Student Spotlight: Joli White ’21, ’25G’s Winding Path to Biotech

For Joli White ’21, ’25G, the path to UNH Manchester was anything but traditional. “My path was unusual from the beginning,” Joli says. A graduate of Merrimack Valley High School in 2016, she first enrolled at the New Hampshire Institute of Art (NHIA) before transferring to NHTI to stay close to her family during her brother’s illness, and while finishing her associate’s degree. After his passing, Joli found the support, flexibility, and consistency she needed at UNH Manchester, where she completed her B.A. in Biology in 2021.  

After exploring other programs, Joli returned to UNH Manchester to complete her bachelor’s degree because of the strong community and opportunities she found here. She’s now pursuing her M.S. in Biotechnology,  expected in December 2025.  

“UNH has just been really consistent for me,” Joli says. 

Discovering Her Passion for Biology and Biotech 

Initially drawn to the sciences because she wanted to help people, Joli chose biology for its broad career possibilities. But after completing her bachelor’s degree, she realized she wanted more direction. That’s when Joli turned to UNH Manchester’s M.S. in biotechnology program, so she could expand her skills and explore innovative ways to make an impact. 

“After completing my BA, I felt I needed to find more of a path for how I wanted to use it and help people,” Joli explains. “I felt the M.S. in biotechnology program could help do that.” 

Guided by Experiential Learning 

Joli’s time at UNH Manchester was defined by hands-on, real-world learning outside of the classroom, where she was able to fully immerse herself in each learning experience.  

As an undergraduate, Joli interned at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), where she deepened her understanding of anatomy and gained industry connections. She also thrived in Antibiotic Discovery, a lab-based course that led to a summer research position funded by INBRE. 

“UNH has provided me with a lot of hands-on experience that has taught me a lot of the things I need to know in a lab or for record keeping,” she says. “Any lab course that allows you to complete your project very independently from start to finish, was so beneficial.” 

Building a Career with Flexibility and Focus 

Joli’s career path has continued to be unique. Throughout school and after, she worked for her mother’s CBD company, leading projects in manufacturing, marketing, research, and regulatory compliance. After earning her B.A. in biological sciences, she joined the Pathology Lab at Concord Hospital, where she met her best friend, and together they moved to Spain for a year to teach English and science. 

When she moved home, she returned to UNH Manchester to begin the M.S. in biotechnology program and was recently offered a co-op with Sarepta Therapeutics in Gene Therapy Potency. In the meantime, she has also worked as a substitute teacher in local elementary schools. 

“I'm really proud of how I've been able to build my background and experience to have a wide range and showcase my flexibility,” Joli says, “I've had a lot of experiences in the industry in so many varying ways. I feel they've been beneficial in interviews and overall have offered me perspective on situations I may not have had otherwise.” 

Making Connections That Last Beyond Graduation 

For Joli, the most rewarding part of her UNH Manchester experience was the continued learning opportunities and the friends that she made.  

“UNH Manchester is worth it for the connections you can make here,” she says. “My time at UNH in undergrad was choppy but introduced all the right people into my life at the right times that I still have connections with, including mentors, friends, and networking prospects from varying disciplines.” 

Learn more about the M.S. in biotechnology program at UNH Manchester and how it can help you advance your career in the biotechnology, biopharmaceutical and regenerative manufacturing sectors.