| Faculty Advisor |
Georgina Bingham
|
|---|---|
| Contact Email | gbingham@unl.edu |
| Website | |
| Advisor College: |
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
|
| Potential Student Tasks |
FYRE students may assist with maintaining insect colonies, preparing materials for experiments, helping with phosphine resistance bioassays, observing insect behaviour, collecting data from traps or laboratory arenas, and helping organize samples and records. Depending on project timing, students may also learn about pheromone-based monitoring, mating disruption concepts, and how insect behaviour can be used to reduce pest populations. Students will receive training in safe laboratory practices, insect handling, careful data recording, basic spreadsheet organization, and research team communication. They may help enter and summarize data, read short background papers with guidance from the team, attend lab meetings when their schedule allows, and present brief updates on what they are learning during the semester. By the end of the experience, students should understand how a research question becomes an experiment, how pest management data are collected, and how applied entomology supports Nebraska agriculture and food systems. |
| Student Qualifications |
Students from any major are welcome to apply. This opportunity may be especially interesting for students considering biology, entomology, plant science, animal science, food science, agronomy, microbiology, environmental science, agricultural economics, pre-veterinary medicine, or other life science and agriculture-related fields. Strong applicants do not need previous research experience. We are looking for students who are curious, dependable, willing to learn, attentive to detail, and comfortable asking questions. Students should be able to follow instructions carefully, keep good notes, communicate when they need help, and work respectfully as part of a team. An interest in insects, agriculture, food security, pest management, laboratory research, or applied science would be helpful. |
| Training, Mentoring, and Workplace Community |
Our lab is committed to creating a welcoming, supportive research environment for early undergraduate researchers. FYRE students will be trained step by step and will not be expected to arrive with specialized knowledge. The student will work most closely with a postdoctoral researcher and graduate student, with regular check-ins from Dr. Bingham. This structure gives students both day-to-day support and access to broader mentoring about research, coursework, career pathways, and future opportunities such as UCARE. We aim to help students feel that they are part of a real research team. Students will be encouraged to attend lab meetings when possible, ask questions, meet other undergraduate and graduate researchers, and gradually build confidence in scientific thinking and communication. We understand that first-year students are adjusting to college life, so schedules can be arranged around classes and academic commitments. Most work will be in person in the laboratory, with some flexible reading, data organization, or reflection activities possible when appropriate. Our goal is for FYRE students to leave the year with practical research experience, stronger confidence, a clearer sense of belonging in science, and a better understanding of how Nebraska's land-grant research mission connects to food protection and agricultural resilience. |
| Available Positions |
2
|
Stored grain is one of Nebraska's most important food and agriculture resources, but it is constantly threatened by small insects that can damage grain, contaminate products, and reduce market value. Many grain managers rely on phosphine fumigation to protect stored products, but insect populations can evolve resistance when control tools are overused or not applied effectively. At the same time, safer and more targeted tools, including pheromone-based monitoring and mating disruption, are becoming increasingly important for integrated pest management.
In this project, FYRE students will join a research team studying stored product insects, phosphine resistance, and mating disruption approaches for pests associated with grain, flour, feed, and food storage systems. Students will learn how entomologists connect laboratory bioassays, insect behaviour, molecular tools, and real-world pest management questions to help protect food systems in Nebraska and beyond.
This is a good fit for students who are curious about insects, agriculture, food security, biology, genetics, behaviour, or applied research. No prior insect or laboratory experience is expected. Students will work alongside a postdoctoral researcher, a graduate student, and the faculty mentor to build foundational research skills in a supportive team environment. The work is connected to larger USDA Projects where my lab partners with industry, USDA and KState.