Achievements

Mihai Tomescu

Biological Sciences

Botany Professor Mihai Tomescu was recognized by the Botanical Society of America with the 2026 Donald R. Kaplan Memorial Lecture Award that recognizes each year a leading scholar in the fields of comparative plant morphology, anatomy, and development. As this year's awardee, professor Tomescu gave a lecture titled Dead plants do tell tales at the annual meeting of the Botanical Society of America in Tucson AZ, August 4, 2026.

Mihai Tomescu

Biological Sciences

Botany Professor Mihai Tomescu gave an invited lecture titled,What can we learn from 400-million-years old fossils about plant evolution?, at the 90th meeting of the Botanical Society of Japan in Noda, Japan, September 4, 2026.

Frazier D. Frazier, Robert W. Zoellner

Chemistry

Frazier D. Farrell and Robert W. Zoellner have recently published a peer-reviewed article entitled "[8]Radialene:  A density functional theory computational investigation of the theoretical conformational structure of the molecule" in the Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research 2026, 25, 68-70.

Lucy Kerhoulas, Nicholas Kerhoulas

Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management

Forest restoration that benefits wildlife can be challenging, but Cal Poly Humboldt researchers are helping bridge the gap. New research by Drs. Nicholas and Lucy Kerhoulas found that the Klamath River separates Sonoma and red tree voles into distinct species, with no evidence of interbreeding. The team also discovered that while Sonoma tree voles are most abundant in old-growth forests, simple nest platforms can encourage them to use second-growth forests. Together, these findings provide practical tools for restoring forests while supporting the long-term conservation of these unique canopy specialists. Watch a short video of photos collected here. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W4j0tRp0Zs&gt;

Funding for this project was provided by the Save the Redwoods League.

Ammar Jafaripournimchahi

School of Engineering

Published a peer-reviewed research article in Energy (Elsevier) titled “Thermodynamic Modeling and Experimental Validation of a CO₂ Scroll Compressor for Automotive Heat Pump Systems.” The study developed and experimentally validated a thermodynamic model for CO₂ scroll compressors, achieving prediction errors below 7.8% and providing insights into compressor performance under different operating conditions.

Monica Sheffer & Benjamin Hanlin

Biological Sciences

Dr. Monica Sheffer and master’s student Benjamin Hanlin received funding to investigate how spider communities reflect the health of California's redwood forests. The project will compare spider diversity in old-growth, unthinned second-growth, and restoration-thinned forests in Redwood National and State Parks. Because spiders play important roles as predators and prey, changes in their communities could provide valuable clues about how redwood forests recover after restoration. Led by Hanlin with Sheffer serving as faculty mentor, the research will establish baseline biodiversity data to help evaluate restoration efforts and support monitoring of redwood forest ecosystems.

Funding comes from Save the Redwoods League.

Andre Buchheister, Nick Som, Marisa McGrew

Fisheries Biology

Dr. Andre Buchheister, Dr. Nick Som, and new graduate student Marisa McGrew have received funding to study Pacific lamprey in the Eel River ahead of planned dam removals. Although often overlooked, Pacific lamprey are an ecologically and culturally important species that play a vital role in river ecosystems and Tribal foodways. The project will examine lamprey migration, habitat use, and seasonal movement to better understand the species before dam removal begins. Findings will help inform restoration planning, improve conservation efforts, and support future management of the Eel River ecosystem.

Funding comes from CalTrout.

Dr. Oscar M. Vargas, Eli Allen

Biological Sciences

Oscar Vargas, Associate Professor of Botany in the Biological Sciences Department, along with M.Sc. graduate Eli Allen (currently a PhD student at UC-Santa Cruz), published an article documenting a case of budding speciation in the California Floristic Province. This mode of speciation, thought to be rare in nature, is being found in plants, especially regions with high biodiversity. The article "A case of budding speciation in the California Floristic Province and infraspecific divergence in Abronia villosa" is available at the following link https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.70234

Rosemary Sherriff, Lucy Kerhoulas, Michael Kauffmann

Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management

The Klamath Mountains host a famous amount of botanical diversity, yet many plant communities remain poorly documented. Working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Native Plant Society, Cal Poly Humboldt researchers completed more than 2,100 vegetation surveys across three field seasons. The project documented rare plants, identified potential range extensions, added over 1,000 specimens to regional plant collections, and will ultimately produce seven Master’s theses. These findings will strengthen conservation planning, support land management decisions, and provide a lasting public resource for understanding the Klamath Mountains’ remarkable botanical diversity. Read theses here.

Jose Marin Jarrin, Michelle Schuiteman

Fisheries Biology

Dr. Jose Marin Jarrin and Michelle Schuiteman have received funding to study the status and vulnerability of four culturally important coastal fish species in Northern California. Working in partnership with Trinidad Rancheria, Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People, Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, and Blue Lake Rancheria, the project will help address critical data gaps for fisheries that lack formal assessment. The research will support tribal stewardship of marine resources while providing professional development opportunities for tribal staff, students, and researchers. Findings will help inform long-term fisheries management and climate resilience.

Funding comes from California Sea Grant.