foraging reveals legacy of
anthropogenic ecosystem disturbance. Marine Mammal Science, 29:705-718.
PRESENTATIONS
Rossman, S., Zipkin, E.F., Noke, W., Stolen, M., Ostrom, P.H. 2015. Using multi-
dimensional stable isotope niche models to investigate unusual mortality events.
Marine Mammal Science Biennial Conference. San Francisco, CA.
Rossman, S., Barros, N.B., Gandhi, H., Ostrom P.H., Striker, C.A., Wells, R.S. 2011.
Retrospective analysis of bottlenose dolphin foraging reveals legacy of
anthropogenic ecosystem disturbance. Marine Mammal Science Biennial
Conference. Tampa, FL.
Rossman, S., Barros, N.B., Ostrom P.H., Striker, C.A., Wells, R.S. 2010. Temporal 13C
records from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) reflect variation in foraging
location and global carbon cycling. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco,
CA.
Rossman, S., Barros, N.B., Ostrom P.H., Striker, C.A., Wells, R.S. 2009. Stable
isotopes reveal temporal variation in foraging ecology of bottlenose dolphins from
central west Florida. Carnivore Conference, Denver, CO.
Rossman, S., Barros, N.B., Ostrom P.H., Striker, C.A., Wells, R.S. 2009. Delineating
current and historical ecosystem change via stable isotope analysis of dolphins.
Great Lakes Regional Biogeochemical Symposium, KBS, Hickory Corners, MI
