UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture

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UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture

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The College of Life Sciences & Agriculture (COLSA) is an academic unit within the University of New Hampshire located in Durham New Hampshire. degree programs.

Students come to COLSA to be educated in a wide spectrum of life science, agricultural and natural resources spanning from two year associate degrees to four year undergraduate bachelor degrees as well as masters and Ph.D. COLSA is made up of world and nationally renowned faculty who combine teaching with a passion for research and public service. Their work to understand the nature of biological systems, manage and conserve natural resources, improve agricultural profitability and sustainability, enhance health and nutrition, and foster economic development has earned UNH nationwide recognition as a top-tier land, sea, and space grant university. This synthesis of talent and expertise creates opportunities for students to follow their intellectual interests across traditional fields of study through interdisciplinary courses and programs. And by participating in faculty-supported outreach initiatives that benefit the state and the region, students find greater meaning in their studies and a way to test future goals.

10/23/2026

Plant science is growing at the University of New Hampshire. 🌱

Nearly $4 million in new federal investments will expand protected agriculture research and modernize the Macfarlane Research Greenhouses, building on decades of UNH work to help farmers extend growing seasons, reduce risks from weather, pests and disease, and diversify crops.

The funding supports a $2 million partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service and nearly $2 million to renovate greenhouse facilities and establish the new Center for Excellence in Education and Discovery for Plant Science.

Together, these initiatives will strengthen research, education and Extension efforts while helping New Hampshire and Northeast growers adapt to changing conditions and build a more resilient agricultural future.

Read the full story in the Fall 2026 issue of Thrive. Story link in the comments!

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station

10/22/2026

“My time at UNH has allowed me to experience different avenues of life and to help shape the path I will eventually take in life.”

Meet Quinn Marino ’27, a neuroscience and behavior major with a minor in psychology from Concord, New Hampshire.

This year, he’s also serving as a COLSA student ambassador!

Quinn says he knew he had found his place at the University of New Hampshire the first time he drove onto campus. Since then, he has conducted undergraduate research, studied abroad in Rome, become an EMT and found a community among fellow COLSA students.

Quinn is a member of UNH’s Brain and Experience Lab, where he studies how experiences shape cognition, behavior and brain morphology.

“This hands-on experience has taught me so much from the inner workings of research at an R1 institution to the hard work that goes into preparing and executing procedures.”

While Quinn is still exploring where his future will take him, he knows he wants his work to be in service to others. UNH has given him the chance to explore different paths while figuring out what interests him most about neuroscience and how he might use it in his future career.

Thanks for sharing, Quinn!

10/21/2026

We're excited to welcome prospective students and their families to UNH COLSA for this year's Fall Open House on Saturday, October 24! 🍂

Join us to explore our academic programs, connect with faculty, and learn more about the opportunities available at the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.

The day kicks off at Spaulding Hall with college welcome sessions and opportunities to visit academic programs.

Throughout the day, visitors can also explore COLSA's research greenhouses, farms, dairy and equine facilities, and more!

Check out the full schedule at the link in the comments. We look forward to seeing you on campus. 💙

10/19/2026

The COLSA ghost is back! 👻

Spotted haunting some familiar spots around campus.

10/16/2026

Bats may be a familiar sight this time of year, but did you know they play an important role in New Hampshire's ecosystems? 🦇🍂

Bats help control insect populations, benefiting agriculture, forestry and the environment. But since the arrival of white-nose syndrome in New Hampshire in 2009, the state's cave-hibernating bat populations have faced devastating declines.

Now, UNH researchers, UNH Extension specialists, students and the NH Fish and Game Department are working together through NH Bat Counts to help monitor and protect the state's remaining bat populations.

Using advanced acoustic technology, researchers are finding new ways to track bats and gather valuable data to support conservation efforts.

Learn more about this collaborative work in the latest issue of UNH COLSA's THRIVE magazine. Story link is in the comments.

10/14/2026

“Through hands-on experiences in classes and work in a research lab, I have developed an extensive skill set that is vital for an aspiring scientist.”

Meet Emma Rawlson ’28, a marine, estuarine and freshwater biology major from Orlando, Florida.

This year, she’s also serving as a COLSA student ambassador!

Emma chose UNH for its research-driven marine biology program, natural campus and proximity to the coast. Her time at UNH has given her opportunities to put that interest in marine and aquatic science into practice as an undergraduate researcher.

As a research assistant with the New Hampshire Lakes Lay Monitoring Program (LLMP), Emma has analyzed water samples, identified plankton species and examined water quality and aquatic food webs. She also presented her research at the COLSA Undergraduate Research Conference.

Over the summer, Emma continued her work with LLMP through a research internship, participating in about 45 lake trips across New Hampshire. Her work included collecting water samples and lake profile data by boat and conducting tests to assess lake health and help educate New Hampshire communities.

Emma credits Dr. Amanda McQuaid with helping her grow as a researcher and pursue her goals.

“I will forever be thankful for her generosity and willingness to invest time into helping me attain my goals and become a better scientist.”

Looking ahead, Emma plans to pursue a master’s degree and a career in marine biology focused on field research and conservation. She says the opportunity to conduct research as an undergraduate is helping prepare her for that next step.

We’re excited to have Emma representing COLSA this year!

10/12/2026

What can a Veggie Meter tell you? 🥕🥦

Zane breaks down how the tool works and what it can measure.

10/09/2026

“My classmates and professors at the University of New Hampshire have given me a community that I know I can always look to when my goals feel difficult to reach.”

Meet Laurabeth Bestwick ’28, a biomedical science pre-veterinary major with a minor in medical humanities, society and ethics from Chester, New Hampshire.

This year, she’s also serving as a COLSA student ambassador!

Laurabeth chose UNH for its research opportunities, beautiful campus and welcoming community.

“I felt truly welcomed by the faculty and staff when I toured and knew I had to enroll.”

One experience that stands out is her Animal Anatomy & Physiology course, where dissections helped bring classroom concepts to life and deepen her understanding of the material.

Laurabeth has also found support in her professors and classmates. Saying her fellow pre-vet students have created a community of people who understand both the stress and joy that comes with their coursework.

Looking ahead, she hopes to become an equine veterinarian and surgeon.

Through her coursework, hands-on learning and the community she has built at UNH, she is gaining the foundation she needs to take the next step toward veterinary school.

We’re excited to have Laurabeth representing COLSA as a student ambassador this year! 💙

10/08/2026

Some good eats at the University of New Hampshire!!

Nicole and Laurabeth taste-tested foods inspired by research happening across the college.

See what they tried!

10/07/2026

What does it mean to care for a forest in a changing world, and where do we find hope for the future? 🌳🌎

Join us on October 13 at 6 pm in Spaulding 145 for “The Forest Year: Finding Hope in a World Worth Saving,” a special talk with forester, ecologist and bestselling author Ethan Tapper.

Whether you’re interested in forests, conservation, ecology or our changing environment, this is a chance to hear from someone who has spent more than a decade working in ecosystem stewardship and thinking deeply about our relationship with the natural world.

Tapper is the author of How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World, winner of the 2025 New England Book Award for nonfiction.

Stick around after the talk for a Q&A and book signing from 7–7:30pm!

We hope to see you there.

Address

46 College Road
Durham, NH
03824

Website

http://www.colsa.unh.edu/

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