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
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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. Website |
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April Sharp
Ph.D. student I am interested in tritrophic plant-pollinator interactions and the role that pollen plays in mediating bee microbiology. My research focuses on investigating how the morphological features of pollen interact with the inner microbiome of bees and how these interactions can be applied to conservation practices. Bianca Jimenez Ph.D. student I am interested in how diseases can be transmitted from one bee species to another. My research focuses on the relationship between fecal matter size and disease transmission. The aim of my research is to determine if smaller solitary bee species are able to transmit diseases to bigger bee species and if so, at what intensity. |
Post-Docs
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Selina A. Ruzi, Ph.D.
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow I am generally interested in invasion ecology, plant-insect interactions, and biodiversity. My current work has two main focuses. First, how bee diversity changes through time and urbanization using museum specimens. Second, whether the spokesperson communicating a science story influences perceptions of that story. In the past, I have worked on ant-mediated seed dispersal of pioneer tree species in Panama. Website |
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Elizabeth Moore, Ph.D
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow Melanie Kazenel, Ph.D.
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RESEARCH technicians
Em Trentham
Lab manager
I am interested in prairie ecology, plant-pollinator interactions, seed conservation, and traditional ecological knowledge. I work with students in the Irwin Lab to meet their research goals related to bee parasite transmission and prairie ecosystem management.
Lab manager
I am interested in prairie ecology, plant-pollinator interactions, seed conservation, and traditional ecological knowledge. I work with students in the Irwin Lab to meet their research goals related to bee parasite transmission and prairie ecosystem management.
Kristin Conrad, MS.
Lab manager
My role in the lab is varied and encompasses general lab management, field and lab research assistance,
native bee identification, and (occasional) bee-wrangling. I am broadly interested in native bee
conservation, habitat restoration, agroecology, and environmental education and outreach. My most
recent research focused on bee assemblages and pollination services in montane farming communities
in Costa Rica. Currently I am focused on expanding my taxonomy skills to other bee groups and taxa and becoming more involved in conservation and education efforts.
Lab manager
My role in the lab is varied and encompasses general lab management, field and lab research assistance,
native bee identification, and (occasional) bee-wrangling. I am broadly interested in native bee
conservation, habitat restoration, agroecology, and environmental education and outreach. My most
recent research focused on bee assemblages and pollination services in montane farming communities
in Costa Rica. Currently I am focused on expanding my taxonomy skills to other bee groups and taxa and becoming more involved in conservation and education efforts.
undergraduate students
past lab members
Ph.D. 2022
Jonathan Giacomini
Ph.D. 2021
Mario Simon Pinilla-Gallego Website
Ph.D. 2021
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 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
RESEARCH TECHNICIANS
Levi Lankford
Current position:
Victoria Amaral
Current position: PhD student, Ashton lab, the University of Hong Kong
Jonathan Giacomini
Ph.D. 2021
Mario Simon Pinilla-Gallego Website
Ph.D. 2021
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 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
RESEARCH TECHNICIANS
Levi Lankford
Current position:
Victoria Amaral
Current position: PhD student, Ashton lab, the University of Hong Kong
