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
Jacob Heiling
Ph.D. student
I am interested in the eco-evolutionary dynamics of cooperative species interactions. My focus is the cost-benefit balance in plant-animal interactions— specifically, the ways in which floral visitors and frugivores direct trait evolution in their plant partners, and how plant traits in turn direct animal behavior. In my dissertation work, I will address the questions: How do plants balance the benefits of pollination against the cost of providing nutritional rewards? What roles do pollen secondary compounds play in plant reproduction and plant-pollinator interactions? My fieldwork is based at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado. Website, Email
Ph.D. student
I am interested in the eco-evolutionary dynamics of cooperative species interactions. My focus is the cost-benefit balance in plant-animal interactions— specifically, the ways in which floral visitors and frugivores direct trait evolution in their plant partners, and how plant traits in turn direct animal behavior. In my dissertation work, I will address the questions: How do plants balance the benefits of pollination against the cost of providing nutritional rewards? What roles do pollen secondary compounds play in plant reproduction and plant-pollinator interactions? My fieldwork is based at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado. Website, Email
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 got my bachelors degree in Biology at the Nueva Granada Universidad, and a master’s in entomology at Michigan State University (go green!), and currently I am a PhD student at NCSU. 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 bee diseases. Website
Ph.D. student
I got my bachelors degree in Biology at the Nueva Granada Universidad, and a master’s in entomology at Michigan State University (go green!), and currently I am a PhD student at NCSU. 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 bee diseases. 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
Research technicians
Sara June Giacomini
Research technician & MS. student
I graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. As an undergraduate, I conducted an independent study testing the effects of a commonly sprayed fungicide on pathogen dynamics within bumble bees. My goal is to discover how to help bees when faced with disease in a fragmented agrochemical landscape. As a lab technician in the Irwin lab, I will foresee experiments that test the influence of nectar secondary compounds on a common gut pathogen, Crithidia bombi, found in bumble bees. In the future, I look forward to entering grad school to continue research protecting our precious pollinators. Website, Email
Research technician & MS. student
I graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. As an undergraduate, I conducted an independent study testing the effects of a commonly sprayed fungicide on pathogen dynamics within bumble bees. My goal is to discover how to help bees when faced with disease in a fragmented agrochemical landscape. As a lab technician in the Irwin lab, I will foresee experiments that test the influence of nectar secondary compounds on a common gut pathogen, Crithidia bombi, found in bumble bees. In the future, I look forward to entering grad school to continue research protecting our precious pollinators. Website, Email
past lab members
GRADUATE STUDENTS
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
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
