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.
Emelia Kusi speaks with 200 high school Future Farmers at the State House!

PhD candidate Emelia Kusi was invited to speak at the State House in Boston to approximately 200 Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4H high school students to empower them on their career paths in agriculture. Emelia is an incredibly motivating speaker and many students thanked her for her words.
Shakira Ebian named 2024-25 UMass Amherst Rising Researcher!
I am so proud to announce that our own graduating honors student, Shakira Ebian, has been selected as one of this year’s UMass Amherst Rising Researchers! This program recognizes undergraduate students who excel in research, challenge their intellect, and exercise exceptional creativity. Congratulations to Shakira!
Elyse wins photo contest!
March 2025: Congratulations to PhD candidate Elyse McCormick, who won the judges’ choice (“Grad School Favorite”) for the Images of Research contest with her gorgeous bumble bee and sunflower photo!
Emelia chosen for Chancellor’s Emerging Leader Award!!
PhD candidate Emelia Kusi has been selected by the University as this year’s Chancellor’s Emerging Leader Award! This award is given to members of the UMass community whose work on our campus and beyond exemplifies the values embedded in justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion and who have served our institution for less than ten years. From […]
Emelia’s poster is runner-up for Best Student Poster Presentation at SICB!
Emelia attended the 2025 SICB (Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology) conference this January, and her poster was selected as the runner up for the Division of Ecology and Evolution Huey Award, Best Student Poster Presentation! She will soon be featured on the SICB website.
Luca receives $750 Research Assistant Fellowship!
Luca Pillidge has received a $750 Research Assistant Fellowship from the UMass Honors College to begin his senior honors thesis working with postdoc Kate Borchardt in the spring semester! Luca will expand his evaluation of whether wing asymmetry correlates with habitat quality or Crithidia infection in bees that Luca, Kate, and the rest of Kate’s […]