MenuClose
Office of Research & Sponsored Programs logo

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

Research
Give
background 0background 1background 2background 3

Immigration Rights and Resources for the Campus Community

News & Events

Research & Project Snapshots

Navigate through the carousel to view project photos.

Click individual photos for project information. 

Pause

Annual Research Events

Photo from SPF PI Research Celebration shows Dave Janetta giving presentation on his documentary film, ideaFest photo shows event logo on buttons and leaflets, and McCrone award reception photo shows a researcher accepting their award from their nominator.

Each year, we host and collaborate on events that promote and celebrate our academic research community:

PI Research Celebration: Honors researchers and their staff, student researchers, and supporters of research. Mid- to late-October annually. 

McCrone Awards Reception: Celebrates recipients of the McCrone Promising Faculty Scholars Award, and the Alistair & Judith McCrone Graduate Fellowship. These awards recognize three promising junior faculty and one graduate student, and encourage their continued achievement. Second Tuesday in November annually. 

ideaFest: Event showcasing research, performances, digital projects, and more from hundreds of students, staff, and faculty. This event is hosted in collaboration with the Library and Marketing & Communications. Early May annually. 

If you’re interested in attending any of these events, keep an eye on our announcements.

Most Recent Awards

Barbara Clucas, Wildlife

Dr. Barbara Clucas and graduate student Stephanie Stragier received a grant from the Sequoia Park Zoo to study habitat quality of the threatened Western snowy plover. In Humboldt County, chicks are hatching smaller, possibly due to habitat degradation or climate change. The 2024–2025 project will analyze chick size and habitat to guide conservation efforts and enhance monitoring. It will also offer research opportunities for Humboldt wildlife undergraduates.

Alyssa Semerdjian, Biological Sciences

Alyssa Semerdjian received a Ranges Imaging Mini-Award to study nasal turbinates- tiny bones inside the noses of mammals that help them maintain body temperatures and conserve water- in Heteromyid rodents using 3D MicroCT scans. The research will explore how these bones aid temperature and water regulation across species in varied habitats, offering insights into their adaptive significance.

Sean Craig, Biological Sciences

Dr. Sean Craig received funding to hire undergraduates for a kelp forest restoration study. Students will conduct fieldwork, including SCUBA diving to remove overabundant sea urchins, which create biodiversity-poor "urchin barrens." The project will test removal frequencies and examine factors aiding kelp recovery, informing future restoration efforts.

Justin Luong, Rangeland Science & Management

Dr. Justin Luong received CSU Agricultural Research Institute funding to assess how solar micro grids affect coastal prairie plant communities and soil properties. The study aims to determine land use strategies that maximize ecosystem services for native plant biodiversity, sheep forage, and solar energy. The project will train diverse students in rangeland science, and will help inform future state policies on solar energy, rangeland use, and natural resource management.

Rick Golightly, Wildlife

Dr. Rick Golightly received multi-year grant funding to support a long-term project aimed at restoring and monitoring vulnerable seabird populations along the central California coast. Human use and disturbance at coastal areas where seabirds establish nests and raise their young has prompted a need for nest and human activity monitoring, which this work will address. Findings will inform programs that can minimize or eliminate disturbance, and ultimately conserve seabirds and their nesting colonies.