The Auburn University Bee Center coalesces efforts by Auburn University, Alabama Extension, and the USDA ARS Stoneville Pollinator Health Research Unit to improve the health of bees and other insect pollinators across the southeast United States through collaborative research, stakeholder-specific Extension and community outreach. We provide high-impact experiences in which students develop their skills and make meaningful contributions to pollinator health.
The Auburn University Bee Center coalesces efforts by Auburn University, Alabama Extension, and the USDA ARS Stoneville Pollinator Health Research Unit to improve the health of bees and other insect pollinators across the southeast United States through collaborative research, stakeholder-specific Extension and community outreach. We provide high-impact experiences in which students develop their skills and make meaningful contributions to pollinator health.
The Auburn University Bee Center coalesces efforts by Auburn University, Alabama Extension, and the USDA ARS Stoneville Pollinator Health Research Unit to improve the health of bees and other insect pollinators across the southeast United States through collaborative research, stakeholder-specific Extension and community outreach. We provide high-impact experiences in which students develop their skills and make meaningful contributions to pollinator health.
The Auburn University Bee Center coalesces efforts by Auburn University, Alabama Extension, and the USDA ARS Stoneville Pollinator Health Research Unit to improve the health of bees and other insect pollinators across the southeast United States through collaborative research, stakeholder-specific Extension and community outreach. We provide high-impact experiences in which students develop their skills and make meaningful contributions to pollinator health.
The Auburn University Bee Center coalesces efforts by Auburn University, Alabama Extension, and the USDA ARS Stoneville Pollinator Health Research Unit to improve the health of bees and other insect pollinators across the southeast United States through collaborative research, stakeholder-specific Extension and community outreach. We provide high-impact experiences in which students develop their skills and make meaningful contributions to pollinator health.
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The Bee Center invites undergraduate students to participate in the Southeast Bee Educational Experience for Students, or SE-BEES, a 10-week intensive, high-impact experience that provides insights into bee research, Extension and community outreach. For 2026, it runs from May 18-July 24 in Auburn, AL, and provides a $6,400 stipend.
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Students participating in the SE-BEES will enhance their discipline-based and transferable skills by performing field and lab experiments, discussing scientific papers, and creating science communications, all concerning bees! Mentored by a faculty or staff member affiliated with the Bee Center, each participant will contribute to a signature bee project. Project topics include:
- Applied honey bee management: This project will work towards developing new methods to control ectoparasitic mites of honey bees. Students will learn how to perform dose-response assays, and to inspect and manipulate honey bee colonies. They will be mentored by Drs. Dan Aurell (Post-doc; College of Ag) and Geoff Williams (Associate Professor; College of Ag).
- Beekeeping education: This project will work towards developing educational materials for beekeepers to promote seasonally relevant, best management practices for honey bee colonies. Students will have the opportunity to be creative while learning how to write science communications articles, build stakeholder-specific presentations, and develop Extension programs. They will be mentored by Dr. Selina Bruckner (Assistant Extension Professor; College of Ag).
- Native bee conservation: This project will focus on identifying and curating native bee specimens of Alabama while developing museum-quality biodiversity data through specimen processing and digitization. Students will gain hands-on experience in specimen processing, pinning, labeling, databasing, taxonomy, and museum curation, while also analyzing patterns in bee distributions and host plant associations to support native bee conservation. They will be mentored by Drs. Melissa Callahan (Entomology Collections Manager; COSAM) and Anthony Abbate (Assistant Research Professor; College of Ag).
- Honey bee pathobiology: Students will learn microbiology and molecular techniques to investigate the impact of antimicrobial pollution on the presence of honey bee pathogens and on honey bee microbiome. They will be mentored by Laura Huber (Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine).
- Geospatial bee science: The project will work towards using geospatial methods to understand how environmental factors have affected honey bee colony losses across space and time. Students will have the opportunity to hone their spatial analysis and statistics skills, wrangle disparate datasets, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team. They will be mentored by Drs. Stephanie Rogers (Associate Professor; COSAM) and Richard Vachula (Assistant Professor; COSAM).
Additional information
- Enrolled in an undergraduate program at Auburn University for Fall 2026.
- In good academic standing at Auburn University, or another post-secondary institution when transferring to Auburn University for Fall 2026.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or U.S. national.
- Expectations for participation are approximately 40 hours per week in Auburn, AL, from May 18-July 24, 2026 except for Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026), Juneteenth (Friday, June 19, 2026), and Independence Day (Friday, July 3, 2026).
Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
Required information/materials:
- Personal statement: Highlight why you are interested in this position, including a summary of your past experiences relevant to SE-BEES (e.g. experience with lab techniques, enrollment in a GIS course, producing social media content for an organization, report writing) and future goals and interests. Describe what you bring to the SE-BEES, and how you will benefit from participating in the experience. Include your name in the header; 1-page single-spaced max.
- Resume / CV: State your education, work, and leadership experiences that are relevant to SE-BEES. Include your name in the header; 3 pages single-spaced max.
Transcripts: Provide unofficial transcripts, including a PDF print-screen; ensure that all information is clearly readable, and that grades for each course are shown. - References: Provide the name and contact info (telephone, email) for two individuals who can provide feedback on your abilities, experiences, and motivation that are relevant to SE-BEES. Provide a brief statement that describes your relationship (e.g. former mentor, current instructor, previous work supervisor) with each reference. 150 words max.
- Signature project preference: Select your two preferred project experiences; we cannot guarantee that we can match participants with one of their preferences
Period: May 18-July 24, 2026 (10 weeks)
Location: Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Stipend: $6,400 paid in installments; participants are responsible for their housing and transportation during the experience.
Participant contributions: Each participant is expected to contribute to the SE-BEES by promoting a professional and positive environment. Participants will operate independently and collaboratively, and will articulate their experience, especially the results of their signature project, via a brief report and presentation at the end of the experience.
Notification:
- Applicants will be notified by Friday, March 20, 2026
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Contact
Please contact Kristen De La Fuente (kld0063@auburn.edu) with any questions about the SE-BEES program, requirements, or application.
