By the time she was studying the mechanics of stag beetle pinchers as an undergraduate student, Emily Carlson knew she had been bitten by the research bug. Literally.
"Basically, I just got them really angry, saw how hard they could pinch, and then dissected their heads," Carlson said.
Carlson went on to work in natural resources nonprofits and local governance as she figured out what bug to devote her time to. This experience set her up well to pursue a doctorate at Oregon State University, where she conducted research in the Honey Bee Lab and Pollinator Health Program.
Carlson, who graduated in June, is the lead author on a study in the highly respected journal PLOS ONE that showed that the existing tool used to monitor honeybee pesticide exposure fails to capture important data. The finding is an important reference for policymakers and researchers.
Read more at OSU Extension Service