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Sheree J. Watson, PhD

Sheree Watson is a Physical Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey WY-MT Water Science Center.

Sheree’s research involves investigating links between human-impacted systems and environmental health through biogeochemistry, with a particular focus on the use of microbial communities as sentinels for water and land use changes.

Professional Experience

  • Physical Scientist, USGS WY-MT Water Science Center, (2024 – present)

  • Partnership Ecologist, USGS NOROCK, WY-MT WSC (2021- 2024)

  • AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship, USGS OSQI (2019-2021)

  • Postdoctoral Researcher, NSF-EPSCoR, University of Hawai’i, Manoa (2017-2019)

  • Research Assistantship, Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction, Oregon Health & Science University (2012-2017)

  • Program Coordinator, Engineering Minority Programs, Montana State University (2003-2012)

  • High School Science Teacher, Great Falls Public Schools (1999-2003)

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, 2017

  • M.S. in Marine Sciences, University of Oregon, 1994

  • B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, Secondary Teaching Certificate, Montana State University, 1991, 1999

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • USGS Environmental Justice Task Force

  • Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Watson, S.J., Arisdakessian, C., Petelo, M., Keliipuleole, K., Tachera, D., Okuhata, B., and Frank, K. (2024) Groundwater microbial communities reflect geothermal activity on volcanic island. Geobiology 22:2. https://doi.org/10.1111/gbi.12591
Watson, S.J., Arisdakessian, C., Petelo, M., Keliipuleole, K., Tachera, D., Okuhata, B., Dulai, H., and Frank, K. (2023) Geology and land use shape nitrogen and sulfur cycling groundwater microbial communities in Pacific Island aquifers. ISME Comms 3:58. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00261-5
Melone A.; Bremer L.L.; Crow S.E; Hastings Z., Winter K.B.; Ticktin T., Rii Y.M; Wong M.; Kukea-Shultz K; Watson S.J.; Trauernicht C. (2021) Assessing baseline carbon stocks for forest transitions: A case study of agroforestry restoration from Hawai’i. Agriculture, 11:189. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030189.
Engels, JL, Watson, S, Dulai, H, Burnett, KM, Wada, CJ, Aga, A, DeMaagd, N, McHugh, J, Sumida, B, Bremer, LL. (2020) Collaborative research to support urban agriculture in the face of change: the case of the Sumida watercress farm near Pearl Harbor, O’ahu. PLoS One 15(7):e0235661. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235661.
Watson, SJ, Needoba, JA, and Peterson, TD. (2019) Widespread detection of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis, a polyphosphate-accumulating organism, in sediments of the Columbia River estuary. Env Micro 21(4):1369-1382.
Watson, SJ, Cade-Menun, BJ, Needoba, JA, and Peterson, TD. (2018) Phosphorus Forms in Sediments of a River-Dominated Estuary. Front Mar Sci. 5:302.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Watson, S.J., Arisdakessian, C., Petelo, M., Keliipuleole, K., Tachera, D., Okuhata, B., and Frank, K. (2024) Groundwater microbial communities reflect geothermal activity on volcanic island. Geobiology 22:2. https://doi.org/10.1111/gbi.12591
Watson, S.J., Arisdakessian, C., Petelo, M., Keliipuleole, K., Tachera, D., Okuhata, B., Dulai, H., and Frank, K. (2023) Geology and land use shape nitrogen and sulfur cycling groundwater microbial communities in Pacific Island aquifers. ISME Comms 3:58. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00261-5
Melone A.; Bremer L.L.; Crow S.E; Hastings Z., Winter K.B.; Ticktin T., Rii Y.M; Wong M.; Kukea-Shultz K; Watson S.J.; Trauernicht C. (2021) Assessing baseline carbon stocks for forest transitions: A case study of agroforestry restoration from Hawai’i. Agriculture, 11:189. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030189.
Engels, JL, Watson, S, Dulai, H, Burnett, KM, Wada, CJ, Aga, A, DeMaagd, N, McHugh, J, Sumida, B, Bremer, LL. (2020) Collaborative research to support urban agriculture in the face of change: the case of the Sumida watercress farm near Pearl Harbor, O’ahu. PLoS One 15(7):e0235661. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235661.
Watson, SJ, Needoba, JA, and Peterson, TD. (2019) Widespread detection of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis, a polyphosphate-accumulating organism, in sediments of the Columbia River estuary. Env Micro 21(4):1369-1382.
Watson, SJ, Cade-Menun, BJ, Needoba, JA, and Peterson, TD. (2018) Phosphorus Forms in Sediments of a River-Dominated Estuary. Front Mar Sci. 5:302.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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