Undergraduate Research

Research locations:

• James Hall, UNH Durham campus
• Rudman Hall, UNH Durham campus

Find information on undergraduate job listings on the Ernakovich Lab website

To meet our lab's research mission, we engage in collaborative studies into how microbial communities interact with and function in their physical, chemical and biological environment. We use a mix of scientific tools—including high-throughput sequencing of nucleic acids and tracing of chemical transformations with stable isotopes—in a team that fosters a passion for discovery through support and inclusion of diverse people, backgrounds, perspectives and ideas.

We are often looking for undergraduates to join us in the lab, and have opportunities that range from performing wet lab analysis of soil biogeochemistry to the sequencing of microbial genomes to the building of environmental chambers. We have projects in both Arctic and agricultural biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. Shoot me an email with (1) your resume, (2) a paragraph about your research interests and (3) your schedule of availability if you are interested in applying. We also have the opportunity to mentor students for summer research through a few programs you probably want to check out: the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research, the EMERGE REU program , and the ICE-TALKS summer international research experience for students program.

Find a complete listing of positions on the Ernakovich Lab website.

Research locations:

• Lab: James Hall, 114

 We are specifically interested in how anthropogenic stressors (e.g., climate change, nitrogen deposition, agricultural management, invasive species) affect the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities and microbial-mediated carbon and nitrogen cycles. We work at the interface between ecosystem science, microbial ecology and global change biology, combining microbiological methods with stable isotope analysis and a variety of soil physical and chemical approaches to examine structure-function linkages.

We routinely employ undergraduates to assist with our field and lab research. There are positions during the academic year as well as over the summer. Undergraduates also engage in independent research, capstone projects, and senior theses. I welcome inquiries from potential graduate students who are motivated, have prior research experience, and are interested in working at the interface between ecosystem and microbial ecology. If you are interested in applying to work with Serita, please email her your CV and a brief description of your background and research experience and interests.

Additional information on lab opportunities available on the Frey Lab website.

Research locations:

• Lab: Rudman 216

My current scholarship is mainly in philosophy of biology (epistemology of model use), but I'm interested it lots of things (evolution, development, evo- and eco-devo, biomechanics, ...).

If you have a cool idea or interest that you want to explore, let's talk. Literature-based and wildly interdisciplinary projects are especially welcome. I have only a tiny bit of lab space, so any hands-on work must be small-scale and doable with minimal resources.

Research locations:

• Office: James Hall, 162
• Field lab: Spaulding Hall, G31
• Molecular lab: Rudman Hall, 135

Positions are varied and range from primarily field-oriented (working with Emerald ash borer, Southern pine beetle, Browntail moth, beech bark disease, etc.), lab-focused (fungal culturing, DNA extraction, insect trap sorting and identification), or both.  Come join a dynamic team of students and postdocs doing interesting work related to the health of New England’s forest ecosystems!

Research location: Rudman Hall 134

Lab website: Kovach Lab

Lab members use interdisciplinary approaches, integrating genetic and genomic tools with population and landscape modeling and the collection of observational and ecological data. Students will be trained in extracting DNA from blood, tissue and fecal samples from marsh sparrows, cottontail rabbits or fish fin clips. They will also learn molecular techniques, such as PCR, genotyping and next generation DNA sequencing.

Both paid and for-credit positions are available.

Research locations: UNH research farms and greenhouses

• Woodman Horticultural Research Farm
• Macfarlane Research Greenhouses
• Kingman Research Farm

Many of our integrated research and extension projects focus on high-value specialty crop production systems and methods of extending the growing season (e.g. season extension). Current projects include those focusing on strategies to produce seedless table grapes and figs in New Hampshire, the production of hydrangea for cut flowers, alternative strategies to overwinter strawberries, and specialty vegetable crop variety evaluation.

We welcome motivated undergraduate and graduate students to join our team. We hire 1-3 research assistants each summer and fall; with most (but not all) work taking place between May-November. In addition to learning about managing and maintaining several types of horticultural crops, you can gain experience with experimental design and layout, data collection, and data analysis. Opportunities also exist to develop individual research projects; several students have conducted research leading to honors theses, independent study projects, and undergraduate research conference presentations.

Our projects span a variety of environments including tropical, temperate, and boreal forests. We are also a fee-for-service lab, analyzing water samples for clients at UNH, in the broader research community, and at federal agencies. Employees work under direct supervision of the Lab Manager and full time Research Technicians, to perform a variety of routine laboratory tasks of a predominantly manual or mechanical nature.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

• With specific instruction, and with no opportunity to deviate from established procedures, perform a limited variety of simple laboratory tasks
• Perform daily lab maintenance, such as organizing lab supplies, and clean glassware and other lab equipment
• Log in samples to be analyzed in the lab
• Prepare samples, standards and solutions for instrumental analysis.
• Assist with analysis on several instruments
• Local field work and sample collection possible
• Data entry

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School graduate
• Manual dexterity
• Must be able to wear and use appropriate personal protective equipment
• Major in a physical science
• Laboratory training in simple scientific techniques
• Good academic standing at the University
• Ability to stay on track and follow lab protocols
• Detail oriented
• Ability

If interested, please contact Jody Potter (Lab Manager) at Jody.Potter@unh.edu or 603-862-2341.

More information about the lab can be found at: UNH Water Quality Analysis Laboratory | NH Water Resources Research Center (WRRC)

Research location:

• Office: Spaulding Hall, 272

Lab website: Quantitative Marine Ecology Lab

All lab members of the Quantitative Marine Ecology Lab must:

• Be decent human beings
• Have an interest in ecological systems and using quantitative tools (e.g., mathematical models, statistics, R)
• And want to change the world

Members of the lab are strongly committed to anti-racist practices, real diversity and inclusion efforts, and moving science beyond the ivory tower.

You can read the Quantitative Marine Ecology Lab's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity online.

Applying to the Lab

The lab often has openings for undergraduate students at UNH to contribute to projects or design a project for an undergraduate thesis/research experience. These can be paid or count as course credits. These projects are typically co-designed by the student, QMEL graduate students, and Professor Easton White. The students most likely to be accepted for a position are those with a keen interest in developing quantitative skills in the context of marine systems.

If you are interested, please send Easton.White@unh.edu a CV and brief introduction, including details of your prior research experience, as well as your research interests and goals and how you think these align with the Quantitative Marine Ecology Lab's research program.

Research location: UNH Keener Dairy Research Building, O'Kane Road, Durham

Students can be involved in setting up for trials, feeding dairy cows research diets, collecting and processing feed, blood and milk samples. There is also data entry for the trails. This position allows the student to get research experience along with large animal experience. There is also a database project where students involved in that will learn different ration balancing programs and literature searches along with entry data into spreadsheets.

Pay starts at $9.00 but can be higher depending on level experience with large animals.

What you'll need: Curiosity, willingness to learn, attention to detail. Want to learn more? Visit the Water Systems Analysis Group website. Ready to talk? Email Wil.Wollheim@unh.edu

Lab Location:

• Rudman 324

The long-term goal of my laboratory is to utilize enabling mass spectrometric (MS) and biochemical techniques to comprehensively understand the nature and function of posttranslational modifications and macromolecular recognitions in orchestrated events. Our group has elucidated spatial organization of several protein complexes that are central to proteome homeostasis, viral dsRNA recognition, unfolded protein response, vision signal transduction, and transcription elongation.

In addition, we have identified key regulatory proteins and posttranslational modifications that modulate chromatin modifier function, gene cluster localization, cAMP signaling pathway in neuronal cilia, transcription regulation, and cell epigenetic state.

We are looking for undergraduate students who are interested in our research projects.

Lab Location:

• Rudman 353/355

The Chen Lab has two major primary research areas: hippocampal memory formation and neuronal primary cilia. "Memory is the glue that holds our mental life together" (Kandel et al., 2014). Aberrant "glue" impairs cognitive function and lead to a variety of disorders such as dementia, amnesia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intellectual disability, depression, schizophrenia, and autism. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying learning and memory is crucial not only for understanding how we acquire and store knowledge but also for developing therapies to treat these cognitive disorders.

Primary cilia, which are centriole-derived "cellular antennae," play a critical role in sensing extracellular signals like hormones and morphogens. These signals regulate a wide range of physiological processes, including energy balance, cognition, and development. Dysfunction in primary cilia is linked to various human diseases, including developmental disorders, obesity, psychiatric conditions, and cognitive impairments.

Our long-term research goal is to build bridges connecting fundamental neuroscience research with translational medicine, facilitating the development of novel therapies to treat cognitive dysfunction-related disorders.

The Chen Lab is actively recruiting motivated undergraduate students, who aim to advance to graduate schools for a PhD, to join our ongoing research projects. This is a NIH R15 funded opportunity for students interested in neuroscience research.

Students will have the opportunity to apply for Hamel Center undergraduate research awards and engage in a variety of advanced research techniques, including confocal molecular imaging, mouse behavioral analysis, EEG/EMG deep-electrode recording, In vivo deep-brain calcium imaging on freely behaving mice, pharmacological studies and transgenic animal models.

Funding may be available through successful application of the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research Awards (REAP, SURF, URA, or IROP) and the McNair Scholar Program at UNH.

Lab Location:

• Spaulding 130

 We will conduct research on how biology students learn, focusing on quantitative skills such as graph interpretation, statistics, and computer programming languages. Our research looks at both students' motivation to engage in quantitative tasks and the cognitive processes they are using when doing quantitative tasks.

We have collected data on students' expectations and experiences taking a biology data science course, with the intent of figuring out how different aspects of a course might affect student motivation. We are looking for students for spring semester (2025) to work together in a team to help analyze interview data - no experience necessary!

There are course credit options.

Undergraduate students seeking hands-on experience in epigenetic regulation in cancer cells are encouraged to apply for this position. Students can earn credits by registering for INCO 590, INCO 790, 795, or 799.

Those interested in summer research are invited to apply for REAP and SURF fellowships through the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. Students will also be encouraged to present their preliminary findings at the annual UNH Undergraduate Research Conference.

Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to apply.