Breadcrumb
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Get Your Hands Dirty Studying Science on California’s North Coast
There’s no better place to study science than at Cal Poly Humboldt. Our community is a living laboratory with the Pacific Ocean, ancient redwoods, and other diverse ecosystems for you to explore.
The College of Natural Resources & Sciences boasts a wide variety of science-focused areas of study, from biochemistry to zoology. Our multiple fieldwork opportunities, Place-Based Learning Communities, and extensive research faculties paired with our stellar faculty and staff create an environment for you to feel inspired, challenged, and engaged with the science all around you.
Undergraduate Research
Many universities reserve research experience for graduate students. At Cal Poly Humboldt, you may conduct your own research or assist professors with their projects as early as your freshman year. Either way, you’ll put theory into practice, building a fundamental understanding of concepts and methodologies. With opportunities to present at local and national conferences, you’ll learn how to explain your findings, too. Experiences like these offer a glimpse of what it’s like to be a professional scientist and will help you discover your passion.
Fieldwork
Located on the North Coast of California, Humboldt is surrounded by ancient redwoods and close to the Pacific Ocean, mountains, and rivers. You’ll find the region’s natural environment is the perfect outdoor classroom where learning happens through real-world experience. Track elk, hike through forests to measure redwoods, or take water samples from California’s second largest river—Humboldt provides a wide range of opportunities for fieldwork, which helps develop critical thinking and collaboration skills, and a passion for learning that will take you far in life.
Personal Attention
College is a time to expand your horizons and find out who you really are, and our attentive faculty are here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you begin your program, you won’t be just another face in the crowd. You’ll be part of a community as you get to know your professors. They’ll challenge you, but they’re accessible, too. Whether through mentoring or one-on-one feedback, they’ll help you build the knowledge and skills to be successful at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Undergraduate Programs
Cal Poly Humboldt offers a wide array of science majors and programs, led by highly skilled faculty who foster a supportive environment. You will develop the critical thinking skills needed to solve complex problems in science, engineering, and natural resources, leaving you well-prepared for professional careers and higher levels of study.
Graduate Programs
Cal Poly Humboldt has an established reputation for its graduate programs in the biological, environmental, engineering, and natural resources sciences, which provide the knowledge and experience necessary to address today’s scientific problems.
Equipped for Excellence
Cal Poly Humboldt has a diverse range of research facilities, labs, and special collections as essential tools for conducting research and gaining real-world experience. Utilizing a renewable energy technology research center, a marine laboratory, and the largest botanical collection in the CSU system, you will actively engage with research during your undergraduate years.
Place-Based Learning Communities
Learning goes beyond the classroom at Humboldt—we learn from the environment we are in. Our Place-Based Learning Communities provide you with a tight-knit community of like minded peers before classes even start.
We start right away—you’ll be immersed in major-related fieldwork, seminars, and classes with students like you before the semester even begins. These connections will help you navigate college life, gain confidence, succeed academically, and gain a sense of belonging within the Humboldt community.
Alumni Updates
Danial Nayeri
Wildlife, 2023
After earning his master’s degree in Wildlife from Cal Poly Humboldt, Danial moved to College Station, Texas, to begin a new journey as a Ph.D. student. Danial is currently a research graduate assistant at Texas A&M University, working in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Lab under the supervision of Dr. Gerard Kyle. Danial's research focuses on human-wildlife conflict mitigation through the lens of social psychology. His experience at Humboldt helped shape him into a more competent and prepared graduate student.
Warren Marchioni
Biological Sciences, 1965
Warren's Master's Degree helped him get employed as a fishery biologist for the U.S. Bureau of Fish and Game at Sandy Hook Marine Laboratory in New Jersey where he researched the behavior of striped bass. He later transitioned to becoming a science educator at the secondary and university level. After his retirement, he continued to work part-time at Liberty Science Center. At the age of 80, he thought it was time for a complete retirement. His wife Ann was also an educator. They currently are involved in establishing pollinator gardens in our community, enjoy biking, and recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Warren's interest in photography comes in handy when they visit their daughter who is an instructor in Alaska.
Captain Paul C. Golden, U.S. Coast Guard Ret.
Fisheries Biology, 1970
Paul joined the Coast Guard, with his marine environmental background was assigned to the White House to draft the first Federal Environmental Impact Statement, for the TransAlaskan Pipeline. He spent two years patrolling the Bering Sea protecting the “Deadliest Catch” fishing fleets. A second White House tour coordinated Pacific Basin interagency drug interdiction operations. Two years in the Persian Gulf/Africa dealing with Pirates, Smugglers & Terrorists. Retired from the Coast Guard, the next 14 years were with the Intelligence Community. Four Masters: Univ. Michigan-Environmental Management, Naval War College-National Security Planning & Risk Management, Salve Regina-International Affairs, CalState Hayward-Government Pandemic Management.
Achievements
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Pedro Peloso
Biological Sciences
Dr. Pedro Peloso co-authored a publication with colleagues from multiple institutions focused on the evolutionary history and biogeography of the largest genus of Treefrogs in the Americas (Dendropsophus). They also assessed the evolution of egg deposition mode (aquatic vs. terrestrial). The paper was published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
Whitcher, C., Orrico, V. G. D., Ron, S., Lyra, M. L., Cassini, C. S., Ferreira, R. B., Nakamura, D. Y. M., Peloso, P., Rada, M. A., Rivera-Correa, M., Sturaro, M. J., Valdujo, P. H., Haddad, C. F. B., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Lemmon, A., and Lemmon, E. M. "Phylogenetics, Biogeography, and Life History Evolution in the Broadly Distributed Treefrog Genus Dendropsophus (Anura: Hylidae: Hylinae)." Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 204 (2025): 108275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108275.
Destiny Saucedo, Cameron Piper, Deirdre Replinger, Sierra Olsen, Patience Brennan, Joseph Meihak, Daniel Meng, and Sam Strich, Dee Naranjo, BreeLynn Butler, Emma Leininger, Alex Lewis
Wildlife
Undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt were recognized at two recent professional conferences for their academic achievements.
The following students earned recognition and award money for "Best posters":
1st: Destiny Saucedo, graduate student; Cameron Piper, graduate student
2nd: Deirdre Replinger, graduate student
3rd: Sierra Olsen, undergraduate student
The Conclave Team won first place in the Quiz Bowl competition. The team included students Patience Brennan, Joseph Meihak, Daniel Meng, and Sam Strich, with Dee Naranjo as an alternate, and supporting crew BreeLynn Butler and Emma Leininger. Graduate student Alex Lewis also supported the team.
Rick Golightly
Wildlife
Dr. Rick Golightly received grant funding to support years 31 to 35 of a long-term project aimed at restoring and monitoring vulnerable seabird populations along the central California coast. Human use and disturbance at coastal areas where seabirds establish nests and raise their young has prompted a need for nest and human activity monitoring, which this work will address. Findings will inform programs that can minimize or eliminate disturbance, and ultimately conserve seabirds and their nesting colonies.