Student Spotlight: Andres Monsalve ’26 Builds a Future in Biotech

For Andres Monsalve, UNH Manchester is a launching pad for his scientific ambitions and personal growth.

“Manchester is close to home for me, which allows me to stay with my family and be able to afford to go to school. UNH Manchester was the perfect fit for me without compromising my education, because they…focus on building the future biotech workforce.”

A graduate of Nashua High School North and a transfer student from Nashua Community College, Andres enrolled at UNH Manchester with a clear goal: pursue biotechnology in a setting that balanced academic excellence with affordability and access. Thanks to Federal Pell Grants, the Merrimack Valley Transfer Scholarship, the UNIQUE Grant, and Federal Work Study, he’s been able to do just that.

Discovering a Passion for Science

Andres is now pursuing both his Bachelor’s in Biotechnology and Master’s in Biotechnology: Industrial and Biomedical Sciences through the Accelerated Master’s program, having started graduate-level courses in 2025.

“I wanted to pursue biotech because I thought it would help me pursue a medical career while also engaging my mind through the use of different technologies. Some of the best classes UNH Manchester has to offer can be taken at either the undergraduate or graduate level.”

Learning Through Research

Internships and research have played a major role in his journey. One of his first experiences was as Student Ambassador at the Biotechnology Innovation Center, where he worked alongside Lab Operations Manager, Raymond Miller.

This summer, Andres is interning with Dr. Won Hyuk Suh, his favorite biology professor at UNH Manchester.

“We are working with neural stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to grow them on different biomaterials… We are doing a lot of experiments, and it is making me much more confident in my laboratory skills due to the work-like nature of the internship.”

A Community That Inspires

Andres credits the UNH Manchester community for helping him grow, find opportunity, and stay grounded in his purpose.

“Research and internships have made my experience here priceless and have reignited my love of science. It has shown me the highest level of science and research in a way that I can still be an active part of and to be able to contribute, which makes me driven to learn and do more.”

A First-Generation Story Worth Telling

“As a child of an immigrant and a first-generation student and American, to me, this is an opportunity I could not afford to waste. I want to repay [my mom’s] kindness and make a place for myself here by working hard.”

Andres’s story is one of dedication, perseverance, and purpose—and it’s one that inspires us all.