Undergrad Research
Science and natural resource students at all levels do research and special projects.
Cal Poly Humboldt is the perfect place to study and experience science. We’re surrounded by ancient redwoods and the Pacific Ocean, which provide an amazing living laboratory. And our faculty help students put their classroom learning to work through research, fieldwork, and lab experiences.
Fieldwork
Mountains and wetlands. Forests and rivers. Beaches and bays. They’re all nearby, and they’re all used as living laboratories.
Personal Attention
It’s the difference between sitting through class and being part of it. Feel challenged and inspired by faculty who will support your success.
Undergraduate Programs
Graduate Programs
Cal Poly Humboldt has an established reputation for our graduate programs in the Biological, Environmental, and Natural Resources Sciences.
Science Learning Communities
For one year, freshmen in specific science majors will live, eat and breathe science from beginning to end, together. The experience starts right away. A few days before the fall semester begins, you’ll participate in a summer program, which includes fieldwork and seminars.
And over the course of the year, you’ll not only be immersed in your major. With support from a built-in network of faculty and peers, you’ll learn how to navigate college life, all while making new friends. You’ll gain confidence and be more prepared for your future studies at Humboldt.
Facilities & Collections
From a renewable energy technology research center to a marine laboratory to the largest botanical collection in the California State University system, Humboldt State is equipped for excellence. Students and faculty work side by side, using our facilities, labs, and special collections to test and try what they talk about in the classroom.
Achievements
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Faculty Susan Edinger Marshall Forestry & Wildland Resources
Dr. Susan Edinger Marshall has been awarded the 2022 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award by the Range Science Education Council and the Society for Range Management.
Submitted: February 23, 2022
Alumni Updates
Our grads are doing great things.
Edward (Ed) Busch, Fisheries Biology, 1980
Submitted: September 26, 2023
Ed will be retiring from Michigan State University at the end of this week. A short bio can be found at https://michiganstate-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/personal/buschedw_msu_edu…
Sean Haas, Physics & Astronomy, 2018
Submitted: March 28, 2023
Sean Haas is currently working as a Senior Software Developer for LibSyn, Inc. He manages software for podcast statistics and large data sets. Sean also hosts and produces the Advent of Computing podcast (https://adventofcomputing.com/), a show that covers the history of computing with a...
Vanessa Crandell, Geology, 2013
Submitted: November 23, 2022
Vanessa Crandell ('13, Geology, Oceanography) earned an M.S. in Geology from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 2016. She is currently working as an Environmental Geologist in Anchorage, Alaska. Vanessa primarily works on contaminated sites and geological and geotechnical projects...
Matthew Nelson, Biological Sciences, 2004, 2009
Submitted: August 18, 2022
Matthew Nelson ('04, Zoology, '09, M.S. Biology) has worked as a biological technician for Olympic National Park, a marine biologist for the City of San Diego, and is currently a Shellfish Biologist for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Washington. This position involves working closely...
Jay Brandes, Oceanography, 1988
Submitted: July 12, 2022
Jay Brandes recently gave a talk titled “Microplastics: A Local Problem with a Local Solution” at the 2022 TEDx Savannah Event. He is presently a Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Georgia Athens, working out of UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in...
Recent News
- University of California awards Cal Poly Humboldt Researchers $2.6 in State-funded Grants to Spur Climate Action
- Tree Research Will Help PG&E Reduce Power Outages and Wildfires
- New Study Aims to Protect Elk on Roadways with Collar-Activated Signs
- Fighting Fires with Fire Science [VIDEO]
- New Program Paves Pathway to Careers in Healthcare for Underrepresented Students