Christopher Neefus

Christopher Neefus is a Professor and Director of the Albion R. Hodgdon Herbarium in the Biological Sciences department at the University of New Hampshire. He specializes in marine botany, algal physiology, and biodiversity studies with a focus on seaweed ecology and aquaculture. His research explores environmental stress responses in marine algae, species distribution patterns, and invasive species dynamics. He teaches courses in mycology, experimental design, and marine botany.

Education:

• Ph.D., Botany, University of New Hampshire
• B.A., Biology, Boston University

Research Interests: His work integrates field studies and laboratory experiments to understand algal adaptation mechanisms. Key areas include:

• Physiological responses of Porphyra and Saccharina species to temperature/light changes
• Ecological impacts of introduced seaweeds in New England
• Development of seaweed-based bioremediation systems
• Herbarium digitization initiatives like the PteridoPortal

Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles focus on topics such as kelp speciation, algal aquaculture optimization, and invasive species monitoring. Recent work emphasizes cryopreservation methods and AI tools for research collaboration.

Laboratories/Teams: Leads the Hodgdon Herbarium and collaborates with UNH's marine science programs. Active in developing integrated aquaculture systems using seaweed for nitrogen management.