Missing or old information? Email me at lsadler@umass.edu to send an update!
Graduate Students
Cameron Lamphere MS OEB, Aug 2024. In fall 2024 Cameron is beginning a position as a a Biological Science Technician for the US Fish & Wildlife in their Fish and Aquatics Division in Arcata, California, where he will conduct field work monitoring salmon runs.
Luis Aguirre PhD OEB, Aug 2023. In December 2023, Luis accepted a position as a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA).
Justin Roch MS OEB, Aug 2023. Justin is continuing his leadership role in the student-led entomology Fernald Club, and working as an assistant curator in the UMass entomology collections.
Alison Fowler PhD OEB, Dec 2022. Alison was awarded the Smithsonian Biodiversity Genomics Postdoctoral Fellowship, and began her position working with Dr. Robert Fleischer in July 2023. Check out Alison’s website here.
Matt Boyer PhD OEB and Entomology, Dec 2018. Matt is currently following his aspirations by teaching Environmental Science at Springfield HS for Science and Technology.
George LoCascio MS Environmental Conservation, Aug 2018. As of June 2021, George fulfilled his goal of securing a full-time position at a community college; he is a professor in the Natural Resources and Biology Department at Mount Wachusett Community College.
Laura Doubleday PhD OEB, March 2018. Laura began a full-time position as a Science Analyst at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in the Plant Health Science Directorate in November 2018.
Evan Palmer-Young PhD OEB and Entomology, Oct 2017. Evan received a NSF postdoctoral fellowship to work with Quinn McFrederick of UC Riverside. As of Fall 2019, he began a full-time position as a Research Entomologist at the USDA Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, AZ. In 2021, he joined Jay Evan’s USDA bee research laboratory in Bethesda, MD.
Muvari Tjiurutue PhD Plant Biology, April 2016. Upon receiving her PhD, Muvari began a position as a Lecturer at the University of Namibia, where she is teaching in biochemistry and conducting research. Update: In 2017, Muvari became Head of Department! Read this article about how new faculty meet the challenges of setting up labs when funds are limited.
Melissa Ha MS OEB May 2014. In Aug 2014, Melissa fulfilled her goal of teaching at a community college by beginning a tenure-track position at the Kingman Campus of Mohave Community College. In January 2017, Melissa moved closer to home and began a new tenure-track position at Yuba Community College.
Nicole Soper Gorden PhD Plant Biology Nov 2012. In Jan 2013, Nicole began an NSF-funded Project Baseline postdoctoral position working with Julie Etterson at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. In 2016, she began a tenure-track position in the Dept of Natural Sciences at Mars Hill University.
Sandy Gillespie PhD OEB & Entomology April 2011. Following a postdoctoral position with Neal Williams at UC Davis, in January 2014, Sandy began a second postdoctoral position working with Elizabeth Elle at Simon Fraser University. In 2017, Sandy began a tenure-track position at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia.
Holly Bernardo MS OEB Feb 2010. In May 2010, Holly began a 5-year Plant Ecology research technician position at the Tyson Research Center, the field station for Washington University in Saint Louis.
Andy Cavanagh MS Entomology Aug 2008. Andy continued his Extension position with Ruth Hazzard for several years, and is now working at a web design company.
Kristen Hladun MS Plant Biology Dec 2006. After defending her Master’s thesis, Kristen began working on her PhD with Dr. John Trumble in the Dept of Entomology at UC Riverside, where she received an EPA STAR award to support her research. She then continued with Dr. Trumble for her postdoctoral work.
Amanda Lentz PhD Biology, Virginia Tech July 2007. Amanda is currently an Associate Instructor of Biology at John Tyler Community College.
Postdoctoral researchers
Laura Figueroa: Sept 2020-Aug 2023. Laura was supported by an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship. Starting Sept 2023, Laura is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at UMass Amherst, where she is studying insect ecology and conservation in changing landscapes.
Gordon Fitch: Sept 2021-Aug 2023. Gordon was supported by an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship. Starting Sept 2023, Gordon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at York University, where he is researching plant-insect interactions in a changing world.
Rosemary Malfi: Jan 2019-July 2021. Rosemary became the Pollinator Network Coordinator for Mass Pollinator Network, run by NOFA Mass, the Northeast Organic Farming Association. In March 2023, Rosemary began a new full-time Pesticide Program Specialist position with Xerces, oriented toward policy solutions regarding pesticide reform, and in June 2024, she became the Director of Conservation Policy at Xerces. We are enjoying continued interactions with Rosemary in her new roles.
Kim Skyrm: Feb-Aug 2015, co-mentored by Dr. Anne Averill. Kim began an exciting position as the Massachusetts State Chief Apiary Inspector with MDAR in August 2015. We are enjoying continued interactions with Kim in this new role.
Scott McArt: 2012-2014. Scott was supported by a two-year USDA postdoctoral fellowship. He began a Research Scientist position in the Dept. of Entomology at Cornell University in Fall 2014, and a tenure-track position in the same department in Spring 2017.
Lei Gao: 2013-2014. Lei spent a year in the lab as an International Scholar funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has now returned to his research position at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden.
Annie Leonard: 2011-2012. Annie was the OEB Darwin Fellow jointly working with Beth Jakob and Lynn Adler. She began a tenure-track position at the University of Nevada at Reno in Fall 2012 and is now an Associate Professor.
Nick Barber: 2009-2011. Nick was supported by a three-year USDA grant to study multispecies interactions in cucumber. He joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University in Fall 2011 in a tenure-track position. In Fall 2018, Nick began a tenure-track position at University of California – San Diego.
Nina Theis: 2005-2009. Nina was initially supported on a USDA NE IPM grant to Lynn Adler and Ruth Hazzard, and then received her own NSF grant to support her work on the role of floral volatiles for herbivory and pollination in wild gourds. Nina began at tenure-track position at Elms College in Fall 2009, and is now tenured there.
Toby Kiers: OEB Darwin Fellow 2005-2006. Toby received a 3 year independent research ‘Veni’ Grant from Dutch Science Foundation: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) and began working with Dr. Marcel G. van der Heijden in the Institute of Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, where she now has a permanent, tenured position.
Extension Educator
Hannah Whitehead: May 2018-July 2021. Hannah spent three years as a Honeybee Extension Educator supported by a USDA grant to the Adler lab and supplemented by many grants and contracts she received, including from MDAR, NE SARE, and APHIS. In the summer of 2021, Hannah transitioned into a new role as part of the UMass Vegetable Crops extension team. We miss her but are happy to have continued interactions in this new role!
Independent research undergraduates
Zackary Naughton, independent research in Spring 2024 with Jenny Van Wyk, asking whether infection alters bumble bee foraging behavior in cages.
Molly Brewer, Honors thesis Jan 2022-Dec 2023 working with Gordon Fitch, developing protocols and assessing bumble bee self-medication behavior in response to Crithidia bombi infection.
Liz Sykes, Honors thesis Jan 2022-Dec 2023 working with Seanne Clemente, evaluating effects of several compounds from basil floral headspace on bumble bee resistance to Crithidia bombi.
Cameron Lamphere, senior thesis Sept 2022-May 2023 working with Elyse McCormick, asking whether sunflower pollen provides a prophylactic effect by reducing Crithidia bombi infection in bumble bees when consumed before exposure to the pathogen.
Connor O’Claire, senior thesis Sept 2022-May 2023 working with Emelia Kusi, evaluating the impact of inoculum volume and concentration on Crithidia bombi viability under different light conditions. Connor also works with the insect collections with Ben Normark.
Srinath Srikanth Vaidheeswaran, senior thesis Sept 2022-May 2023 working with Seanne Clemente, assessing variation in bee defecation and Crithidia bombi viability on varieties of basil that differ in their medicinal effects on bumble bees.
Aggelos Zymaris, CAFE Scholar summer 2022, working with Gordon Fitch and Emelia Kusi, comparing the potential for different chemotypes of Monarda fistulosa to transmit Crithidia bombi between bumble bees.
Rachel Yost, Honors thesis Sept 2021-May 2022 working with Alison Fowler, assessing the role of the gut microbiome mediating dietary effects on bumble bee resistance to Crithidia bombi.
Elisa Kola, BMB senior thesis May 2021-May 2022, working with Alison Fowler to assess the effect of sunflower pollen age and origin on its ability to reduce Crithidia bombi infection in Bombus impatiens.
Brooke Donzelli, Biology senior thesis Sept 2021-May 2022, working with Gordon Fitch to assess antimicrobial effect of several floral compounds from Monarda fistulosa on Crithidia bombi infection in Bombus impatiens.
Justin Roch, CAFE summer scholar 2019 and honors thesis 2020-21, working with Carolina Muñoz, Rosemary Malfi and Joan Milam. “Bee communities associated with pollen-bearing and pollen-free sunflower cultivars.” Awarded a Natural History Collections grant, Honors College research grant, the Biology Maravelas Scholarship, the Henry H. and Sylvia Richardson Scholarship, Robert W. Burrell Memorial Scholarship in Entomology, the Kofi Cash Prize, the Honors Dean Prize, and the Howard Quint memorial Prize, given to a single outstanding student in the entire Honors College with an emphasis on writing achievements.
Amy-Mei Lynch, Honors thesis 2020-21. “Understanding the medicinal effects of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) against a bumble bee parasite.” Amy was awarded the Robert H. Burrell Memorial Scholarship in entomology, the Howard E. Bigelow and Margaret E. Barr Bigelow Memorial Scholarship for students studying Botany, and the William and Margaret Nutting Award.
Stephanie Lopez, Honors thesis 2019-20. “Sunflower pollen morphology and metabolites as potential mechanisms underlying medicinal effects on Crithidia bombi.” Awarded an Honors College Research Fellowship.
Liam Cleary, senior thesis in collaboration with Ned Friedman of the Arnold Arboretum, 2019-20. “Killer magnolias: do stigmatic secretions kill bees?”
Lily Coppinger, Honors thesis 2018-19, mentored by Alison Fowler. “Assessing fatty acids as a potential mechanism for the medicinal effects of sunflower pollen in bumble bees”
Bryanna Joyce, CAFE Summer Scholar 2018 and independent study Fall 2018, mentored by Hannah Whitehead.
“Comparison of sunflower, wildflower and commercial bee pollen supplements on honeybee parasites and pathogens in a commercial apiary”
Eugene Amponsah, Independent study Fall 2018, mentored by Jenny Van Wyk. “Effect of bee size on disease transmission in laboratory trials”
Kristen Michaud: 2016-17 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis, and 2017-18 Honors Independent Study “Manipulating floral traits to assess their role in bee disease transmission”
Julie Davis: 2017-18 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis “The role of mutualist fungi and nutrients on floral traits and bee disease”
Elly Stone: 2017-18 Smith College Honors Thesis “Comparing the effect of sunflower pollen on pathogen infection in drone, worker and queen bumble bees”
Eugene Amponsah: CAFE Summer Scholar 2017, in collaboration with River Pasquale (see lab alumni) and mentored by George LoCascio “Effect of timing of sunflower pollen on pathogen infection in bumble bees”
Ariana McFarland: 2017-18 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis “Comparison of different pollen species on bumble bee pathogen infection”
Toby Shaya: 2017-18 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis “How timing of sunflower pollen application shapes bumble bee pathogen infection”
River Pasquale: High School researcher and Eureka! extern, Summer 2017, in collaboration with Eugene Amponsah (see current students) and mentored by George LoCascio “Effect of timing of sunflower pollen on pathogen infection in bumble bees”
Liam Merva, Angus Jelinek, and Marcus Blinder: 2017 Summer Pre-College Program, mentored by Laura Figueroa “Pathogen location, floral architecture its effects on pathogen transmission in bumble bees”
Jeremy Day: Spring 2017 Independent Research, with Laura Figueroa “How timing of dose shapes the effect of sunflower pollen on bee disease”
Pheobe Deneen: 2016-17 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis “The effect of rutin as a potential mechanism explaining how sunflower pollen reduces bee disease”
Jess Leslie: 2015-16 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis, with continued preparation for publication “The role of sunflower pollen in bumble bee health and colony performance”
Amy Zhao, Lucy Metz, Cali Grinavitch, and Emilia Mann: Summer 2016 High School Independent Research (Amy and Lucy: Summer Pre-College) “Parasite location and its effects on pathogen transmission in bumble bees”
George LoCascio: Summer 2016 Independent Research “The effect of sunflower pollen on bee disease transmission during floral foraging”
Tina Rothchild: Summer 2016 Independent Research “The role of thymol in bee disease transmission during floral foraging”
Trung Le: Spring 2015 First-Year Research Experience
Aimee Lin, Yoonjin Moon, & Kristen Michaud: 2014-15 First-Year Research Experience “Genetic variation in Crithidia bombi response to anabasine”
Jonathan Giacomini: REU and 2014-15 Senior Thesis “Influence of pollen diet on parasite infection in bumble bees”
Olivia Biller: 2014-15 Hampshire Division III Senior Thesis with Evan Palmer-Young “Dose-dependent effects of thymol on bumble bee pathogens”
Lukas Thorburn: 2014-15 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis with Evan Palmer-Young “Synergistic effect of nicotine and anabasine on bee parasite loads”
Caitlin McAllister: 2014-15 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis. “Synergistic effects of thymol and anabasine on bee parasite loads”
Taylor Conroy: 2014-15 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis. “Assessing the impacts of nutrient limitation on bumble bee resistance to infection with a trypanosome gut parasite”
Patrick Anderson: 2014-15 NSF REU & Commonwealth College Honors Thesis “Effects of anabasine on within-colony pathogen transmission in bumble bees”
Sara June Connon: 2014-15 Senior Thesis with Scott McArt. “Pesticide effects on pathogen susceptibility in Bombus impatiens”
Ari Soleil: 2014-15 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis with Matt Boyer. “Transgenerational effects of herbivory on resistance”
Rebecca Warren: Spring-Summer 2014 with Matt Boyer and Scott McArt. “Do differences in pollinator community composition explain affect disease transmission in highbush blueberry?”
Thuyen Truong: Summer 2014 Summer College (high school student) with Melissa Ha. “The role of time in mediating pathogen transmission between bumble bees”
Adrienne Lee: Summer 2014 Summer College (high school student) with Melissa Ha and Devin Shaheen. “Anabasine affects Crithidia bombi transmission in Bombus impatiens over time”
Anna Peters: 2013-2014 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis with Laura Doubleday. “Effects of floral display on the reproductive success of Silene vulgaris”
Cynthia Bensburg: Fall 2013 First-Year Research Experience with Evan Palmer-Young. “Induced effects of damage on neighboring lima bean plants”
Jessica Leslie: Fall 2013 First-Year Research Experience with Melissa Ha. “Post-ingestion thymol effects on a bumble bee pathogen”
Alexandra Hamilton: Fall 2013 First-Year Research Experience with Melissa Ha. “Post-ingestion thymol effects on a bumble bee pathogen”
Maria Servidone: 2012-2013 Commonwealth College Honors Thesis with Nicole Soper Gorden. “Effects of insect florivory versus mechanical damage on floral traits and plant reproduction”
Karly Henry: 2011-2012 senior thesis with Annie Leonard. “Does consumption of nectar containing secondary metabolites reduce level of Crithidia bombi infection in Bombus impatiens?” Karly received her MS with Dr. Szczepaniak at South Dakota State University in 2015 and has been working on her PhD with Mary Barbercheck at Penn State since then.
Winston Anthony: 2011-2012 senior thesis with Annie Leonard. “Effects of a plant alkaloid on adult bumblebee infection with a trypanosome parasite.”
Erica Fitzpatrick: 2010-2011, including REU and semester-long independent studies. “Potential self-medication of bumble bees via secondary compounds.”
Jana Muschinski: Spring 2011. “Effect of nectar secondary compounds on bumble bee preference.” Jana conducted this research as a high school volunteer, and then began college at Emory University.
Matt Boyer (Cox): Commonwealth College Honor’s Thesis, 2010-11 with Nicole Soper Gorden. “Floral damage induces resistance to herbivory in Impatiens capensis.” Matt graduated from UMass in May 2011, and began his PhD in the OEB and Entomology graduate programs the following fall.
Kayla Carrero: Commonwealth CollegeHonor’s Thesis, 2009-10 with Sandy Gillespie. “Effects of parasitism on bumble bee pollination service.” Kayla graduated from UMass in May 2010, and is now applying for graduate programs as a Physician’s Assistant.
Allie Clifford: Hampshire College Division III Thesis 2009-2010 with Nick Barber and Lynn Adler. “Pollination, herbivory and reproduction success.” Allie graduated from Hampshire College in Spring 2010 and is currently working as an intern under an ecologist for the BLM through the Chicago botanic garden’s conservation and land management program. For the future she is looking for research technician positions with a university lab doing conservation-oriented work.
Lauren Bishop: Summer and Fall 2009 with Nicole Soper Gorden. “Experimental Handling Effects on Impatiens capensis.”
Nick Cline: Summer and Fall 2009 with Holly Bernardo and Lynn Adler. “Bee biodiversity and pollinator efficiency.”
Amanda Eigner: REU 2009. “Effect of florivory and pollination on reproduction in butternut squash.” Amanda is currently an Environmental Science, Conservation & Geography major at Carthage College.
Nelson Milano: REU 2009 and 2010. “Role of aboveground damage on belowground preference of Acalymma vittatum root-feeding larvae.”
James Duguay: Commonwealth College Honor’s Thesis, 2008-09 with Sandy Gillespie. “Landscape and Local Scale Effects on Bee Diversity and Abundance in Western Massachusetts.”
Justin Van Goor: Spring 2009 with Nicole Soper Gorden. “The role of abiotic factors for germination in Impatiens capensis.”
Joanne Phillipeux: Spring 2009 with Holly Bernardo. “Heritability in Solanum carolinense plants.” Joanne is currently a Biology and neuroscience major at UMass Amherst.
Ian Coupal: Fall 2008 with Sandy Gillespie. “A survey of conopid fly parasitoid prevalence upon wild bee populations in Western Massachusetts.” Ian is currently working for Dana-Farber as a Research Technician in the Griffin lab Medical Oncology Department.
Olivia Simpson: Fall 2008 with Sandy Gillespie. “Effects of Conopid Fly Parasitism on Flower Constancy of Bombus griseocollis.”
Jonathan Lopez-Colon: SPUR 2008 with Nicole Soper Gorden. “How habitat and abiotics factors affect insect interactions and mating system at in endemic species of Eastern North AmericavImpatiens capensis Meerb. (Jewelweed, Balsaminaceae).” Jonathan is an undergraduate at the Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Jen Fill: Spring 2008 with Holly Baltzer. “Effects of fungal infection on herbivore feeding preference in Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium).” Since her time in the Adler lab, Jen has travelled the world, including an REU at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, an internship in an NSF-sponsored program in China, and is now in Australia. Check out her exploits on her blog. Jen will begin a PhD program at the University of South Carolina-Columbia in Fall 2010, where she will study ecosystemvintegrity and resilience, fire in natural resource management, and trophic interactions.
Jesse Thomas: Fall 2008. “Test of Extraction Protocol on Carolina jessamine and Stability of the Alkaloid Gelsemine.”
Jeselyn Calderon-Ayala: SPUR 2007. “Growth and pollination in Cucumis sativa: cucurbitacin effects and resource costs on cucumber yield. ” She is an undergraduate in the Model Institutions for Excellence at the Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Liz Andrews: Senior Honor’s thesis, 2005-06. “Pollinator and herbivore attraction to the scent of Cucurbita volatiles.” Liz received a Master’s degree in Entomology in thevsame department with Dr. Stephen Rich and is now pursuing her PhD with Dr. Steven Dobsonvat the University of Kentucky.
Dominique Devaris: Spring 2005. “Effects of Drought Stress and Herbivory in Nicotiana bigelovii. ”
Mike Jarjoura: REU 2005. “Belowground preference and performance of Acalymma vittatum on Cucumis sativa. ”
Megan Gittinger: REU, Virginia Tech 2004, examining correlations between floral traits, defensive traits, and pollinator reliance in the genus Nicotiana. She continued this project at UMass Amherst after her graduation before working internships with the Smithsonian Institute and for Wild Aid Asia in Thailand. She is now pursuing a PhD program with Dr. Todd Palmer at the University of Florida Zoology Program.
Technicians
Monica Messer was the Adler lab technician from April 2005-May 2006, when we sadly ran out of funds. She is currently working at Smith College.