Molly Hartley

When Hampton, New Hampshire native Molly Hartley entered her first year at the University of New Hampshire as a biology major, she had not imagined where her journey would lead. Four years and five Hamel Center research grants later, this biomedical sciences/medical microbiology major and University Honors Program member has been irrevocably infected with “the research bug.” Learning about all the biochemical manipulations and enzymatic reactions that can take place in a tiny clear test tube was “astonishing,” she says. Molly hopes that her Inquiry article informs readers about the amazing way sensory systems have evolved into the “powerhouses” they are today, a topic she became passionate about during her time at UNH.  After graduating in May 2017, Molly plans to work in a molecular biology research lab in Boston for a year before attending medical school. Even after medical school, she hopes her career will include a research component. And she hopes that Inquiry readers in any field will be inspired by her experience and will get involved in research of their own.