Cariveau Lab Team

Dr. Daniel Cariveau

A person wearing a jacket stands in front of a lake and snow-covered mountains

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

Grace Avalos

Grace is wearing a camo baseball cap and a blue tanktop. She is holding a fish on a fishing line in her right hand.

Prairie Database Technician
 
Grace joined the Bee Lab in 2025 and is working closely with USFWS partners and field staff of the Midwest National Wildlife Refuge system to develop the Prairie Reconstruction Initiative database with historic prairie and seed mix data from defunct geodatabases and paper files. During her master's research, she was based out of the Appalachian Lab in Frostburg, MD, and explored using metagenetic techniques and environmental DNA in order to non-invasively survey for rare and threatened pollinators in the central Appalachian mountains. Despite what her picture depicts, she is not an avid fisherman and instead enjoys long hikes and videogames after work.

Education: 
M.S. Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences, 2023, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
B.S. Biology, 2020, Towson University, Towson, MD
 

Elise Bernstein

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

A smiling person displays two very large beetles on their arm

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

A person stands in front of a mountain overlook

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

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

 

Hannah Kernen

(She/Her/Hers) 

Hannah is sitting at a microscope with multiple unit trays of processed bumble bee specimens. She is wearing a blue button up shirt and a mask.

Research Scientist 

Hannah joined the Bee Lab in 2025. She will be leading a survey at Voyageurs National Park to investigate the effect of wetland restoration on native bee and butterfly communities. Prior to starting at the Bee Lab, she conducted her MS research on native Indiana bumble bees, primarily through using historic museum records to explore long-term ecological trends. Outside of work, she enjoys skating of all kinds and participates in a local roller derby league.
 
 

Education:
M.S. Purdue University. Dept of Entomology. 2024. Advisor: Ian Kaplan
B.A. Wellesley College. Major: Biological Sciences, Minor: Music. 2020.

 

 

Zachary Portman

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



Alister Rós Bergstedt

Al is wearing a blue sweater and black pants in the middle of the picture holding a small snake.

(He/They)

Digitization Technician

I'm from the Sonoran Desert and recieved my undergrad at Arizona State University in Applied Biological Sciences. In my academic career I've focused largely on the effect of anthropogenic habitat alterations on native biodiversity, native pollinator education, and natural history collections management along with biodiversity database management. I especially enjoy standardizing information storage and sharing, as well as exploring the ways we can use our digital natural history information for more accessible research and education. Outside of work I enjoy learning about keeping sheep, goats, and chickens, as well as historical animal and plant fiber use in textiles. 

Education:
B.S. Applied Biological Sciences, 2023, Arizona State University
Certificate Geographic Information Science, 2023, Arizona State University


Rebecca Zerlin

A person wearing a backpack, baseball cap, and sunglasses holds a PVC quadrat up, a blue sky and dry, scrubby grassland in the background

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

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

Kylee is standing on a fire lookout platform wearing a black t-shirt and green nomex pants. She is smiling and facing the camera.

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

A person wearing a black windbreaker stands in front of trees in the forest

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

V is standing in front of a Corpse Flower with green leaves from a tree in the background. She is wearing a black t-shirt with acid-washed jeans and facing the camera. Her red hair falls about shoulder-length.

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)

Maya Vellicolungara.

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

Isabelle is wearing a brown beanie and brown pants while sitting cross-legged on a tree branch.

(She/Her/Hers)

Lab Technician

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.

 

Sean Hampton

Sean is taking a selfie in front of a herd of black cows.

Lab Technician
 

I started with the lab during the summer of 2023 working as a field tech for a joint project between the USFWS and the lab, and am a senior at the University of Minnesota studying biological sciences. 

My interests range from genetic engineering's potential applications towards Alzheimer's treatment, to cybernetic prostheses and international political history, with a recently sparked interest for native bees. 



 
Sam Hellstrom
A smiling person holds a small bird in their hand.

(he/him/his)

Lab Technician

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! 

 


 

CARIVEAU LAB ALUMNI

Students

Sami 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