David Plachetzki

David Plachetzki is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences at the University of New Hampshire. His research focuses on evolutionary genomics, developmental genetics, and the molecular mechanisms underlying organismal complexity in invertebrates. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Marine Biology from UC Santa Barbara, and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Biology from Northern Michigan University.

Key research areas include cnidarian sensory systems, hagfish slime evolution, comparative genomics, and phylogenomic methods. Dr. Plachetzki investigates how gene regulatory networks and genomic innovations drive morphological and functional adaptations in marine organisms. His work integrates transcriptome sequencing, comparative genomics, and experimental embryology to address questions about sensory evolution and symbiotic relationships.

Teaching responsibilities include courses in genetics (GEN 604, GEN 715), comparative genomics (GEN 721), and molecular evolution (GEN 815). He has supervised senior honors theses in both Biology and Biomedical Sciences programs (BIOL 799H, BMS 799H). Active grant-funded research includes studies on hagfish slime biogenesis and sponge-microbe symbiosis evolution.

Publications span topics from cnidarian visual systems to the genomic characterization of larval settlement processes. His research frequently appears in high-impact journals like *Nature Ecology & Evolution*, *Current Biology*, and *Molecular Ecology*.