I started beekeeping during my undergraduate at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where I worked with Dr. Patrick Bohlen as teaching assistant for the beekeeping course and managed the UCF apiary.  I was later given the opportunity to research with Dr. Reed Johnson while pursuing a graduate degree at The Ohio State University.  I started by characterizing toicities of adjuvants (formulations of “inert ingredients” added to improve pesticide tank mixes) and their constituents to honey bees.  I’m now researching how the bee-safe inert ingredients can improve miticide formulations for varroa control.  After completing my PhD, I plan to further my career in academia through honey bee research, teaching, and extension.