Dr. Daniel Cariveau
Associate Professor
Dan is a community ecologist with an interest in understanding the factors that drive biodiversity and how biodiversity may influence ecosystem function. His work focuses on native bee communities with a strong emphasis on pollination ecology. Most recently, his work focuses on restoration ecology as a way to conserve biodiversity and as a tool for examining basic questions in ecology.
He earned his PhD studying the interaction among native and invasive plants through pollinators at Colorado State University under Dr. Andrew Norton. He studied native bee community ecology and the role of native bees in crop pollination as a postdoctoral research associate at Rutgers University with Dr. Rachael Winfree.
EXTENSION AND RESEARCH
Elise Bernstein
(She/Her/Hers)
Outreach Specialist & Researcher
Elise started working for the Bee Squad in 2021. She is the Program Coordinator for the Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas and assists in conducting bumble bee research. Elise leads pollinator-centric outreach across the Twin Cities, including attending events and giving talks. Elise holds a BS from the University of Minnesota where she studied environmental science, policy, and management with a focus in environmental education and communication, alongside a minor in public health. Outside of work, Elise is an avid rock climber and outdoor enthusiast.
Education:
B.S. Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, 2022, University of Minnesota
Cristian Beza-Beza
President’s Postdoctoral Fellow
Cristian’s research focuses on understanding the role of biogeography and trophic specialization in insect diversification. Specifically, the geographical patterns of biodiversity resulting from processes such as restricted distributions and isolation. Additionally, He is interested in studying the causes and consequences of trophic specialization and the evolution of new phenotypes, particularly in highly specialized clades like the saproxylophagous (wood-feeding) beetles of the family Passalidae.
Education:
Ph.D. 2019. The University of Memphis. Advisor: Duane McKenna.
M.S. 2013. Wichita State University Co-advisors: Mary Liz Jameson and James Beck.
Licentiate Degree. 2009. Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Co-advisors: Jack Schuster and Enio Cano.
Marissa Chase
Postdoctoral Researcher
Marissa's PhD research focused on understanding how forest management practices like prescribed fire affect bee functional and taxonomic composition and ecosystem function. Additionally, she explored the use of active remote sensing technologies (LiDAR) in modeling bee biodiversity within temperate deciduous forests. In the Cariveau Lab, her work will determine the extent to which soil texture and host plant interact to influence the presence of rare species. In collaboration with the Minnesota DNR, findings from this study will be used to determine the range and conservation status of a subset of oligolectic bees in Minnesota to better guide conservation actions and direct future land protections.
Education:
Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. 2023. Co-advisors: Alex Harmon-Threatt and Jen Fraterrigo
B.S. UC Berkeley. Molecular Environmental Biology (Insect Biology Concentration) and minor in Forestry. 2018.
Elaine Evans
Associate Extension Professor
Research interests: I work on questions related to wild bee diversity and bee conservation. I am currently assessing the status of Minnesota wild bee communities in comparison to historic records as well as monitoring population of the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee and examining habitat associations.
Outreach and education: I work on bee citizen science efforts including the Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas. I also work on education efforts to increase awareness of wild bee habitat needs and instill action to create effective pollinator habitat.
U of MN 2019 Outstanding Community Service Award Recipient
Education:
PhD, Entomology, 2016, U of MN, Advisor: Marla Spivak
M.S. Entomology, 2011, U of MN, Dept of Entomology, Advisor: Marla Spivak
B.S. Biology, 1993, Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
Books: Befriending Bumble Bees, Managing Alternative Pollinators
Zachary Portman
Research Scientist & Bee Taxonomist
Research Interests: I am a bee taxonomist, broadly interested in the evolution, ecology, and conservation of bees. My PhD work focused largely on the genus Perdita (Andrenidae). I am currently working on the regional taxonomy of Minnesota bees.
Website: www.zportman.com
Education:
PhD, Ecology, 2017, Utah State University, Adviser: Terry Griswold
B.S. Biology and Computer Science, 2009, Union College
Rebecca Zerlin
Lab Manager
I have a wide variety of interests and experiences including monitoring rangelands for the Bureau of Land Management as a range technician, working with sea turtles for the National Park Service, and monitoring monarch butterflies for the Cape May Bird Observatory. My master’s research looked at the effects of prescribed burning on butterfly populations in south Texas.
Research Interests: My interests include fire and restoration ecology; specifically, how they relate to insect and community ecology, particularly in terms of spatial and temporal ecology.
Education:
M.S. Rangeland and Wildlife Management, 2022, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
B.S. Wildlife/Ecology, 2014, Unity College
CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS
Maggie Anderson
PhD Student
Maggie is a PhD student in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Department. She is interested in the effects of plant functional traits on the diversity of wild bee communities. She wants to understand how climate change and habitat fragmentation can alter patterns of plant phenology and ultimately impact pollinator communities in the future. The findings of her work will have conservation and management applications
Education:
B.S. Biology, Lawrence University, WI
Kylee Nissen
PhD Student
My research investigates how active management strategies like cattle grazing and prescribed fire influence floral resources and native bee communities within remnant and restoration prairies.
Education:
M.S. Biological Sciences, 2024, Eastern Illinois University
B.S. Wildlife and Conservation Management, 2022, Missouri Western State University
Mary Powley
PhD Student
Fueled by a passion for bees, I've worked on numerous bee-related research projects over the past few years. As a PhD student, I am interested in pursuing research related to the topics of native bee, community, and pollination ecology. Part of my research will focus on assessing habitat associations and occupancy modeling of bumble bees in eastern Wisconsin.
Education:
B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, 2019, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Virginia Roberts
M.S. Student
Virginia is broadly interested in ecological restorations and the ways plant resources shape insect communities. Prior to joining the Cariveau Lab in 2024, V has investigated the effects of management and neonicotinoids on the flora and bees of prairie restorations in Illinois and plant resources' role in nest distribution of cavity-nesting wasps in Ohio. Their master's thesis will focus on effective methods for floral resource measurement and how seeding and management techniques impact plant establishment in prairie restorations.
Education:
B.A. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Earth Systems from The College of Wooster 2021
Maya Vellicolungara
(she/her/hers)
M.S. Student
Research Interests: I am interested in how different restoration and land management methods impact pollinators. I also would like to explore how anthropogenic disturbance and land use patterns affect the success of restorations. My master's thesis focuses on bumblebee floral use and occupancy on Conservation Reserve Program lands and remnant prairies.
Education:
B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior with a minor in GIS, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 2021
CURRENT TECHNICIANS
Isabelle Anderson
(She/Her/Hers)
Field Technician- Multi-Taxa Project
I am a senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology with a minor in Insect Sciences. I joined as a research technician in the summer of 2024 to assist in fieldwork for the Multi-Taxa response project. I love slow nature walks with plenty of photography and am interested in invasive ecology and insect ecology.
Jensen Bigelow
Field Technician- Prairie Restoration and Adaptive Management Project
I'm a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University in Michigan and have been having so much fun doing seasonal jobs ever since. With each new job, I have gotten to experience a lot of "first times" like navigating with GPS, going kayaking, seeing the ocean, and using a chainsaw. During my time with the Bee Lab I'm super excited to get to experience more "firsts" of camping in the field and working with pollinators!
Emily Caouette
Field Technician- Multi-Taxa Project
I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Environmental Engineering. Lately, I’ve been working in ecological restoration, where I’ve learned a lot about Minnesota’s native plants. This summer I’m excited to learn more about plants and their relationships with pollinators and the rest of the ecosystem!
Sam Hellstrom
(he/him/his)
Field Technician- Prairie Restoration and Adaptive Management Project
I am a junior Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology major at the University of Minnesota. I started as a lab technician in the Winter of 2023 to help with bee pinning and labeling. I love anytime outdoors camping and hiking, and my interests consist of predator-prey interactions, population behavior related to climate change, and of course bees!
Sarah Henderson
Lab Technician
I am a 2024 graduate of Macalester College, where I majored in Environmental Studies and Geology. After conducting undergraduate research on arachnids and volunteering at UMN's Insect Collections, I developed a deep interest in arthropods. I am so excited to delve into this interest as a Summer 2024 Lab Technician with the Cariveau Lab!
Maria Jankowski
Field Technician- Rare Bee Project
I am a graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton WI. I graduated with a double major in Anthropology and Biology with a minor in health and society. I initially did research in limnology on the DVM movements of Daphnia (a small water crustacean) but decided to switch gears and to follow my passion for insects! I am so excited to be able to work with the lab!
Jessica Schatz
Field Technician- Floral Resources for Pollinators Project
This is my first time working with the Bee Lab, and I am excited to be getting involved! I have previously worked as a field technician doing vegetation and silviculture surveys in various National Forests and Parks. Other interests include drawing, cooking and music.
Ben Su
Field Technician- Prairie Restoration and Adaptive Management Project
I am a 2024 graduate of Williams College, where I majored in Biology and did an undergraduate thesis on native pollination systems. I’ve been interested in arthropods and pollinators for as long as I can remember, and I’m excited to assist in fieldwork at the bee lab!
CARIVEAU LAB ALUMNI
Students
Chan Dolan, M.S. 2024 is now a Seasonal Naturalist with the Three River's Park District.
Michelle Boone, Ph.D. 2023 is now a Project Manager for the U.S. National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD).
Julia Brokaw, Ph.D. 2023 is now a Plant-Pollinator Database Specialist at the The Xerces Society.
Alan Ritchie, M.S. 2020 is now an Easement Acquisition Specialist at the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources.
Ian Lane, Ph.D. 2021 is now an Inventory and Monitoring Data Manager at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Postdocs
Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar is now a professor of Biology at Albright College. Bethanne’s Website
Uta Müller is a restoration ecologist working in Germany.
Gabriella Pardee is now a postdoc at Jha Lab at the University of Texas at Austin. Gabriella’s website
Staff Scientists
Will Bjorndal, Emma Dombrow, Kiley Friedrich, Christina Herron-Sweet, Michelle Vohs