We are seeking a Masters student to join our research team at the Department of Entomology
at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus for an exciting project on the conservation
and ecological niche modeling of Minnesota bumble bee species. The student will primarily work
at the University of Minnesota Insect Collection ( https://insectcollection.umn.edu/ ) advised by
Dr. Cristian Fernando Beza-Beza (https://entomology.umn.edu/people/cristian-beza-beza ) and
co advised by Dr. Daniel Cariveau at the Native Bee Lab (https://beelab.umn.edu/cariveau-lab ).
The project offers an opportunity to make significant contributions to bumble bee conservation
by studying species distribution shifts, and developing modern identification tools using
morphological and molecular techniques. The student will gain hands-on experience in
cutting-edge conservation and taxonomy techniques, contribute to Minnesota’s biodiversity
conservation efforts, and work with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and conservationists.
Project Overview:
Bumble bees are key pollinators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems, but many species
in Minnesota, including the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), are in
decline due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Our project seeks to address
these challenges by investigating bumble bee species distribution changes over time and
developing conservation strategies to protect these vital pollinators.
As part of the project, the student will:
Molecular Barcoding: Generate molecular barcodes for Minnesota bumble bee species
to improve species identification.
Geographical Distribution: Assist in digitizing and georeferencing historical records of
bumble bee specimens to assess changes in species distributions over time, and
conduct Ecological Niche Modeling (ENMs) to project future distributions under climate
change scenarios.
Application Details: Application Deadline: Oct 31, 2024
To Apply: Please submit in a single PDF with your (1) CV, (2) a personal statement (outlining
your background, research interests, career goals, and why you are interested in this position),
and (3) a copy of unofficial transcripts to this google form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWGp_zaK4Z31tOQs35TwDH_2Wwd8pQ3jwd9CW2aFqs2kNyyQ/viewform )
If you have any questions about the position please contact Cristian Beza-Beza (cbezabez@umn.edu).