PhD student Elyse McCormick won first place in the student presentation competition for her section at the Entomological Society of America meeting this week! She talked about her work assessing impacts of sunflower pollen on Crithidia infection in several wild bumble bee species.
Author: Lynn Adler
Former Darwin Fellow and Adler lab postdoc Toby Kiers selected for MacArthur “genius” Fellowship!
I am so proud to announce that former OEB Darwin Fellow Toby Kiers, whom I was honored to mentor for her brief time at UMass, is one of 22 people selected worldwide for a highly prestigious MacArthur Fellowship! These so-called “genius grants” provide $800,000 over five years, with no strings attached. Toby studies the ecology […]
Best lab bonding photo summer 2025
Adler lab photo contest and slide show
In our second year of this annual tradition, lab members submit photos for the best in several categories: action shot, bumble bee, other insect, plant, science presentation, funniest photo, instagram-worthy lunch pic, best selfie, and best team bonding photo. Special thanks to postdocs Kate Borchardt and Simon Pillina-Gallego for creating this new lab tradition.
Adler lab hosts Eureka! workshop
In July we hosted a two-day Eureka! workshop for middle-school scholars from Girls Inc. We spent a morning getting up close and personal with bees, using microscopes to study their features, inside and out. On Day 2, Laura Figueroa and her lab helped identify wild pollinators and construct a pollination network from local observations..
Emelia’s post published in SICB Science News
PhD candidate Emelia Kusi’s article about using video games to teach evolution concepts is now posted in SICB Science News. This was a result of a science journalism internship as part of the 2025 SICB annual meeting.
May 2025: Molly Brewer highlighted in CNS Student Spotlight!
Molly Brewer, former Adler lab honors student and lab manager, was highlighted in this awesome video talking about her interests and experiences!
Elyse is awarded Chateaubriand Fellowship!
PhD candidate Elyse McCormick has just been awarded a prestigious international Chateaubriand Fellowship to work with our collaborator Mathilde Tissier in France next year! Elyse will be studying how sunflower pollen affects dynamics between European bumble bees and their pathogens.
Shakira Ebian chosen as a recipient of the 21st Century Leader Award for the Class of 2025!
I’m so excited to share that graduating honors student Shakira Ebian has been selected for incredible university-level honor! As a 21st Century Leader, Shakira is invited to participate in the main Commencement Ceremony by processing in with the Platform Party, being seated on stage, and standing when recognized. In addition, her photo and a brief […]
Emelia Kusi SICB award now featured on website
In January 2025 Emelia received the Ray Huey Award honorable mention award for best student poster in the Division of Ecology and Evolution at the SICB conference. You can now read more about her work and all the awards at their website.