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The Rueppell Lab at the University of Alberta focuses on honey bee biology and health. This lab uses honey bees as the primary model to study various exciting biological questions, particularly in the fields of behavior, stress, life history evolution, and diseases. Apart from basic research, the lab addresses urgent topics in honey bee health, specifically studying honey bee viruses and parasitic Varroa mites. It is a dynamic and collaborative group that welcomes students who share a passion for scientific exploration in the natural world while adhering to principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, actively working against discrimination. The lab aims to broaden participation in research and academia, embracing national and institutional guidelines. The critical role of pollinators, especially honey bees, in natural ecosystems and human food production is a central focus, exploring complex societies and biological organization that allows for unique testing of biological theories. The lab utilizes a variety of research approaches, including advanced apiculture, behavioral observations, disease ecology, experimental evolution, toxicology, theoretical modeling, and bioinformatic analyses of large-scale data sets, alongside molecular lab techniques to determine genotypes and gene expression on genomic scales.
Department: Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management