Breadcrumb
Achievements
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Garrett Leonard (ESM), Christa Dagley (FFRM), and Pascal Berrill (FFRM)
Environmental Science & Management
Undergraduate student Garrett Leonard published research on a novel approach to forest restoration being tested at Cal Poly Humboldt's L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm. This is one of the few studies on redwood planted outside its native range, with the involvement of hundreds of students in forestry classes since 2014. Citation: Leonard GB, Dagley CM, and Berrill J-P (2026) Coast redwood planted outside its range outperforms the native Douglas-fir beneath an overstory of varying density. Front. For. Glob. Change 9:1805175. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2026.1805175
Pedro Peloso
Biological Sciences
Dr. Pedro Peloso, along with collaborators, recently published a research article in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms examining infection dynamics of the deadly amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) based on field studies conducted at multiple sites in Alabama, USA. The study integrates ecological, environmental, and host-specific factors to better understand patterns of disease prevalence and intensity, contributing to broader efforts in amphibian conservation. The paper highlights how temperature and host ecological traits influence Bd infection dynamics, advancing our understanding of host–pathogen interactions in a region of high amphibian diversity. This research is part of the PhD work of Camila Moser, conducted under Dr. Peloso’s supervision through his Adjunct Faculty appointment at the Universidade Federal do Pará (Brazil), reflecting ongoing international collaboration and mentorship connected to his research program at Cal Poly Humboldt. The paper is available from the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03911
Angela Soto
Environmental Science & Management
Angela Soto, graduate student in the Byrne Applied Ecology Lab, has been awarded a $24,000 ARI NextGen fellowship by the CSU Agricultural Research Institute for the 2026 - 2027 Academic Year. For her master's research, she is assessing the impacts of different management strategies on the endangered Applegate's milkvetch (Astragalus applegatei) and its soil microbiome.
Astra Mattingly, Kyra Kranyak-Schwartz
Environmental Science & Management
Geospatial Science and Technology majors Astra Mattingly and Kyra Kranyak-Schwartz won first place in the Undergraduate Digital Map Design Contest at the California Geographical Society annual conference in Huntington Beach, CA, for their interactive map of campus accessibility at Cal Poly Humboldt. The map depicts a visual ranking of campus pathway accessibility, highlighting areas of the campus that are not equally accessible. View their interactive web map here.
Oscar Vargas
Biological Sciences
Dr. Oscar M. Vargas, along with collaborators, published a paper in the Journal of Biogeography about the geographical history of the Brazil Nut family of plants (Lecythidaceae) in the tropical Americas. The study was led by Diana Medellin, a collaborator of Dr. Vargas, from the University of Michigan. The paper can be freely downloaded from the following link: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.70225
Pascal Biwole
School of Engineering
New research article in the journal Energy and Buildings. Title: " Hygrothermal performance of bio-based building materials in urban street canyons ". Link: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1m-lq_8dCXlBn-
Barbara Clucas
Wildlife
Dr. Barbara Clucas and Ryan Matilton (Wildlife masters graduate) have received a grant through the Research and Creative Projects for Equity and Justice (RCPEJ) program. The project will investigate bat diversity and activity along the Klamath River following recent dam removals, contributing to understanding how these changes affect biodiversity. The research will provide important post-dam removal ecological data while also engaging local high school students participating through Humboldt Indian Education Programs. Students will gain hands-on experience in wildlife research. The project advances both ecological knowledge and educational opportunities connected to the Klamath River.
Logan Holey
Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Logan Holey was selected to receive a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GFRP) to study effective scaling of plant traits from field, UAV to satellite to inform rangeland management for his PhD at Kansas State University.
Courtney Copper, Sebastian Evans, and Kaitlyn Briggs, Lucy Kerhoulas
Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Forestry graduate students, Courtney Copper, Sebastian Evans, and Kaitlyn Briggs, as well as Forestry faculty Lucy Kerhoulas gave oral presentations about their research at the Northwest Scientific Association annual meeting in Olympia, WA in March.
Millen McCord, Lucy Kerhoulas
Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Forestry graduate student Millen McCord presented a poster (Physiological responses of Oregon white oak to thinning in the East Cascades; Millen McCord & Lucy Kerhoulas) at the Northwest Scientific Association annual meeting and won first place for graduate student posters.