
Rebecca Irwin
Associate Professor
I am a community and evolutionary ecologist and am passionate about plants, pollinators, and their interactions. Current research projects include how pollinators and pollination are responding to environmental change (invasive species, urbanization, and climate change), exploitation of pollination mutualisms, and effects of secondary compounds on pollinators and their parasites. Email
Associate Professor
I am a community and evolutionary ecologist and am passionate about plants, pollinators, and their interactions. Current research projects include how pollinators and pollination are responding to environmental change (invasive species, urbanization, and climate change), exploitation of pollination mutualisms, and effects of secondary compounds on pollinators and their parasites. Email
Graduate students

Jonathan Giacomini
Ph.D. student
I’m currently conducting multiple experiments that investigate the influence of floral secondary compounds on bumble bee disease dynamics. I’m particularly interested in the role that pollen plays in managing bee health and pollination services.
Ph.D. student
I’m currently conducting multiple experiments that investigate the influence of floral secondary compounds on bumble bee disease dynamics. I’m particularly interested in the role that pollen plays in managing bee health and pollination services.

Simon Pinilla-Gallego
Ph.D. student
I am broadly interested in the use of bees in agricultural settings and the pollination service they provide. I have worked in projects related to pollination of the Andean blueberry, bee diversity in passionfruit growing areas, ecology of urban bees, and management of alternative pollinator (Osmia). My current research focus on the bumble bee pathogen Crithidia bombi, and how floral traits affect different steps of the transmission process. I'm also interested on how host-switching affect pathogen's fitness. Website
Ph.D. student
I am broadly interested in the use of bees in agricultural settings and the pollination service they provide. I have worked in projects related to pollination of the Andean blueberry, bee diversity in passionfruit growing areas, ecology of urban bees, and management of alternative pollinator (Osmia). My current research focus on the bumble bee pathogen Crithidia bombi, and how floral traits affect different steps of the transmission process. I'm also interested on how host-switching affect pathogen's fitness. Website

Laura Hamon
Ph.D. student
I study the pollination ecology of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). I am interested in pollinator-prey conflict, as well as the potential role of pollinators in the conservation of this vulnerable and unusual plant. Website
Ph.D. student
I study the pollination ecology of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). I am interested in pollinator-prey conflict, as well as the potential role of pollinators in the conservation of this vulnerable and unusual plant. Website
Erin Eichenberger
Ph.D. student I am interested in remnant ecosystems and conserving fragmented plant communities and their pollinators. I am studying the ecology of plants and pollinators in the Piedmont prairie, a rare grassland ecosystem native to North Carolina. I aim to understand how management activities affect plants at different life stages, and how success at different life stages contributes to population growth. |
Research technicians

Victoria Amaral
past lab members
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Jacob Heiling Website
Ph.D. 2019
Gabriella Pardee. Website
Ph.D. 2018
Jessica Kettenbach
MS. 2018
Christine Urbanowicz
Ph.D. 2017
Zak Gezon
Ph.D., 2015: Current position: Conservation Program Manager, Walt Disney World. Website
Leif Richardson
Ph.D., 2014: Current position: USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Vermont. Website, Email
Robert Schaeffer
Ph.D., 2013: Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Tufts University.
Adrian Carper
Ph.D., 2013. Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Colorado. Website
Laura Burkle
Ph.D., 2008. Current position: Assistant Professor of Ecology, Montana State University. Website
Susan Elliott
Ph.D., 2008. Current position: Painter and writer, Pinyon Publishing, Montrose, CO. Website
POST-DOCS
Jessamyn Manson. Current position: Assistant Professor, University of Alberta. Website
Shana McDermott. Current position: Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico. Website
Jeffrey Evans. Current position: Post-doctoral associate, USDA
Jacob Heiling Website
Ph.D. 2019
Gabriella Pardee. Website
Ph.D. 2018
Jessica Kettenbach
MS. 2018
Christine Urbanowicz
Ph.D. 2017
Zak Gezon
Ph.D., 2015: Current position: Conservation Program Manager, Walt Disney World. Website
Leif Richardson
Ph.D., 2014: Current position: USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Vermont. Website, Email
Robert Schaeffer
Ph.D., 2013: Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Tufts University.
Adrian Carper
Ph.D., 2013. Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Colorado. Website
Laura Burkle
Ph.D., 2008. Current position: Assistant Professor of Ecology, Montana State University. Website
Susan Elliott
Ph.D., 2008. Current position: Painter and writer, Pinyon Publishing, Montrose, CO. Website
POST-DOCS
Jessamyn Manson. Current position: Assistant Professor, University of Alberta. Website
Shana McDermott. Current position: Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico. Website
Jeffrey Evans. Current position: Post-doctoral associate, USDA