Research to Promote Conservation of Pollinators
Shakira Ebian '25
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Commonwealth Honors College
Braintree, Massachusetts
What drew you to this field of study?
I have always been fascinated by the work that researchers do. I saw studying at UMass as my chance to get hands-on experience in a research lab. I was particularly interested in organisms, especially pollinator interactions, and their amazing role in the environment. This curiosity led me to enter the Adler Lab, where I grew particularly interested in studying the parasitic relationships of Crithidia bombi with bumblebee pollinators and how this research could inform critical preservation methods.
How do you conduct your research?
I conduct my research by first culturing Crithidia bombi in controlled growth media and monitoring its growth at 27 degrees Celsius over the course of a week. This allows me to generate a growth curve of the parasite and identify the different stages of replication. I work to determine which stage is the most infectious, make inoculums from that stage, and expose them to different temperatures and times to evaluate how they affect parasite infectivity. This experimental setup allows me to understand the factors that influence C. bombi’s ability to infect and affect its host.
What do you see as the impact—or potential impact—of your work?
Pollinators play an essential role in our environment due to their contribution to pollinating 75 percent of flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world's food crops. On the other hand, C. bombi represents a significant threat to bumblebee species and affects their foraging behavior and reproductive success. The work I am doing could have a significant impact on how we approach pollinator health research. While there is limited research on culturing C. bombi in growth media, this experiment could help establish standardized protocols for creating infectious inoculums with healthy C. bombi cells and provide more accurate cell density measurements per sample. This innovation could streamline the research process, making it less time-consuming while improving consistency across experiments. By ensuring that the infectivity of the bees is comparable in all trials, we can better evaluate potential treatments for bees and examine how C. bombi influences pollinator behaviors more effectively. Ultimately, this work could lead to more reliable data, enhancing our understanding of how parasitic infections impact pollinator health and helping to develop strategies for their conservation.
How does your faculty mentor support your research?
The support of my faculty mentor, Lynn Adler, and graduate mentor, Emelia Kusi, has been critical in my development as a researcher. Their expertise in the field and the constructive feedback they provide have helped me improve my techniques and critical thinking. Professor Adler has supported me through challenges, whether in writing or protocol execution, and offered guidance when things did not go as planned. I was able to form a personal relationship with her, and she ensured that I felt comfortable and safe to ask questions when they arose. Her mentorship has been invaluable in helping me build my confidence as an independent researcher.
I would highly recommend UMass to a friend because of its strong emphasis on research, diversity of research labs, and the supportive, collaborative community here at this school.
What do you find most exciting about your research?
The most exciting part about my research is the impact that it could have on my lab's future protocol designs. Before we started culturing C. bombi, we would make inoculums from infected source bees by dissecting them and grinding their guts in a solution. [This was] followed by a four-hour wait to ensure clear separation between the gut and the aqueous environment, which contained the C. bombi cells. My new protocol will cut the preparation time by 75 percent and ensure more accurate results.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the progress I have made as a researcher and an individual. I have made significant progress in writing, experimental design, and data analysis. Overcoming the early challenges and successfully isolating the most infectious growth phase of C. bombi is one of my proudest achievements. Additionally, the positive feedback I received when presenting my findings at various conferences, such as the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC) at UMass Amherst or the Entomological Society of America (ESA) conference in Arizona, has given me a great sense of accomplishment.
How has your research enhanced your overall educational experience at UMass?
This research has greatly enhanced my education by allowing me to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world problems. The process of conducting independent research has improved my problem-solving, data analysis, and writing skills—all essential to my future career. Additionally, presenting my findings has given me the confidence to communicate complex scientific ideas to diverse audiences, which will be essential in my future career.
What are your plans for the future?
After graduation, I will be working as a medical assistant for a private urgent care company while seeking an additional research opportunity in the Boston area where I can apply my skills in parasite-host interactions. My long-term goal is to pursue medical school in the coming year or two and become a plastic surgeon or anesthesiologist.
Why would you recommend UMass to a friend?
I would highly recommend UMass to a friend because of its strong emphasis on research, diversity of research labs, and the supportive, collaborative community here at this school. The faculty here are genuinely invested in students' success, and the resources available for research are excellent. The opportunity to engage in hands-on research projects has been an invaluable part of my education and has prepared me for whatever I choose to pursue after graduation.
Besides being one of the best public universities in New England and its strength in research, UMass Amherst also won my heart because of its vibrant cultural organizations. Coming from an African background, I sought a community where I would feel comfortable and represented. I was particularly drawn to the Haitian American Student Association due to similarities with my country, Côte d'Ivoire—especially the language—and pre-med organizations such as SNMA–MAPS [Student National Medical Association–National Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students] that celebrate diversity and support underrepresented students in medicine.