College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources
Meet CAHNR Alum Christopher Bruno
Bruno made the most of his CAHNR experience, with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship
August 18, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
Meet undergraduate student Autumn Blasi
Autumn Blasi is planning a career as a registered dietitian (RD), but she is open to various options. While she can see herself in pediatric nutrition, she would also enjoy working with an elderly population. When asked to name a pressing issue for her generation, Blasi says that the oppression of the Black community must […]
August 13, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
Biostatistician studies health behavior and health policy
The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the importance of using data to guide action, such as allocating resources and designing effective health policies. In health-related research, biostatisticians are key researchers who collect and analyze data in order to translate biology, medicine and public health information into practical knowledge. As a biostatistician in the […]
August 13, 2020 | Jason M. Sheldon
Meet graduate student Amanda Reiter
Amanda Reiter always knew she wanted to work with animals. Her cousin arranged for her to adopt a rescue horse, so she spent her younger years working in barns around horses and cattle. Her master’s degree research led to an interest in muscle biology, which brought her to CAHNR. She sees herself working at a […]
July 23, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
Economist studies mismatch between industry needs and workforce skill sets
Nathan Fiala, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics recently received a three-year $500,000 USDA grant to study workforce and economic development issues in Connecticut and throughout New England. “Workforce mismatch is the idea that there are businesses in particular areas that need certain skills but the people surrounding those areas do […]
July 23, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
Meet graduate student Danielle Tanzer
Danielle Tanzer loves everything about the forest—whether she’s out hiking or collecting data for research. As a master’s student in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, she is most interested in ecosystem disturbances such as invasive plants, insects and drought. She credits her mom with instilling a love of nature and her dad […]
July 16, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
NSF funds study of COVID-19 effects on underrepresented STEM students
The COVID pandemic has affected college students worldwide, particularly those from lower socio–economic backgrounds. This issue is such a high priority that the National Science Foundation has provided grants for research projects relating to effects of COVID-19 on education. Concerned that STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students might fall through the cracks during this […]
July 16, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
Meet 2020 graduates Caitlyn and Kristen Splaine
Recent graduates Caitlyn and Kristen Splaine may have inherited a love of science from their physician mother, but each found her own way to pursue a career path. Caitlyn grew up loving animals, particularly horses, and plans to become a veterinarian, preferably in a larger facility that caters to both small animals and horses. She […]
July 9, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
Resource economics student leverages food security solutions to strengthen communities
When Christian Heiden discovered the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) in CAHNR, he felt as if there was a major created just for him. “I’m studying applied and resource economics and international development,” he says. “I am learning how to use agriculture to create economic development and empower communities through sustainable agriculture.” His […]
July 9, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich
Meet graduate student Yuxiang Wang
Yuxiang Wang first became interested in science during a middle school biology course when he found himself intrigued with biological processes. Recently, his vaccine research has refocused from tick-borne diseases to the COVID-19 virus, and for the first time in his career he feels a sense of urgency and importance to work that could contribute […]
July 2, 2020 | Kim Colavito Markesich