UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture

Meet Senior Lecturer Leslie Curren from UNH’s Department of Biological Sciences! Her unique experiences, including 15 months studying spotted hyenas in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, solidified her passion for animal behavior and shaped her approach to teaching, where she emphasizes the value of hands-on learning and real-world application. 📖 Learn more about Leslie below: 🔹 COLSA: What do you do in your role? 🔸 Leslie: I teach courses like Animal Behavior and Conservation Behavior, co-coordinate the Neuroscience and Behavior program and advise students. I love helping guide students through their academic and professional paths. 🔹 COLSA: What motivates you most in your work? 🔸 Leslie: I enjoy working with students and helping them learn skills like writing, public speaking and critical thinking. In my classes I put an emphasis on teaching transferable skills. It is rewarding to see students grow into confident, capable individuals. 🔹 COLSA: What’s the most interesting thing about you? 🔸 Leslie: During graduate school, I spent 15 months in Kenya living in a tented camp without electricity or plumbing, observing spotted hyenas in their natural habitat. 🔹 COLSA: What do you do outside of work? 🔸 Leslie: Spending time with my two daughters, playing soccer and cooking. I’ve been playing soccer since I was four and still play in an adult league! 🔹 COLSA: What’s something you’re proud of achieving? 🔸 Leslie: Cultivating a good work-life balance and modeling that for my students. I prioritize time for personal and professional growth, showing it’s possible to have a fulfilling career while protecting what matters most. 📖 Read Leslie’s full Q&A here: https://lnkd.in/eNx2V3MH

We can't wait for you to be back. 💙

Meet Westley Mitchell ’26, a wildlife and conservation biology major from New Boston, NH! 🌲 Westley is part of the Forest Health Lab at UNH, where he contributes to research addressing invasive species, tree diseases and climate-related threats to NH forests. Supported by the New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station, his work helps ensure healthier, more resilient ecosystems. Learn more about Westley and his research below: 🔹 COLSA: Can you tell us about your research? 🔸 Westley: The Forest Health Lab, conducts research on how diseases, invasive species and climate change interact with forest ecosystems. We aim to better understand tree and insect dynamics. 🔹 COLSA: What challenge does your research address? 🔸 Westley: We address the growing challenges posed in forests caused by climate change and invasive species. We investigate the spread of diseases affecting tree species and managing invasive insects. 🔹 COLSA: How will this research benefit NH? 🔸 Westley: Our work supports forest health, ensuring they continue to provide essential ecosystem services like carbon storage, water filtration and wildlife habitat. Healthy forests benefit communities by sustaining natural resources, recreational areas and overall environment that residents rely on for well-being. 🔹 COLSA: What are you learning from this experience? 🔸 Westley: I’m gaining a deeper understanding of how interconnected ecosystems are and how climate change and human activities are shifting forest dynamics. This experience has taught me the importance of early intervention and proactive management, especially when it comes to controllinginvasivee species. 🔹 COLSA: What do you love most about UNH? 🔸 Westley: I love the abundance of hands-on research opportunities and internships that help students build their resumes. I cherish the friendships and staff connections I've made, as they have improved my experience at UNH. 📖 Read Westley’s full Q&A here: https://lnkd.in/e8AKpVqc

We're #hiring! 📢 The New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is seeking a Research Communications Specialist to join our team. If you have strong writing skills and a passion for making science relatable, we’d love to hear from you! We're looking for someone who can craft compelling stories that showcase UNH’s research and its impact on sustainable lives here in New Hampshire and beyond. Check it out. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ePT3mCCW

Speed Spaulding tour pt 2! 💨 ⚡

🌟 Check out the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station's new LinkedIn page! As a leader in research on sustainable agriculture, food systems, natural resources and more, NHAES has been driving innovation since 1887. ➡️ Give the page a follow to stay inspired by their cutting-edge work and see how they’re making a difference in New Hampshire and beyond.

#DYK that many of the smallest, less charismatic mammals in the U.S. are being left out of critical research efforts? 🐿️ UNH researchers are addressing this gap by emphasizing the importance of a more equitable approach to research and research funding to guide future conservation efforts and help safeguard the nation's biodiversity. When reviewing over 70,000 scientific publications, our team of scientists, including Rem Moll, assistant professor of natural resources and the environment, and doctoral students Taylor Readyhough and Andrew Butler, found that larger, charismatic mammals like bears and deer dominate the research. Meanwhile, smaller species, such as shrews, weasels and rodents — despite their vital roles as predators and ecosystem engineers — are vastly underrepresented. 📉 Surprisingly, even species with declining populations or small ranges, like the fascinating but understudied weasel, receive little research attention. This imbalance could have serious consequences for conservation and biodiversity. The research team stressed the need for a more balanced approach to wildlife research to mitigate extinction risk or declines in less studied species. New innovative tools like camera traps, bioacoustic systems, UAVs, and environmental DNA make it easier to study these species. Their work is driving the call for a more equitable approach to wildlife research and funding, ensuring all species are considered in conservation efforts. Moll's team remind us that effective conservation starts with understanding every species' role in their ecosystem — no matter their size. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4a0ikla USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture University of New Hampshire Research

Don’t miss your chance to support COLSA and show your Wildcat pride! ✨ 😸 A gift of $25+ earns you a pair of exclusive UNH socks, while a gift of $100+ also comes with a comfy UNH throw blanket. 🧦🔥 Support COLSA or your favorite area of UNH at: https://lnkd.in/eX9gJK9p

Meet Associate Professor David Plachetzki from UNH’s Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences! 🧬 For the past decade, David has been advancing genetics research, combining molecular biology with computational genomics to study how complex traits such as the senses, microbiomes, and defense mechanisms have evolved over millions of years. In addition to his lab work, Plachetzki conducts field research, collecting marine specimens through SCUBA diving expeditions in the Gulf of Maine, Caribbean and Galapagos Islands. These hands-on efforts enhance his studies of marine life and contribute to his understanding of evolutionary processes. Learn more about David and his research below: 🔹 COLSA: Can you give us an overview of your research? 🔸 David: My research focuses on understanding the genomic basis of novel traits in animals. We explore how sensory systems like vision, hearing, and taste evolved. My lab has studied animals like jellyfish and sponges, which has allowed us to identify genetic precursors to traits like eyes and taste buds. 🔹 COLSA: What makes your research stand out? 🔸 David: We blend wet lab experiments with computational biology, making multidisciplinary strides in evolutionary genomics. Essentially, we're building the evolutionary 'instruction manual' for complex traits, so we can better understand their origins and functions. 🔹 COLSA: What motivates you most in your work? 🔸 David: Starting new projects! There’s nothing better than the first day of a new research project, with a bit of funding and endless possibilities. 🔹 COLSA: What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 🔸 David: Playing guitar, skiing, and most importantly, spending time with my daughter. 🔹 COLSA: How would you like to be remembered? 🔸 David: Ultimately, I’d like to be remembered as a good dad. All the scientific work is great, but at the end of the day, it’s family that really matters. Read David’s full Q&A here: https://lnkd.in/dJPvJqcB

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire are tracking the role of phytoplankton—microscopic algae — in sustaining marine biodiversity and ecosystems. Phytoplankton are the ocean’s microscopic plant powerhouses and are essential for maintaining marine ecosystems and regulating the planet’s climate by sequestering carbon in the oceans. At UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture researchers like Elizabeth (Liz) Harvey are trying to understand when, how, and why phytoplankton dynamics change, which could be important for predicting environmental changes and marine ecosystems’ health. Through weekly sampling at three coastal sites along the New Hampshire coast and monthly sampling at offshore locations in the Gulf of Maine, Harvey’s team uses advanced tools like the FlowCam to visualize and measure the various species of phytoplankton present, providing vital data on species composition and ecosystem health. 📊🔍 “Phytoplankton dynamics directly influence the marine food web, and major shifts could have cascading effects on species such as zooplankton, fish, and marine mammals,” Harvey added. “These changes could significantly impact fisheries and aquaculture, which makes it crucial for us to develop strategies that help mitigate the effects of climate change on marine biodiversity.” By tracking these microscopic indicators, the team aims to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change and preserve the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. “Phytoplankton are like the marine version of the canary in the coal mine. If we start seeing significant changes, it could affect the entire food web,” says Harvey. Read full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYHrXWed University of New Hampshire Research