Northeastern University professor Randall Hughes made her first big discovery researching eelgrass on the West Coast.
Hughes, professor of marine and environmental sciences, shifted the focus of her scientific investigation to salt marsh plant species when she moved to Florida.
In the Northeast, her current research focuses on increasing the effectiveness of restoration efforts by understanding how bringing plants from a different coastal system affects the evolutionary makeup of the recipient system.
Hughes has worked on both U.S. coasts during her career, allowing her to develop expertise in multiple habitats, including oyster reefs, seagrasses and salt marshes.
In recognition of her career, the American Association for the Advancement of Science named Hughes one of its 2024 lifetime fellows. She was awarded the fellowship for her contributions in biological sciences for developing a fundamental understanding of the role of genetic diversity in the conservation and restoration of species that define ecosystems.
Read more from Northeastern Global News.
