Matthew MacManes

Matthew MacManes is a Professor of Genome Enabled Biology at the University of New Hampshire’s Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences department. His lab investigates adaptive evolution in mammals, particularly desert-adapted species like the cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus). Research focuses on linking physiological traits—such as water conservation and metabolic adaptation—to genomic mechanisms. Key projects include studying the genetic basis of desert survival, circadian rhythms in extreme environments, and the role of transposable elements in evolutionary processes.

Education: Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley (2009-?), B.S. in Natural Resources from University of Michigan, and A.A.S. in Nursing from Broome Comm College. Courses taught include Genetics (GEN 604, GEN 705), Population Genetics, Genomics & Bioinformatics (GEN 711), and Honors Thesis supervision (BMCB 799H).

Research interests span bioinformatics, functional genomics, and vertebrate physiology. Recent work emphasizes transcriptomic responses to dehydration, dietary effects on metabolism, and genomic divergence in desert species. The lab uses lab-controlled desert simulations to study gene-environment interactions.

Notable contributions include developing the Oyster River Protocol for transcriptome assembly and analyzing the softshell clam genome to study apoptosis evolution. His work bridges basic research with applications in conservation biology and evolutionary medicine.