Research Experience
​My research experiences span multiple interconnected disciplines through two summer internships, several lab assistant positions, and producing my honors thesis work. Together, these experiences have shaped a diverse foundation in native bees & honey bees, plants, and social science. Understanding the connections between these systems adds depth to my future work, where I hope to focus on pollinator health, with the knowledge that protecting bees also relies on understanding plants and people.
Pollinator Research: Native Bees
In summer 2024, I participated in North Carolina State University's BeeMORE REEU program (Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates). There, I studied how pest management approaches affect native, stem-nesting bees in blackberry cropping systems.
YouTube Interview with Henderson County Beekeepers
After presenting at the North Carolina State Beekeeper's Association statewide meeting in July, BeeMORE interns were invited by the Henderson County Beekeepers YouTube channel to expand on our presentations and answer additional questions. See my video for a broad synopsis of my project!
Poster Design & Presentation
​Our summer research experience culminated in analyzing data, creating graphs, and designing a poster for the NCSU Summer Symposium. I gained proficiency with tools like BioRender to create appealing figures. I focused on creating an engaging visual experience rather than relying on text-heavy explanations, and learned how to design posters that are accessible for people with visual impairments.
Presenting my poster at the NCSU summer symposium. Image used with permission from Claire Green.
Abstract:
In response to the introduction of an invasive fruit fly known as spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), fruit growers have increased their insecticide use from a few applications per season to as many as 20 applications. Elevated pesticide inputs may harm beneficial insects, such as pollinators. Recent research indicates that native, stem-nesting bees contribute to pollination services in blackberry fields. Since these bees live in close proximity to insecticide applications on fruit crops, we are investigating how pest management actions may impact these important organisms. Once a month in May, June, and July, we collected samples of blackberry stems with evidence of stem nesting insect activity. Samples were from three sites representing different pesticide input levels: no insecticide input, decreased input, and high input. In the lab, we split stem samples to count the number of offspring and life stages present in the nest. We identified pollen from nest provisions to assess the importance of blackberry pollen for nest development. Nests were then incubated to track their development as a result of differing pesticide exposures across sites. A subset of nests were stored at -20 C for future pesticide residue analysis. We predict that increased insecticide use will reduce growth and survival of immature bees. This study provides a crucial perspective on native pollinator health in agroecosystems and, for the first time, tracks the development of stem-nesting bees after pesticide exposure in blackberry crops. The results will inform Integrated Pest Management programs that support sustainable agricultural practices
Skills:
Image used with permission from North Carolina State University.
Image used with permission from Heather Frantz.
Image used with permission from North Carolina State University.
-
Microscopy: light microscopes & dissecting microscopes
-
Bee identification
-
Pollen identification
-
Communicating research: posters & oral presentations
-
Data analysis using JMP
Relevant Coursework:
-
ENVS 4101: Environmental Chemistry (A)
-
EMS 4020: Quantitative Risk Assessment (A+)
Pollinator Research: Honey Bees
When I returned to LSU after my BeeMORE internship, I knew that I ultimately wanted to continue researching pollinator health in graduate school. To gain more experience with bees, I joined the USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology lab as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Mike Simone-Finstrom's lab.
In this role, I support various honey bee pathogen research projects, including studies on Varroa-Sensitive Hygiene (VSH), deformed wing virus, and chalkbrood. This experience has introduced me to a wide range of new skills in both field and laboratory settings.
Assisting with a Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER) assay. Image used with permission from Joseph McCarthy.
Skills:
-
Honey bee management: assessing colony health, mite monitoring, and routine hive maintenance
-
​Molecular methods: qPCR, luciferase assay, RNA extraction, DNA extraction
-
Honey bee behavioral assays
Apis mellifera pollen foragers in a cage.
Plant Research: Coastal Plant Ecology
I independently designed and conducted my honors thesis in coastal plant ecology, which has broader impacts for Louisiana's coastal restoration efforts. I tested how sand made from recycled glass bottles affects the growth of native coastal grass, which may assist future coastal restoration projects that aim to use this sustainable material.
​
After completing this project, I presented my work at Rice University's Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium where I won the "Outstanding Presentation" award in the BioSciences section as well as at the American Society for Horticultural Science - Southern Region conference where I won first place in the undergraduate presenter's competition.
Image used with permission from Lauren Wright.
Skills:
-
Plant propagation & maintenance
-
Project management
-
Data analysis using Excel, JMP, and RStudio
-
Scientific writing and communication for thesis preparation and presentation
Relevant Coursework:
-
OCS 4465: Coastal Zone Management (A+)
-
HORT 2061: Plant Propagation (A+)
-
HORT 3122: Herbaceous Plant Materials (Honors Option, A+)
-
EXST 2201: Introduction to Statistical Analysis (A)
-
AGRO 2051: Soil Science (A+)
Abstract:
Harvesting flowers during a winter marigolds trial. Image used with permission from Kathryn Fontenot.
Louisiana has made significant investments in coastal protection and restoration projects, including propagating and planting native vegetation and adding sediment. The volume of sediment needed to maintain the existing coastline exceeds the available amount that could be locally extracted, and state officials have since identified this lack of sustainable sediment resources as a limitation for future restoration projects. One proposed solution is using recycled crushed glass cullet (RCGC), a sand-like material that is made by grinding recycled glass into particle sizes comparable to native sands. However, additional research is necessary to evaluate the suitability of RCGC for use in coastal restoration. The aim of this study is to assess the growth of the native dune grass called bitter panicum (Panicum amarum) when it is propagated in mixtures of RCGC.
​
We created five soil mixtures using varying amounts of RCGC to mason sand as the control (0%, 25%, 40%, 65%, and 80%) and added 20% peat moss by volume in all treatments. In March 2024, we planted bitter panicum cuttings in containers with these mixtures (45 plants per treatment) and arranged into a complete randomized block design in an outdoor irrigated plant nursery. From late March to early August, we measured plant height weekly, then assessed dry biomass for a subset of plants in August. The results indicate that bitter panicum can be successfully propagated directly into mixtures containing RCGC. In treatments containing up to 80% RCGC, there were no negative effects on height (cm) or biomass (g). Additionally, there was evidence suggesting a positive effect on growth parameters with higher amounts of RCGC. These findings support the viability of using RCGC as an alternative material for plant propagation or coastal restoration. By leveraging post-consumer recycled materials, this work addresses multiple sustainability goals: reducing dependence on finite sources of natural sediment, diverting glass waste from landfills through local recycling, and producing restoration plants.
Plant Research: Horticulture
I started research in summer 2023 through the LSU AgCenter ASPIRE internship, where I worked with the state vegetable extension specialist. After the internship, I continued as an undergraduate research assistant until May 2024. During this year in the horticulture lab, I contributed to a variety of specialty crop trials across three local research stations.
Experience with:
-
Blueberries
-
Tomatoes
-
Cucumbers & squash
-
Bell peppers
-
Radishes
-
Cut flowers
-
Industrial hemp
-
Sweet potatoes
Skills:
Germinating Cosmos sp. plants.
-
Preparing fields for trial: marking plots, using a tractor to shape rows, installing drip irrigation, and laying plastic mulch​
-
Plant propagation: germinating seeds & transplanting into field
-
Plant maintenance: applying fertilizer & pest control, upkeeping irrigation, pruning, trellising, and harvesting
-
Post-harvest data collection: counting, measuring, weighing, grading crops and entering data in Excel​
-
Communication: edited and wrote extension articles, assisted with extension workshops
Read my thesis:
Social Science Experience
My coursework has provided me with background in various social science disciplines, which I have applied through research papers and projects.
AGEC 3503: Natural Resource Economics (Honors Option, A+)
In my natural resource economics class, I learned about general economic theory and its applications in agricultural and conservation fields. For my culminating policy project, I wrote a policy analysis paper on the economic issues associated with food deserts in New Orleans. This work deepened my understanding of equitable food access as part of sustainable agriculture and its relationship to broader environmental justice issues.
RNR 4107: Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (Communication Intensive, A+)
In this class, I learned to apply social science theory to analyze the motivations and behaviors of stakeholder groups in natural resource management. For the cumulative project, my group and I formed hypotheses regarding oyster shell recycling, developed a survey instrument to gauge public opinions, and analyzed the resulting data. Through this process, I gained proficiency in survey design and creation in Qualtrics. In the future, these skills will be valuable for agricultural extension by helping me understand stakeholder perspectives to develop educational materials to address their needs.
Through my philosophy minor and participation in my school's Ethics Bowl team, I have also gained in-depth experience in analyzing and communicating the ethical dimensions of environmental and social issues. See my "Ethics & Philosophy" page to read more about this side of my academic work.
Relevant Coursework:
-
AGEC 2003: Introduction to Agricultural Economics (A)
-
SOCL 2002: Honors Introductory Sociology (A+)
-
MGT 3200: Principles of Management (A+)
-
EMS 3050: Environmental Regulations and Compliance (Honors Option, Communication Intensive, A+)
-
ENVS 4261: Energy and the Environment (Communication Intensive, A+)