Bachelor of Science in Biology

Faculty

• Dr. Eric Simon

  

  Professor, Biology and Health Science
  Office: Science Building 212-C
  Phone: 603.428.2271
  Email: esimon@nec.edu
  Professional website: ericjsimon.com

  Expertise
  Dr. Simon is the author of the introductory non-majors’ biology textbooks Biology: The Core, the lead author of Campbell Essential Biology and Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology, and a co-author of the introductory biology textbook Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections, all published by Pearson Education.

  Educational Background
  PhD in Biochemistry, Harvard University
  MA in Biology, Wesleyan University
  BA in Biology and Computer Science, Wesleyan University

  Research Interests
  His research focuses on innovative ways to use technology to improve teaching and learning in the science classroom, particularly among non-science major students.

  Bio
  Dr. Simon teaches introductory biology to both science majors and non-science majors, as well as human biology, tropical marine biology, careers in science, and TA training. Dr. Simon also teaches a variety of international travel courses to destinations such as Belize, Patagonia, Galapagos, Tanzania, and Cuba.

• Dr. Geoff Cook

  Associate Professor, Biology and Health Science
  Phone: 603.428.2471
  Email: gcook@nec.edu

  Educational Background
  PhD in Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University
  MS in Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University
  BS in Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Dr. James Newcomb

  

  Professor, Biology and Health Science and Co-Director of Center for Undergraduate Science Research
  Office: Science Building 116C
  Phone: 603.428.2374
  Email: jnewcomb@nec.edu
  Professional website: sites.google.com/view/newcomblab

  Awards and Recent Press

  • Recent grants include a $160,000 grant from National Institutes of Health/INBRE to study specific cellular junctions in neurons, in both mammalian and invertebrate preparations.
  • Recent publications include a paper in Integrative Organismal Biology, reporting on the distribution and roles of a peptide neurotransmitter in a sea slug (Watson et al, 2020).

   

  Educational Background
  PhD in Biology, Georgia State University
  MS in Zoology, University of New Hampshire
  BS in Zoology, University of New Hampshire
  BS in Chemistry and Physics, Keene State College

  Research Interests
  My lab investigates the physiological mechanisms underlying behavior. Our latest projects include studies on cellular junctions, circadian rhythms, extraocular photoreception, non-invasive neural stimulation, and regeneration.

  Bio
  James Newcomb has been a professor at NEC since 2006. In 2019, he also became co-director of NEC’s Center for Undergraduate Science Research. He has maintained an externally funded research lab since 2010, during which time (as of 2020), he had obtained over $800,000 in extramural grants. As of 2020, he had published a total of 19 peer-reviewed publications (cited over 800 times), including 13 NEC students as co-authors, and been a co-author on 130 presentations at research conferences. He has also coauthored chapters for two different books. He is an Associate Editor for the journal Integrative Organismal Biology and Chair of the Division for Neurobiology, Neuroethology, and Sensory Biology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Beyond the confines of post-secondary academia, he is also an elected School Board member for John Stark Regional High School.

• Dr. Lori Koziol

  

  Professor of Biology and Health Science
  Office: Science Building 211C
  Phone: 603.428.2449
  Email: lkoziol @nec.edu

  Expertise, Awards, and Recent Press
  Expertise in molecular microbiology, genetics, genomics, biofilms, and biochemistry

  Awards:

  • New Hampshire Institutional Development Award for Biomedical Research Excellence grant recipient from the National Institute of Health in collaboration with Dartmouth College, 2009–2018
  • NEC’s Kilgore Faculty-of-the-Year Award, 2018

   

  Recent Publications:

  • “Whole-Genome Sequences of Pantoea agglomerans BL3, Pseudomonas fluorescens BL, and Pseudomonas stutzeri CM14 isolated from hops (Humulus lupulus)” in Microbiology Resource Announcements, 2019
  • “Whole-Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from roots of tomato and cucumber plants” in Microbiology Resource Announcements, 2018
  • “Ligand-mediated biofilm formation via enhanced physical interaction between a diguanylate cyclase and its receptor” in mBio, 2018

   

  Educational Background
  Post-doctoral research, Scripps Research Institute
  Post-doctoral research, Advanced Microbial Solutions
  PhD, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
  BA, Ripon College

  Research Interests
  My lab research studies the plant growth promoting bacteria of plant roots. Our focus has been on the plant colonizer Pseudomonas fluorescens, which promotes the growth of plants by forming biofilms on plant roots and protects the plants (including grapevines) from disease-causing bacteria and fungi.

  My future research interests are to identify the microbiome of the soil and rhizosphere of the grapevine Vitis vinifera. The microbial composition of grape varieties in local regions of New Hampshire will be compared to the work done on characterizing the bacteriome of the Pinot Noir variety. Several grape varieties suffer from a condition called berry shrivel. The cause of berry shrivel is unknown. Knowledge of the biodiversity of these soil ecosystems will help in the understanding of the normal flora, which may be protective against berry shrivel and other diseases. In addition, characteristics of biotic soil factors contributing to grape growth could help the wine industry. Some of these bacteria associated with the grapevine roots can act as biological control agents decreasing the necessity for pesticides. Identifying the soil bacteria and fungi associated with the roots of the grape of will help scientists and vineyard owners understand the complex relationship between the soil microbiota and the grapevine.

  Bio
  Dr. Lori Koziol came to NEC after teaching at Ripon College in Wisconsin for several years. Prior to teaching, Dr. Koziol worked in drug development at a startup biotech company developing antibiotics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her research career and PhD work were on biofilm-forming bacteria of the mouth, Actinomyces. Currently, her lab works on Pseudomonas, which forms biofilms in human lungs, eyes, and skin and also can form biofilms on plant roots. Her lab studies antibiotic-resistant bacteria of the soil and soil-plant microbial interactions. Dr. Koziol teaches biology, genetics, microbiology, and beer brewing courses at NEC. She maintains a lab where she has mentored undergraduate research students in projects on microbial genetics since 2009. Her lab has been funded by the National Institutes of Health grant INBRE for several years. Her lab provides paid research opportunities for students.

• Dr. Marianne Boesch

  

  Assistant Professor of Biology and Health Science
  Office location: Science Building 210A
  Phone: 603.428.2326
  Email: mboesch@nec.edu
  Professional Website: https://mcollardboesch.wixsite.com/lab-of-natural-pro-1

  Expertise and Awards
  Dr. Boesch has expertise in cancer biology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, epigenetics, and scientific communication.

  Awards:

  • New Hampshire Institutional Development Award for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) start-up fund recipient from the National Institute of Health in collaboration with Dartmouth College; 2024
  • Melanoma Research Alliance Dermatology Fellows Award ($70,000); Project: Targeting Lipids for Melanoma Detection and Prevention; 2021–2023
  • Clinical & Translational Science Institute at Boston University ($10,000); 2022

  Educational Background
  Postdoctoral training in Cancer Epigenetics, Boston University
  PhD in Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine
  BS in Biological Engineering with a Biomedical concentration, Cornell University

  Research Interests
  I run the Laboratory of Natural Products for Cancer Prevention at New England College where we explore the role of natural products in epigenetic remodeling to prevent cancer recurrence. To achieve this, we are currently using cell culture-based experiments to evaluate changes in mRNA levels (RT-qPCR), protein modifications and expression (Western blot), transcriptomics (RNAseq), and chromatin accessibility (ATACseq) in cancer cells treated with a Muscadine grape extract.

  Bio
  Dr. Marianne Boesch joined NEC in 2024 after several years of training, research, and teaching at Boston University. Dr. Boesch has published over 10 peer-reviewed papers in cancer, epigenetics, natural products, and/or microbiome research and has mentored many research trainees throughout her career. She has been an active member and leader in the American Society for Nutrition since 2017 and presented her research findings at numerous conferences. Her primary interests lie in teaching and training undergraduate students in STEM disciplines while promoting hands-on lab and research activities.