Research Team

Current Lab Members

Hongmei Li-Byarlay, Ph.D. F.R.E.S

Research Associate Professor, Principal Investigator

email: hli-byarlay at centralstate dot edu, phone #: 937-376-6424

Ph.D. Purdue University

Genes and behavior, mlecular and genomic mechanisms underlying social behavior in shaping phenotypic plasticity, evolution, and genetics

Danielle Kroh, M.S.

Field Technician (Aug. 2023 - present)

M.S. University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

B.S. West Virginia University

Apiculture, queen rearing, breeding

Rameshwor Pudasaini, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher (Apr. 2025 - present)

Ph.D. National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taiwan (2024)

Research focus: Bee behavior and genomics

Chantinae Gray

Molecular Technician

B.S. Central State University

Research in the population genetics of honeybees

We are hiring a new postdoctoral researcher in honeybee molecular biology and genetics

Please email the PI if you are interested in this position!

We are hiring a full-time NEXTGEN Project Manager!

The job posting is here

Current Undergraduate Research Students

Laverne Ambrister

Exercise Sci,

May-Nov. 2024

summer 2025

Heaven Strachan

Sustainable Ag, Honors College, May 2024 - Aug. 2025

Camiyah Woods

Biology, Miss Honors College 2025, May 2024 -May 2025

Mao Mao

Lab Cat

Study Animal Behavior

Graduate Students mentored as a committee member:

Changsheng Ma - Ph.D. student (2022 - 2024), Hunan University, Research in pesticides and pollinators.

Ellen Lee – Graduate student (2020-2022), Wright State University.

Carlos Ortiz – Ph.D. student (2017-2021), University of Puerto Rico, graduated in July 2021, researching Circadian Rhythms in Bees with Respect to Environmental, Social, and Physiological Conditions.

Journal Club Guest Speakers

2023 Alvin Simmons - USDA ARS Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. 2023 Jamie Strange - Ohio State University, USA2022 Christina Grozinger - Penn State University2022 Sandra Rehan - York University, Canada2022 Brock Harpur - Purdue University, USA2021 Allyson Ray - Penn State University, USA2021 Osee Sanogo - Center for Disease Control, USA

2021 Clare Rittschof - University of Kentucky, USA2021 Michelle Boon - University of Minnesota, USA2021 Stephenie Rollmann - University of Cincinnati, USA2021 Holly Marshall - University of Edinburgh, UK2021 Carlos Martinez Ruiz - University College London, UK2021 Christoph Grueter - University of Bristol, UK2020 Samuel Ramsey - USDA ARS, USA2020 Rachelle Adams & Amy Luo - Ohio State University, USA2020 Alison McAfee - North Carolina State University, USA

LAB ALUMNI

Undergraduate from Honors College

Joel Barhorst

2022 Summer, 2024 Spring, summer NSF I-corp workshop.

Keiana Briscoe

Sustainable Ag & Biology major2022-2023, 2024 -2025, Subsequent position: Ohio State University PhD program in Entomology

Kenrick Brown

2023 Summer

Subsequent position: CSU

Anaya Gonzales

2022 Spring,

Subsequent position: Medical School

Rohan Swami

2020-2021Subsequent position: College of Medicine, Med School, American University of Antigua

DAnastacia Hutchinson

Psychology major and Biology minor, Honors College, Jan. 2025-Dec. 2025

Undergraduate Research Students as co-authors of scientific papers and conference presentations

Xaryn Cleare

Subsequent position: graduate program, Baylor University.

Mataio Gibson

Jada Smith

Subsequent position: Nationwide Children's Hospital

Kilea Ward

Lab Student Alumni

51 Luhanna Louis, Chemistry, summer 202550 Chantinae Gray, Sustainable Ag major, summer 202549 D'Anastacia Hutchinson, Psychology and Biology, Honors College, Nov 2024 - Fall 2025 48 Heaven Strachan, Sustainable Ag, Honors College, May 2024 - Dec. 202547 Camiyah Woods, Biology major, spring 2025, ESA 2024 poster 46 Jerena Colebrook, spring 202545 Joel Barhorst, Sustainable Ag major, 2023-2024, 2022 IUSSI International Congress poster, 2024 Nextgen summer research internship44 Keiana Briscoe, Honors College, 2022-25. Biology major, oxidative stress, 2024 American Bee Res Conf poster, 2023 ESA Alate award, 2023 International Conf on Pollinator Biology, Health, and Policy, presented poster, 2025 MANRRS national undergraduate research contest, 2nd place; Subsequent position: Ph.D. program in the Dept of Entomology at Ohio State University43 Meyah Pillow, Biology, summer 2024, co-mentored with another research faculty42 Laverne Ambrister, Exercise, summer 2024- spring 2026, flight behavior41 Keara Clarke, Psychology, Honors College, Nov 2023 - Jul. 2024, bee viruses40 Isaiah Walkine, Information Technology, Mar - Jul 2024, bee behavior39 Aisayah Akens, Exercise Science major, Honors College, 2024 SP.38 Cara Allen Digg. 2023, Subsequent position: St. Matthew's University, School of Medicine37 Jarius Burrows, 2023 SU, Biology major; Subsequent position: graduate student of Tuskegee University, College of Veterinary Medicine36 Geremiah Rodgers, 2023 SU; pollen of honeybees and wild bees35 Kenrick Brown, 2023 SU; bee mite app34 Jayla Marvin, 2022 Spring-2023 SP, Biology major, bee RNA and viruses, NSF Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program Ohio Alliance scholarship; Subsequent position: CDC Research Fellow; 33 Isabella Wynter Mitchell, 2023 SP, Comp Sci major, Honor College32 Kristan Major, 2023 SU, Chemistry major; fly ability31 Tyra Barbar (2022), NSF Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program Ohio Alliance scholarship on bee pollen research;30 Ellen Lee (2020-2022), Graduate Research Assistant; bee behavior and epigenetics29 Dwinajah Allen (2021 F - 2022 SP), student worker, pollinator health; 28 Joel Barhorst, 2022 SU (CSU Sustainable Agriculture major), pollinator health; 3D printing and pathogens27 Mataio Gibson (2021 SU -2022 SP), CSU Exercise Science, mite biting behavior, mite size, 2022 ARD conference talk, 2022 CSU Scholarly Activity Day poster, 2022 ESA IB poster; Subsequent position: K-12 Teacher;26 Anaya Gonzales (2022 SP), CSU Chemistry, undergrad res student, molecular biology, 2022 ESA IB poster; Subsequent position: Master graduate student, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, School of Public Health (SPH);25 Danyelle Smith, (2022 SP), Biology major, BIO4500 Research; 3D print24 Hosea Belton, 2021 SP/F, Chemistry major, 2021 ESA talk; Subsequent position: Spectrum Environmental Services Inc.23 Kierra Page, 2021 F, Biology major; flying behavior22 Lauryn Holt, (2021 F-2022), CSU Biology, bee behavior, 2022 ARD conference talk, nutrition and behavior; Subsequent position: Morehouse School of Medicine MS In Health Informatics;21 Francis Gibson, 2021 SU, CSU Computer Science (2021SU);20 Lavano Sands (2021 SU, CSU Chemistry), flight ability; Subsequent position: American University of Antigua College of Medicine;19 Ranard Wilson (2021SU- 2022 SP), Chemistry major; 18 Xaryn Cleare (2019SU-2021SP, CSU Biology), 2021 CSU Scholarly Day Student Award, 2021 ABRC conference poster talk, 2021 ESA conference talk, 2019 HAS conference, 2 peer-reviewed papers, 1 book chapter, Subsequent position: Baylor University Graduate School;17 Terrell Turner (2021SP, CSU Biology), BIO4500 - Flight ability and flying behavior;16 Lee Burrows (2020F-2021SP, CSU Computer Science), Bee mite website;15 Yasmeen O Al-Hlawat (2020F, CSU Biology) Bee molecular biology; Subsequent position: CSU student;14 Rohan Swami (2019-2020, CSU Biology), Molecular biology of honeybees, NSF IPSRG scholar, 1 peer-reviewed paper, Subsequent position: College of Medicine, American University of Antigua13 Jawwaad Sabree (2020 SU, CSU Computer Science), Bee mite website, Subsequent position: George State University.12 Je'lon Thomas (2020 SP, CSU Biology) Bee Behavior, USDA 1890 Scholarship, Subsequent position: CSU student;11 Aaron Crucher (2020 SP, CSU Computer Science), NSF IPSRG scholar, Subsequent position: Software Developer at Azimuth Corporation;10 Kaila Young (2020), NSF IPSRG scholar, 2020 OEFFA conference talk, 1 peer-reviewed paper, Subsequent position: CSU student;9 Darrel Latham (2019, CSU Environmental Engineering), NSF IPSRG scholar, Subsequent position: Air Force Institute of Technology Research Assistant;8 Medinah Carnes (2019, CSU Biology) BIO4500- Bee pollen;7 Kilea Ward (2019, CSU Biology) BIO4500 -Bee Oxidative Stress. 1 peer-reviewed paper;6 Alisha Helm (2019, CSU Environmental Engineering), 2019 ARD conference talk, Subsequent position: Graduate Research Assistant, KBR, Inc/ Air-Force Institute of Technology (AFIT);5 Jada Smith (2018-2019, CSU Biology), NSF IPSRG scholar, 2019 ARD conference talk, 2019 ERN conference talk, 2019 OEFFA conference talk, 2019 ESA-NCB conference talk, 1 peer-reviewed paper, Subsequent position: Nationwide Children's Hospital;4 Emmanuel Dorvil (2018, CSU Environmental Engineering); 3 Jay Henderson (2018, CSU Biology); 2 Brad Armstead (2017-2018, CSU Environmental Engineering), Bee behavior and physiology;1 Vershawna Barnes (2017, CSU Biology), Miticide.

Past Staff/Student Workers (FWS)

Yusuff Oladosu, Postdoctoral Researcher - Pollinator Ecology (Sep. 2024 - Apr. 2026) Research on silflowers and pollinator ecology.
Jun Guo, Postdoctoral Researcher (Aug. 2025 - Apr. 2026), Research on honeybee molecular biology.
Zhaorigetu Hubhachen, Postdoctoral Researcher (Jun. 2024 - Sep.2025)
Cindy Clelan, May - Aug. 2025, technician
Diana Vandermark, 2024 - 25, project manager
Zixiao Zhao, Dec. 2022 - Mar. 2025, postdoctoral researcher
Danielle DeYoung, 2024 Summer, field research assistant
Austin Carey, Jul. 2022 - Jun. 2023, field technician, subsequent position: Oregon State University.
M. C. Farrell, 2021 - 22, postdoctoral researcher
Ashley Cordle, 2019 - 2022, field technician
Addy Messerly, 2021 Summer, summer research assistant, Subsequent position: School Program Coordinator at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Javonte Neal, 2021 Fall, FWS, CSU
Jaylon Clark, 2021 Spring, FWS, CSU
Raionna Talbert, 2019 Fall, FWS, CSU
Genesis Lanier, 2020 Spring, FWS, CSU

High School Students

H. Bradley, 2026, summer volunteer
8 High school students, 2025 summer - NEXTGEN summer camp
W. Li, 2024 summer volunteer, small carpenter bee ecology
Sa'Naa, 2024 summer -NEXTGEN summer camp
Satiana, 2024 summer -NEXTGEN summer camp
Bryson, 2024 summer -NEXTGEN summer camp
A. Fu 2023 summer volunteer, bee stress
Z. Guo 2023 summer volunteer, bee pollen
M. L. B. (2022-2025 volunteer), small carpenter bee, ecology
E. Lowe (2022 volunteer), wild bees' habitat, bee ecology
G. Bradley (2019 volunteer), Epigenetics of honeybees
P. Chakravarthy (2017 volunteer), Honeybee Epigenomics
S. Chakravarthy (2017 volunteer), Honeybee Epigenomics

Lab Visitors

2025.06 CSU summer camp students2025. 05 CSU queen workshop participants 2025.04 CSU Land Grant Open House participants2024.08 High school students from Toledo, Ohio.2024.08 Ohio State University College of Ag2024.07 State of Ohio Governor’s representative Mr. Joe Zeis 2024.06 CSU NEXTGEN Summer Camp High School students2024.06 The Land Institute 2024.04 USDA NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra and Acting Chief of Staff Dr. Michelle Samuel-Foo visit 2023.05 Drs. Chia-Hua Lin of Ohio State University, Ling-Shiu Liao & Wen-Yen Wu of the University of Illinois at Urbana2023.04 Dr. Jamie Strange, Ohio State University2023.03 Dr. Ebony Murrell, The Land Institute2022.06 Dr. Cathann A. Kress, Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean of the CFAES, Ohio State University2022. Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh - USDA Deputy Secretary2022. Dr. Brock Harpur - Purdue University2022. Heartland Honey Bee Breeding Co-op2022. Dr. Christina Grozinger - Penn State University2019. Dr. Reed Johnson - Ohio State University2018. The Dawes Arboretum - Newark, OH

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