To better assist its growing network of members, NH Life Sciences (NHLS) recently added a new staff member to the team. In the newly created position of director of operations, Lizzy Nichols will support the founding staff, expand outreach to life sciences companies and increase coordination with partners. Nichols joins the team at a moment when NHLS is gaining momentum—hosting events, advocating for the industry, and connecting companies, researchers, and innovators throughout the Granite State. The addition of a dedicated development role reflects both the organization’s growth and its commitment to building a stronger foundation for the future.
Nichols, a lifelong New Hampshire resident from Sunapee, has always been drawn to the medical sciences.
“I grew up wanting to be a surgeon and have always had this love for the sciences,” Nichols said. “That passion naturally connects to the life sciences industry and its mission of improving patient lives.”
However, as a teenager she spent a lot of time working in her father’s concrete business and discovered an interest in business operations. She later pursued a degree in finance at the University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, with a minor in political science. As part of her honors thesis, she researched the economic, workforce, and housing challenges facing New Hampshire.
“That research really opened doors for me,” Nichols said, “New Hampshire gives you the freedom to explore your curiosities—and people here are genuinely open. They’re always willing to talk, answer questions, and share what they’re working on.”
She briefly left New Hampshire to work in Utah before returning home.
“I quickly realized that my roots are here,” she said. “I love the state and the ecosystem it’s building.”
Now she gets to help others discover all there is to love about New Hampshire, while helping the state grow.
“Life sciences is such an exciting industry—and it’s one of the four economic growth pillars in the state,” she said. “The potential here is real: building a stronger workforce, growing our economy, and all while improving patient lives. That is a powerful mission, and the members of NHLS are deeply passionate about it.”
As director of operations, Nichols will help NHLS continue its growth trajectory. One of NHLS’s priorities in 2026 is to expand programming and networking opportunities for members. Nichols’s support of the leadership team will allow for stronger connections and continued industry growth.
Although she has only recently joined the organization, Nichols has already attended multiple NHLS events and worked closely with NHLS President Andrea Hechavarria.
“What struck me most in those early meetings was the caliber of people in the room,” Nichols said. “Connecting with leaders across the state and seeing the NHLS mission playing out in real time—that's what showed me just how much potential this organization has.”
NHLS prides itself on being nimble and quick to address members’ needs. With New Hampshire’s “small state, big vision” mindset, NHLS leaders serve as a connection to decision-makers who can help advance companies’ projects. Nichols’s addition to the team enhances the organization’s ability to assist its members.
With members who are making groundbreaking medical discoveries right here in the Granite State, the addition of a director of operations only strengthens NHLS’s mission to facilitate the advancement of the industry.
Members can expect to see Nichols at events across the state or perhaps even on a hike up Mount Sunapee, where she’s always happy to talk about the future of life sciences in New Hampshire while taking in the view.