Thursday, March 10, 2022
Biotechnology major Ethan Edwards '23 processes nasal swabs in UNH Manchester'son-campus COVIDtesting lab.

Biotechnology major Ethan Edwards '23 processes nasal swabs in UNH Manchester'son-campus COVIDtesting lab.

Ethan Edwards '23knew was the perfect fit for him right from the start.

“I have always been fascinated with the ‘how’ of things, especially in biology,” he said. “UNH Manchester was the obvious choice for me, as their biotech program, excellent professorsand affordable tuition all came in a nice bundle, close enough for me to walk from home.”

As a , Edwards began conducting research his freshman year, analyzing local bacteriophage as part of a partnership with the SEA-Phages laboratory under the direction of faculty mentor Associate Professor . Since then, the has held a number of different laboratory positions, including conducting pancreatic cancer research and working in the on-campus COVID testing lab.

Over the summer, he and 19 other students who received funding from the New Hampshire IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (NH-INBRE) Research Support and Training Grant presented their research at their annual meeting at the Mt. Washington Hotel.

Through UNH Manchester's accelerated master's program, Edwards will earn his as well as a by 2024. After graduating, he hopes to secure a job for an organization that conducts novel research, manufactures products to be used in research or processes samples submitted by research facilities. With his UNH Manchester education, he is confident this goal is achievable.

“My coursework has helped establish a solid background knowledge relevant to subjects regarding immunology," Edwards says. "My lab experiences havehelped me with understanding the function of antibodies, and my computational experience has helped me stay focused in this demanding and detail-oriented field.”

Photographer: 
David Vogt | UNH Marketing