Selina Cheng ’G26, from Falls Church, VA, is pursuing her graduate degree in marine biology at UNH. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in environmental sciences and English from the University of Virginia in 2021. At UNH, she’s researching how oysters survive in the challenging conditions of the intertidal zone in New Hampshire’s Great Bay.
How would you explain your discipline and research to a non-scientist?
Selina Cheng: I’m in the marine biology program, but I consider myself more of a coastal or estuarine ecologist. I don’t know much about the deep ocean, but I can tell you a lot about bays and estuaries where you find brackish, salty-ish waters. Right now, I’m studying how oysters survive in the intertidal zone—areas where they are submerged underwater at high tide and exposed to the air at low tide. This period of air exposure is risky, especially when air temperatures get very cold in the winter or extremely hot in the summer. I’m trying to figure out how they manage to survive these conditions
Why is your research important?
Selina: Oysters might not be the most charismatic organisms, but they’re incredibly important to coastal ecosystems. They filter and clean water, provide habitat for fish and other invertebrates, and protect shorelines. For a long time, we didn’t think oysters were found in the intertidal zone in New Hampshire and Maine, but it turns out there are actually a lot—often hidden under seaweed canopies. I’m studying the relationship between oysters and seaweed to better understand what the local oyster population looks like in Great Bay.
Have you learned or discovered anything during your research that’s surprised you?
Selina: We had a few really hot days this summer when we thought for sure a lot of our oysters would die. But we saw almost no mortality, even after temperatures exceeded 100°F. They seem more resilient than we expected.
Why did you choose UNH?
Selina: Before deciding to come here, I visited UNH in March on a cold and rainy weekend—not the most inviting time to see campus. But my adviser, future labmates, and others in the department were incredibly friendly and generous with their time, even before I moved here. I followed my gut and chose to go where there were good people.
What do you plan to do with your degree?
Selina: I’m not totally sure yet, but I’d love to work in coastal conservation at the state or local level—either with a state natural resources agency or a local nonprofit. One thing I’ve enjoyed about working around Great Bay is learning about the many small organizations dedicated to stewarding the Bay and its rivers.
Finally, tell us a fun or interesting fact about yourself.
Selina: I play competitive Ultimate Frisbee in my spare time! It’s a real sport—look it up!
