BS Conservation Biology

Faculty

• Eric Simon

  Professor, Biology and Health Science
  Office: Science Building 212-C, Henniker Campus
  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.

• James Newcomb

  Professor, Biology and Health Science and Co-Director of Center for Undergraduate Science Research
  Office: Science Building 116C, Henniker Campus
  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.

Degree Requirements