Biology Professor Selected as 2023 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar
Emily Holt, Ph.D., a professor of Biological Sciences in UNC’s College of Natural and Health Sciences, was chosen as the 2023 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar in recognition of continued excellence in scholarly activity at UNC for at least five years.
The award comes with a $2,000 in monetary support and is bestowed by UNC’s Faculty Research and Publications Board. The designation as an A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Professor remains for the duration of the honoree’s tenure at UNC.
Holt’s research has dual foci in lichen ecology and biology education scholarship. Most of her discipline-based scholarly activity has investigated how disturbance impacts lichen communities. She has studied how grazing, fire and bark-beetle epidemics have affected lichen communities in both arctic and temperate ecosystems.
Holt’s lab has also been a key developer of novel instruments and recently developed a novel concept inventory to quantify undergraduate students’ biotic climate literacy. Students comprise Holt’s research team, gaining valuable skills through authentic research experiences.
