Turning a Biotech Passion into a Successful Career

For Manchester native and Goffstown High School graduate Ethan Edwards, the decision to attend UNH Manchester was driven by his curiosity about the biological world and a desire to conduct meaningful research.

"I have always been fascinated with the 'how' of things, especially in biology," Ethan says. "UNH Manchester was the obvious choice for me-their Biotechnology program, excellent professors, and affordable tuition all came in a nice bundle, close enough for me to walk from home."

As a Millyard Scholar, Ethan had the opportunity to conduct research early in his academic journey. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Kyle MacLea, he analyzed local bacteriophage through the SEA-Phages program, laying the foundation for his extensive research experience.

Building Expertise in the Lab

Throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies, Ethan worked in multiple laboratory positions, each deepening his expertise in biotech research. He contributed to pancreatic cancer research, processed COVID-19 samples in an on-campus lab, and later conducted bioinformatics research through the NH-INBRE iSURF Fellowship at the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies.

His most recent research experience at UNH Manchester was as a research assistant in the Suh Lab, where he worked on optimizing the induction of human-Transglutaminase2 (hTG2) in E. coli. His contributions were presented at both the UNH Manchester graduate research conference and the annual INBRE conference.

Launching a Biotech Career

Ethan's dedication to research and hands-on learning led him to his current role as a Laboratory Technician II at Plasmidsaurus, a cutting-edge biotech company specializing in plasmid sequencing. His expertise in quality control, bioinformatics, and laboratory protocols prepared him well for the fast-paced industry environment.

"My coursework established a solid background in immunology and molecular biology," he explains. "My lab experiences helped me understand the function of antibodies, while my computational work prepared me for the highly detail-oriented nature of biotech research."

Looking ahead, Ethan is eager to continue advancing in the field, with aspirations of working in novel research or biotech manufacturing. With his strong foundation from UNH Manchester, he is confident in his ability to contribute to scientific innovation.