This curriculum vitae summarizes Daniel Lee Starnes' education and professional experience. He received a PhD in Integrated Plant and Soil Science from the University of Kentucky, where he currently works as a professor. His research focuses on the environmental effects of nanoparticles. He has published several papers on this topic and presented his work at numerous international conferences.

1. Curriculum Vitae
Daniel Lee Starnes
Work Home
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 103 Locust Grove Drive
University of Kentucky Georgetown, KY 40324
1100 S. Limestone St. Phone: 859-537-1072
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
E-mail: daniel.starnes@uky.edu
Education
Ph.D. Integrated Plant and Soil Science, May 2016, GPA 3.57/4.00
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Graduate Certificate in Statistics
Advisors: Dr. Olga V. Tsyusko and Dr. Paul S. Bertsch
M.Sc. Biology, December 2009, GPA 3.82/4.0
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Thesis: In planta “Green Engineering” of Variable Sizes and Exotic Shapes of Gold
Nanoparticles: an Integrative Eco-Friendly Approach
Committee Chair: Dr. Shivendra V. Sahi
B.Sc. Agriculture, Minor in Biology, May 2006, 3.58/4.0
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Graduate of University Honors Program
Honors Thesis: Use of Lolium multiflorum for Remediation of Phosphorus from Poultry
Litter Contaminated Media
Honors/Awards
 Best Overall Poster at 9th
Annual International Conference on the Environmental Effects of
Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials (2014)
 Kentucky Academy of Science, Ecology and Environmental Science Graduate Presentation
Division Winner (2013)
 Nanotechnology Symposium Outstanding Research Paper Award (2010)
 Outstanding Graduate Student in Biology, Western Kentucky University (2009)
 Graduate Research Competition Award Kentucky Academy of Science (2009)
 Outstanding Graduate Research Presentation WKU Student Research Conference (2009)
 Nanotechnology Symposium Outstanding Research Paper Award (2008)
 Kentucky Academy of Science, Agricultural Science Graduate Presentation Division Winner
(2008)
Professional Background
1. Professional Affiliations
 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America, 2013-present
 Genetics Society of America, 2012-presnet
 Kentucky Academy of Science, 2011-present
 Soil Science Society, 2011-present

2. 2. Teaching Experience
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY (2013-present)
 Applied Fire and Safety Analysis (Online)
FSE 200: Analytical and statistical concepts and procedures for the treatment of fire and safety
related data. Includes quantitative and qualitative techniques, descriptive and inferential
statistics.
Supervising Instructor: Mr. Andrew Tinsley
 Quantitative Analysis in Safety, Security & Emergency Management (Online)
SSE 885: Addresses issues related to SSEM management by developing a systematic approach
for evaluating evidence. Reviews study design, measure of associations, confounding,
interaction, sources of bias and error, and quantitative analysis and its role in SSEM.
Supervising Instructor: Ms. Sarah Morris
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (2011-2012)
 Fundamentals of Soil Science Laboratory
PLS 366: Study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and how these
properties relate to plant nutrient availability and plant growth, land-use planning and
management issues, and soil and water quality issues.
Supervising Instructor: Dr. David McNear Jr.
 Fundamentals of Soil Science Laboratory
PLS 366: Study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and how these
properties relate to plant nutrient availability and plant growth, land-use planning and
management issues, and soil and water quality issues.
Supervising Instructor: Dr. Christopher Matocha
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY (2007-2009)
 Biological Concepts – Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Laboratory
Biol 121: Introductory laboratory in biology that emphasizes the experimental aspects of cellular
organization and processes, metabolism, DNA structure and replication, and Mendelian and
population genetics.
Supervising Instructor: Dr. Cheryl Davis
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY (2006)
 General Biology Lab
Biol 114: A laboratory course correlated with BIOL 113 for non-science majors emphasizing the
scientific process, biological concepts and biological organization.
Supervising Instructor: Dr. Heather Johnson
3. Grants
 Tracey Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment Undergraduate Research
Opportunity Grant, 2014, $500
 Plant and Soil Science Departmental Travel Grant for Travel to International Conference for the
Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials, Columbia, SC, 2014, $500
 University of Kentucky Gradate School Travel Grant for Travel to International Conference for
the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials, Columbia, SC, 2014, $400

3.  Plant and Soil Science Departmental Travel Grant for Travel to Society for Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry International Meeting, Nashville, TN, 2013, $500
4. Service
 Plant and Soil Science Mini-Symposium Graduate Student Organization Committee Chair, 2015
 Ad hoc reviewer, Journal of Environmental Pollution, 2014-ongoing
 Plant and Soil Science Mini-Symposium Graduate Student Organization Committee, 2014
 Integrated Plant and Soil Science Graduate Student Association Vice President, 2012-2014
 Plant and Soil Science Department Periodic Review Committee, Graduate Student
Representative, 2012
 Plant and Soil Science Mini-Symposium Graduate Student Organization Committee, 2012
5. Mentoring
 High school student Jefferson Camacho (Summer 2016), University of Kentucky
Project: General training to conduct research and to investigate the sorption of pharmaceutics to
municipal biosolids used as agricultural biosolids.
 Undergraduate student Stuart Lichtenberg (Summer 2014-Spring 2015), University of Kentucky
Project: Assessing the toxicogenomic effect of Ag+
, pristine silver nanoparticles, and artificially
aged silver nanoparticles using Caenorhabditis elegans by conducting toxicity screenings using
mutant strains, RNAi technology, and morphological changes to the cuticle.
 Undergraduate student Chris White (Fall 2008), Western Kentucky University
Project: General training to conduct research in a plant biotechnology laboratory.
6. Research Publications
1. Collin, B., Tsyusko, O., Starnes, D., Unrine, J. Effect of natural organic matter on dissolution
and toxicity of sulfidized silver nanoparticles to Caenorhabditis elegans. Environmental
Science: Nano. Accepted May, 2016
2. Starnes, D., Lichtenberg, S., Unrine, J., Starnes. C., Oostveen, E., Lowry, G., Bertsch, P.,
Tsyusko, O. Distinct transcriptomic responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to pristine and
sulfidized silver nanoparticles. Environmental Pollution 213: 314-321 (2016).
3. Starnes, D., Unrine, J., Starnes, C., Collin, B., Oostveen, E., Ma, R., Lowry, G., Bertsch, P., and
Tsyusko, O. Impact of sulfidation on the bioavailability and toxicity of silver nanoparticles to
Caenorhabditis elegans. Environmental Pollution 196: 239-246 (2015).
4. Jain, A., Sinilal, B., Starnes, D., Sanagala, R., Krishnamurthy, S. and Sahi., S. Role of Fe-
responsive genes in bioreduction and transport of ionic gold to roots of Arabidopsis thaliana
during synthesis of gold nanoparticles. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 84: 189-196 (2014).
5. Padmanabhan, P., Starnes, D., Sahi, S. Differential responses of Duo grass (Lolium x Festuca), a
phosphorous hypeaccumulator to high phosphorous and poultry manure treatments. African
journal of Biotechnology 12: 3191-3195 (2013).
6. Tsyusko, O., Unrine, J., Spurgeon, D., Starnes, D., Tseng, M., Joice, G., and Bertsch, P.
Toxicogenomic responses of the model ecoreceptor Caenorhabditis elegans to gold
nanoparticles. Environmental Science and Technology 46: 4115−4124 (2012).
7. Starnes, D., Jain, A., and Sahi, S. In-planta Engineering of Gold Nanoparticles of Desirable
Geometries by Fine-tuning Growth Conditions: an Eco-friendly Approach. Environmental
Science and Technology 44: 7110-7115 (2010).
8. Starnes, D., Priya, P., and Sahi, S. Effect of P Sources on growth, P accumulation and activities
of phytase and acid phosphatases in two cultivars of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflourm L.).
Plant Physiol. Biochem. 46, 580-589 (2008).

4. 9. Sharma, N., Starnes, D., and Sahi S. Phytoextraction of excess soil phosphorus. Environmental
Pollution 146, 120-127 (2007).
10. Starnes, D. Use of Lolium multiflorum in the Remediation of Phosphorous from Poultry-Litter-
Contaminated Media. Western Kentucky University Honors Program Thesis Database (2006).
7. Oral* and Poster Presentations
 Starnes, D., Lichtenberg, S., Spears, A., Unrine, J., Bertsch, P., and Tsyusko, O. How aging of
silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles impacts their toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Tracey
Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, Lexington, KY, 12/01/2015
 Starnes, D., Lichtenberg, S., Unrine, J., Starnes, C., Bertsch, P., and Tsyusko, O. How aging
impacts the toxicogenomic response of Caenorhabditis elegans to silver nanoparticles. Tracey
Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, Lexington, KY, 12/01/2014
 Starnes, D., Lichtenberg, S., Unrine, J., Starnes, C., Oostveen, E., Collin, B., Bertsch, P., and
Tsyusko, O. Toxicogenomic responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to pristine and aged sliver
nanomaterials. Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Lexington, KY 11/14/2014-
11/16/2014*
 Starnes, D., Lichtenberg, S., Unrine, J., Starnes, C., Oostveen, E., Collin, B., Ma, R., Lowry, G.,
Bertsch, P., and Tsyusko, O. Silver Nanoparticles get better with Age. 9th
Annual International
Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials, Columbia, SC,
9/07/2014-9/11/2014*
 Starnes, D., Oostveen, E., Starnes, C., Collin, B., Unrine, J., Bertsch, P., Tsyusko, O.
Toxicogenomic responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to sliver nanomaterials. Society of
Environmental Science and Toxicology North America, Nashville, TN, 11/17/2013-11/21/2013*
 Starnes, D., Oostveen, E., Starnes, C., Collin, B., Unrine, J., Bertsch, P., Tsyusko, O.
Toxicogenomic effects of Caenorhabditis elegans to sliver nanoparticles. Kentucky Academy of
Science, Morehead, KY, 11/8/2013-11/9/2013*
 Starnes, C., Starnes, D., Bush, H. Lost in Translation: Effective Statistical Communication in
Translational Science. Joint Statistical Meetings, Montreal, Canada, 08/03/2013-08/08/2013
 Starnes, D., Oostveen, E., Starnes, C., Unrine, J., Bertsch, P., Tsyusko, O. Toxicity of Silver
Manufactured Nanomaterials on the Model Organism Caenorhabditis elegans. ASA, CSSA and
SSSA International Annual Meetings, Cincinnati, OH. October 2012.
 Starnes, D., Jain, A., Kancharla, J., Sahi, S. In planta “Green Engineering” of variable sizes and
exotic shapes of Gold Nanoparticles: An integrative eco-friendly approach. Biochemistry
and Biotechnology symposium South Association of Agricultural Scientist, Orlando, FL, 2010*
 Starnes, D., Sahi, S. Plants can produce Nanoparticles. 39th
Annual Student Research
Conference, Bowling Green, KY, 2009*
 Sahi, S., Starnes, D. Nanoparticle synthesis in alfalfa. Annual Meeting of Southern Association
of Agricultural Scientists (American Society of Agronomy Southern Branch Meeting), Atlanta,
GA, 2009
 Starnes, D., Sahi, S. Plants can produce gold nanoparticles. Nanotechnology Symposium:
Advances in Nanotechnology and Applications. Sullivan University, Louisville, KY, 2009*
 Starnes, D., Sahi, S. Phytomining of gold and plant-mediated production of gold nanoparticles.
KY Nanomat 2008, Louisville, KY, 2008*
 Starnes, D., Sahi, S. Biological Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles. 38th
Annual Student Research
Conference, Bowling Green, KY, 2008*
 Sahi, S., Starnes, D., Paul, P., Padmandabhan, P., Sharma, N., Sajwan, K. Can crops be used to
remediate excess phosphorus? Southern Association of Agricultural Scientist, 2007

5.  Starnes, D., Sharma, N., Sahi, S. Use of Duo festulolium in the remediation of phosphorus-
enriched soils. American Society of Agronomy (Southern Branch), Orlando, FL, 2006*
 Starnes, D., Sharma, N., Sahi, S. Use of Lolium multiflourm in the remediation of chicken litter-
contaminated media. Annual meeting of American Society of Agronomy (Southern Branch), San
Antonio, TX, 2005*
 Starnes, D., Sharma, N., Sahi, S. Development of Lolium multiflourm cell lines capable of high
phosphate accumulation. 101st
Annual Meeting of American Society of Agronomy (Southern
Branch), Biloxi, MS, 2004
 Sharma, N., Starnes, D., Sahi, S. In vitro cultivation of Sesbania drummondii cells exposed to
heavy metal stress. 101st
Annual Meeting of American Society of Agronomy (Southern Branch),
Biloxi, MS, 2004
8. References
Dr. Olga Tsyusko
Department of Plant and Soil Science
University of Kentucky
1100 Nicholasville Road (Office:N-212J)
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
Work: (859) 257-1777 Fax: (859) 323-1952
olga.tsyusko@uky.edu
Dr. Dave McNear
Department of Plant and Soil Science
University of Kentucky
1100 Nicholasville Road (Office:N-122S)
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
Work: (859) 257-8627 Fax: (859) 257-2185
dave.mcnear@uky.edu
Dr. Shivendra Sahi
Department of Biology
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11080
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1080
Work: (270) 745-6012 Fax: (270) 754-6856
shiv.sahi@wku.edu