The Bee Lab conducts student-led research to examine a wide range of bee stressors, from environmental challenges (i.e. poor habitat, pesticide exposure) to biotic factors such as pests and pathogens, that impact both managed and wild bee populations. Undergraduate and graduate students work to better understand these factors and develop solutions to address the issues threatening bee health.
Graduate Student Research Projects:
Jae Horn
M.S. Student, January 2024 – Present
GRA supported through UNL Entomology and One Hive funds. Jae Horn is investigating the colony loss impacts from pesticide pollution caused by the AltEn Ethanol Facility and she is also seeking to understand the interaction effects of sub-lethal chronic pesticide exposure on Varroa mite loads in colonies within the impacted region compared to colonies that have not been exposed to persistent chemical loads.
Rogan Tokach
M.S. Student, 2020- December 2022, Co-advisor A. Smart
GRA supported through Kimmel Foundation and start-up funds (A. Smart). Rogan’s research focuses on evaluating the role reusing deadout equipment plays on queen rearing capacity in honey bee colonies. His research will be useful for developing regular comb replacement guidelines for beekeepers with high risk of pesticide exposure from agricultural and urban landscapes. He seeks to complete two research publications and may convert to a PhD program. Rogan also actively participates in GPMB workshop courses and assists with lectures, field demonstrations, and guiding hands-on activities for extension training.
- Tokach, R. (2022). Adverse colony health impacts on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) from a contaminated environment and resources. [Masters thesis (in prep*), University of Nebraska-Lincoln].
Bridget Gross
M.S. Student, 2018 – 2020; Co-advised with Doug Golick
GRA funded through SARE funds and research focused on understanding the mutual benefits and challenges experienced among women beekeepers and farmers in the Midwest. After graduating, she began a position as Apiary Inspector at North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Hickory, NC.
- Gross, B. (2020). Women in Beekeeping: Impacts of a Beekeeper Educational Program [Master’s Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Dec 2020].
Jennifer Weisbrod (formerly Albrecht)
M.S. Student, 2018 – 2020
GRA supported through start-up funds and the Nebraska Extension Implementation Program funds. Research focused on developing ways to proactively monitor for abnormal bee losses to determine timing and duration of mortality and determine potential causes for repeated colony failures in Mead, NE. She is currently an Assistant Extension Educator and the NE Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator with interests in utilizing her expertise, collaboration with the bee lab, and external partners to help Nebraska develop a formal managed pollinator protection plan (MP3).
- Weisbrod, J. 2020. Effects of pesticide residues on honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) development and implications for hive management [Master’s Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; May 2020].
Tugce Olgun (formerly Karocoban)
M.S. Student, 2016 – 2018
GRA was supported through scholarships from the Republic of Turkey. Tugce is currently working for the Apiculture Research Institute in Turkey and continuing her research on honey bee pathogens to complete her PhD degree.
- Karacoban, T. 2018. Viral prevalence in four different species of managed and wild bees across different landscapes in Nebraska [Master’s Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Dec 2018].
Chris Whalen
Ph.D. Student, 2024 – Present
Chris Whalen is working to develop an automatic delivery system to deliver Oxalic Acid into a bee hive which will provide easier application and control for Varroa mite treatments.
Sheldon Brummel
M.S. Student, 2020 – 2022
GRA is self-funded through the staff benefits program. Sheldon works full-time as the Great Plains Master Beekeepers (GPMB) training program coordinator and is obtaining his MS degree to learn how applied research is conducted from the assessment of bee health concerns to the development of management recommendations, tools, and resources that help to improve colony production and overwintering success. For more information on the GPMB program see Appendix 6. “Hygienic” colonies are more resilient to pests and pathogens through grooming behavior and removal of infected individuals before transmission may occur. Sheldon’s research focuses on assessing new methods for conducting field assessments of hygienic traits in honey bees to help small scale beekeepers to select for hygienic behavior which will promote locally adapted hygienic or pest/disease resistant stock in Nebraska.
- Brummel, S. (2022). Developing Regional Extension Programs and Research Tools for Beekeepers. [Masters thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln]. Digital Commons.
Natalia Bjorklund
Ph.D. Student, 2014 – 2020
GRA was partially self-funded because she was a full-time extension educator and utilized staff benefits for the first few years of her program. She was supported through start-up funds for the remaining 1-2 years. Her horticulture background and interests led to the development of the NE Pollinator Habitat Certification Program. Her research focused on developing horticultural practices that enhance pollinator-friendly habitats. More specially she examined how “dead heading” or the removal of spent blooms helps to encourage reblooming and potentially higher nectar and or pollen production in some plants. She is currently living in Kansas City Missouri and working part-time for the Bee Lab and D. Golick to incorporate information into research and extension publications.
- Bjorklund, N. (2020). Evaluation of Floral Resources and a Horticulture Practice on Wild Bee Foraging in Urban Habitats. [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; May 2020]
Katie Lamke
M.S. Student, 2017 – 2019
Research focused on evaluating wild bees in the Prairie Corridor and GRA was supported through NET/City of Lincoln Prairie Corridor Project funding in collaboration with David Wedin (SNR). Katie is preparing one Extension circular (in final review) and two research papers from her project to be published. She is currently working for The Xerces Society and leads the Bumble Bee Atlas Citizen Science Project for Nebraska.
- Lamke, K.*, Wedin D., and Wu-Smart, J. 2022. Remnant prairies and high-diversity restorations support wild bees season-long. The Prairie Naturalist Journal Special Edition 1: 30-40. 003-Lamke.pdf (eaglehill.us)
- Lamke, K. 2019. A Descriptive Study of Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apiformes) and Angiosperms in Tallgrass prairie grasslands of southeastern Nebraska. [Master’s Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, May 2019]
Shelby Kittle
M.S. Student, January 2023 – Present
GRA supported through AltEn Research project funds. Shelby Kittle completed two UCARE projects as an undergraduate student working in our lab and will continue her interest in honey bees and improving management practices for beekeepers. Her research focuses on practices that promote comb production in hives and improve overwintering success.
Courtney Brummel
M.S. Student, 2020 – 2022
GRA partially funded through Kimmel Foundation to support professional training in outreach and extension education. The high physical demand required for lifting heavy equipment in beekeeping often limits the people who can keep bees and excludes women, children, and elderly people from enjoying the practice. Courtney’s research evaluates the use of alternative hive types for managing honey bees and assesses functionality of lighter weight equipment and hive designs intended to ease the physical labor required in beekeeping. She also leads youth outreach activities for the bee lab and coordinates pollinator conservation programs conducted at Kimmel Orchard and across the state.
- Brummel, C. (2022). Integrated honey bee education and research aids for promoting pollinator conservation. [Master's thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.] Digital Commons.
Surabhi Gupta Vakil
Ph.D. Student, 2016 – 2020
GRA supported through federal Multistate Hatch and National Agroforestry Center research funds to assess the role tree lines play in mitigating pesticide drift from crop production fields into conservation habitats. Abnormal pesticide results caused delays in research progress, but study questions were refocused to investigate unexplained bee losses. Results of her data led us to uncover high systemic pesticide pollution issues occurring in Mead, Nebraska. She is currently living in Chicago, IL supporting her husband, taking care of her 1 yr old son, and working part-time for the bee lab.
- Gupta Vakil, S.*, Biswas, S., Snow, D., Wu-Smart, J. 2022. Targeted Method for Quantifying Air-Borne Pesticide Residues from Conventional Seed Coat Treatments to Better Assess Exposure Risk During Maize Planting. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 1051–1058.
- Vakil, S. 2020. Landscape enhancement options to reduce pesticide contamination in pollinator habitats and increase forage for beneficial insects in agroecosystems [Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Dec 2020]
Kayla Mollet
M.S. Student, 2017 – 2019
GRA supported by funding from NE Department of Transportation to help enhance and evaluate private and public lands for pollinator conservation. She currently works as the UNL Sandhills Rangeland Monitoring Cooperative (SRMC) research coordinator for Mitch Stephenson to enhance heterogeneity in pastures and to enhance pollinator communities in rangeland landscapes.
- Mollet, K. 2019. Promoting Bee Communities Through Habitat Enhancements on Public and Private Lands in Nebraska [Master’s Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; May 2019]
Undergraduate UCARE Student Research Projects
Paige Myers
1. Jan 2024 – Jan 2025; Academic UCARE project, Summer 2024 | 2. Jan 2023 – Jan 2024; Academic UCARE TEAM project, Summer 2023
1 “Wild bee survey and impacts of garden design on bee communities on UNL campuses” (Home Department: Entomology) UCARE project 2024 seeks to examine the influence of garden design, plant selection, and seasonality of campus plantings on wild bee communities at City and East Campus gardens. Results will inform and help establish UNL as an official “Bee Campus” site through the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation program.
2“Impacts on bumble bee nesting and overwintering in queens after exposure to a pesticide polluted environment” (Home Department: Entomology) UCARE project 2023 seeks to examine the impacts of systemic pesticide pollution on reproductive pesticide loads throughout the foraging season as part of a team project.
Paola Perez
Sept 2018 – Jan 2019
“Effective strategies for controlling small hive beetle pests in honey bee colonies (Home Department: Entomology / Major: Insect Science) The aim of this study is to examine integrated pest management strategies for small hive beetle control when adults invade honey bee colonies to lay eggs within the host bee’s comb nest structure. Developing beetle larvae can cause extensive damage to bee colonies by feeding on honey and pollen stores and destructively burrowing through comb cells where immature bees develop, therefore, control options focusing on cultural or non-chemical methods were examined and compared. I directly supervised and assisted with all aspects of the project from study design to data analysis.
Emma Knezevic
Jan 2023 – Jan 2024; Academic UCARE TEAM project, Summer 2023
“Bumble bee foraging behaviors in a pesticide polluted environment” (Home Department: Entomology) UCARE project 2023 seeks to examine the impacts of systemic pesticide pollution on foraging behaviors in bumble bees as part of a team project.
Madison King
May 2019 – Aug 2019
“Effects of neonicotinoids on wax production in honey bees” (Home Department: Vet School/ Major: Pre Vet) The aim of her project was to evaluate biological dyes that could be introduced via syrup for stimulating wax production in honey bees and to assess the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on wax production.
Helen Little
Academic UCARE 2021
“Bioremediation of neonicotinoid residues using fungal extracts” (Home Department: Engineering) UCARE project 2021 seeks to examine whether application of oyster mushrooms and spent oyster mushroom substrate are effective methods of bioremediation for degrading the neonicotinoid clothianidin in liquid culture and soil, as well as identifying the metabolic pathways of degradation that occur.
Shelby Kittle
May 2020 – Aug 2020; Academic UCARE 2020, Summer 2021
"Exploring the use of different beeswax foundation to promote the production of specialty comb honey to yield higher economic gains for hobbyist beekeepers" (Home Department: Agricultural Education) Her project assessed the use of starter foundation strips in the production of comb honey and marketing considerations for the most economic return.
Whitney McDaniel
May 2018 – May 2019
“Exploring the effects of pesticide residues in brood comb on the behaviors and development of the honey bee, Apis mellifera.” (Home Department: Environmental Studies Program / Major: Environmental Science) This project examined the potential behavioral and developmental effects of pesticide-laden comb in honey bee colonies. I directly supervised and assisted with all aspects of this project from study design to data analysis.
Senior/Honors Capstone Thesis Advisor
Xiasi Lin
Jan 2017 – Dec 2018
“Remediating Pesticide-Contaminated Beehives by Chemical Oxidation” (Home Department: Environmental Studies Program) In collaboration with Dr. Steve Comfort (SNR), we conducted research on remediating pesticide-contaminated beeswax through chemical oxidation. Results from solid-phase extraction on treated and untreated beeswax provided proof-of-concept that a liquid oxidative treatment (i.e., permanganate) could be used to reduce the levels of certain compounds in beeswax (chromatograph peak reductions ranging from 61% to 98%). I assisted with providing direction in study design, knowledge in bee biology and life history, use of bee combs in hives, testing materials, and data interpretation.
Ryan Becker
Nov 2015 – Dec 2017
“Acute toxicity study on the effects of Propiconazole and cyhalothrin in honey bees” (Home Department: Environmental Studies Program) Ryan conducted a series of toxicity bioassays on honey bee workers and examine potential synergistic effects of propiconazole fungicide on cyhalothrin toxicity. I assisted him in the entire process from collecting and harnessing the bees to delivery of toxins and evaluation of bioassay results.
Mentorship
We encourage passionate undergraduate students to reach out to inquire about paid work experience opportunities or if they are seeking research opportunities through UCARE (Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience), Experiential learning credits or Capstone project requirements.