Rich Smith earned his doctorate degree in Plant Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior at Michigan State University, and his B.S. in Biology at the  University of New Mexico.  He joined the UNH faculty in 2010.

In general, Rich’s research is focused on the interface between agriculture and plant community and ecosystem ecology. Rich’s interests include weed ecology and management, the role of diversity in agroecosystem function, plant invasions, community assembly theory, trophic interactions, and implications of land-use and climate change. The overall goal of Rich’s research is to better understand the ecological interactions that underpin agricultural production systems so as to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture.