MEET THE TEAM
Select a name to navigate to their biography
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OPEN POSITIONS!
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None currently, but keep checking!
Mary Anna Amos
Library science intern
Mary Anna is a senior English major with aspirations of going on to graduate school in library science. She has joined our team to conduct a literature review project to analyze the published literature on pollinators to make inferences on trends over time and subject area.
Melissa Benson
Undergraduate research assistant
Melissa recently joined the group to conduct a study on carpenter bees, studying their nesting habits and potentially determining means to deter them from nesting in certain structures, which would have significant benefits for homeowners and others who have them nesting where they are not wanted.
Molly Carlson
MS student/Genetics Technician
Molly is an NC State alumna, but she has been working in several USDA-ARS honey bee research labs so she comes back with a wealth of knowledge and experience in apiculture research. She is currently helping revive our molecular facilities in the Queen & Disease Clinic but is planning on starting a graduate program in ecology and evolution.
Kim Guillemette
Apiculture Technician
Kim recently joined us as our new Apiculture Technician and is in charge of maintaining our honey bee colonies for various research and extension projects. A trained RN, she comes to us with great experience with the Bee Informed Partnership and beekeeping education in the NCSBA.
Jennifer Keller
Outreach & Extension Coordinator
For years, Jen was responsible for all beekeeping maintenance and assistance of our field research and data collection. Now, Jen has transitioned to be more focused on our extension and outreach programs, such as our BEES Academies. Her MS research was on the biology of the small hive beetle, but she has since become an expert in queen rearing, insemination, in vitro rearing, and many other beekeeping techniques.
Alison McAfee
L'Oreal Postdoctoral Fellow
Ali studies honey bee reproductive health, focusing on factors affecting sperm viability. Her research has helped us better understand the biological process underlying sperm viability and contribute to best-practice recommendations to limit adverse exposure of the queens. Alison completed her Ph.D. in Genome Science and Technology at the University of British Columbia (where she is housed), where she studied molecular mechanisms of hygienic behavior.
Brad Metz
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Brad got his PhD from Texas A&M University studying the chemical and pheromone ecology of honey bees, particularly the primer and releaser effects of brood pheromone. He has an extensive background in honey bee biology, teaching apiculture particularly in the online environment, and outreach. He joined our lab to spearhead the Queen & Disease Clinic and to conduct research on the reproductive quality of queens.
Samantha Peterson
Undergraduate researcher
Isabella Noel
Isabella recently joined the lab to help analyze experimental colonies for their viral titers. She is a Physics major but is interested in biology and pursuing an advanced degree after graduation.
Samantha Peterson
Undergraduate researcher
Samantha is an NC State Animal Science major with plans to apply to veterinary school once she graduates. She recently joined the team to help with various projects but starting with our large experiment on how brood pheromones affect colony growth metrics and queen longevity.
Oviya NagarajPrema
Design Intern
Oviya took AEC 203 last year and thoroughly excelled in it, so much so that she is helping with various design elements in our extension and outreach programs. As a major in the College of Design, she provides support in the visual elements in our online courses, presentations, and other deliverables.
Parker Profet
Undergraduate researcher
Parker is a junior BIO major who hopes to become one of the first Applied Ecology majors when the curriculum is fully approved. He will be helping with a project that aims to measure the egg laying rates of queens and egg cannibalism during hive treatments of antibiotic and miticides.
David R. Tarpy
Professor and Extension Apiculturist
David Tarpy is a Professor of Applied Ecology and the Extension Apiculturist at NC State. His research interests focus on the biology and behavior of honey bee queens—using techniques including field manipulations, behavioral observation, instrumental insemination, and molecular genetics—in order to better improve the overall health of queens and their colonies.
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
Postdocs
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Yosef Hamba Tola (Fall 2022-Spring 2025). Current position: Postdoctoral research, CVM NC State University.
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Esmaeil Amiri (Winter 2016-Winter 2021). Current position: USDA-ARS Researcher and Mississippi State University Extension Assistant Professor, Delta Research and Extension Center, Stoneville MS.
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Daiana De Souza (Spring 2018-Summer 2019). Current position: Ecotoxicologist, BASF, RTP.
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Dan Charbonneau (Summer 2017-Fall 2018). Current position: Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Arizona, AZ.
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Hongmei Li-Byarlay (Summer 2014-Summer 2017). Current position: Associate Professor, Central State University, OH.
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Parry Kietzman (Fall 2015-Spring 2017). Current position: Project Director, Appalachian Headwaters Beekeeping Collective.
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Margarita López-Uribe (Summer 2014-Summer 2016). Current position: Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, Penn State University.
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Ming Huang (Fall 2012-Fall 2013). Current position: Research Associate, Syngenta Scientific, RTP.
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Michael Simone-Finstrom (Winter 2011-Fall 2015). Current position: Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS Bee Breeding Laboratory, Baton Rouge LA.
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Juliana Rangel (Winter 2010-Winter 2012). Current position: Professor, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University.
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Deborah Delaney (Fall 2007-Winter 2010). Current position: Professor, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware.
Research Technicians (selected)
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Sharon Munger, Project Coordinator (2017-2024)
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Lauren Paturzo, Genetics Technician (2022-2024).
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Dina Espinoza, Genetics Technician (2021-2022).
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Kirsten Benson, Design Coordinator (2019-2021).
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Erin McDermott Terry, Genetics Technician (2015-2022).
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Joel Caren, Genetics Technician (2006-2011).
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Josh Summers, Beekeeper Technician (2003-2006).
Graduate Students
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Hannah Levenson, Ph.D. Student (Summer 2017-Summer 2021). Current position: Research Scholar, Department of Entomology, NC State University.
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Joe Milone, Ph.D. Student (Summer 2016-Summer2020). Current position: Risk management assessor, EPA Washington DC.
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Lauren Russert, MS Student (Fall 2017 - Spring 2020). Current position: Ph.D. student, UC Davis Entomology Program
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Carl Giuffre, Ph.D. Student, Biomathematics Program (Summer 2012-Summer2017). Current position: Assistant Professor, Adelphi University NY.
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James Withrow, MS student (Summer 2014-Winter 2016). Current position: Ph.D. student, Biology Graduate program, NCSU.
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Holden Appler, MS student (Summer 2012-Summer 2014). Co-advisor: Steve Frank. Current position: USDA APHIS.
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Shelley Rogers, NSF predoctoral awardee, MS student (Summer 2009-Summer 2012). Co-advisor: Hannah Burrack. Current position: Organic farmer, NC.
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Holly Wantuch, MS student (Fall 2006-Summer 2009). Subsequent position: Ph.D. student, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech. Current position: Oregon Department of Agriculture.
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Undergraduates (selected; total = 131)
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Kaitlyn Sage, Fall 2021 - Spring 2022. Subsequent position: Veterinary School, Cornell University.
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April Sharp, Spring 2019 - Spring 2020. NSF Predoctoral Fellow, PhD Graduate Program in Biology—Ecology & Evolution, NC State.
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Ashely Rua, Fall 2018 - Fall 2019. Subsequent position: Veterinary School, NC State.
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Nissa Coit, Winter 2018- Spring 2019. Subsequent position: MS Graduate Program in Entomology, UC Davis.
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Omar Halawani, Fall 2014-Spring 2016. Subsequent position: PhD Biological Sciences, NC State.
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Gabriela Quinlan, Fall 2014-Spring 2015. Subsequent position: PhD student, Michigan State University pollination ecology program.
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Samantha Walker, Fall 2010-Spring 2012. Subsequent position: George Washington University, MPH in Epidemiology
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Calvin Terry, Fall 2011-Summer 2012. Subsequent position: Owner and operator, Midnight Bee Supply, Vass NC
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Lacey Jeffreys, Fall 2009-Spring 2010. Subsequent position: Internship at the Smithsonian with the Center for Conservation, Education, and Sustainability.
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Jessica Richards, Spring 2008-Fall 2008. Subsequent position: MS Program, Penn State University, Entomology.
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Flora Lee, Fall 2007. Subsequent position: Inspire Pharmaceuticals, RTP.
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Winnie Lee, Fall 2007-Summer 2008. Subsequent position: ECU Physician Assistant School.
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John Harman, Fall 2007-Fall 2008. Subsequent position: Research Assistant, NCSU.
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Matthew Mayers, Summer 2005-Summer 2008. Subsequent position: Kentucky Dental School.