Scholarships Offered to Apiculture Graduate Students
The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees annually offers scholarships of $2000 each to several graduate students in apiculture. The Foundation began to award the scholarships in 2004.
The Foundation is a charitable research and education foundation affiliated with the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF). The Foundation has benefited from a generous gift from the Glenn and Gertude Overturf estates, and is sustained by ongoing gifts from ABF members and other supportive individuals.
Honey bee scientist in the making explains his research to beekeepers.
The Foundation Trustees have chosen to use a portion of the grant to offer graduate student scholarships to foster professional development for young apicultural scientists. The purpose of the scholarships is to allow the recipients to attend the annual North American Beekeeping Conference, where they will have an opportunity to meet other researchers and beekeepers and to present their research at the meeting. The Board of Trustees looks forward to their contributions to the conference. The scholarships are available to all graduate students. Graduate students at universities outside the U.S. are invited to apply.
Watch for the announcement of the request for next year’s proposals. The request is posted in August; the winners are announced in November; the conference is in January.
2011 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Marcelo Nicolas Agra is a doctoral student at the National Institute of Agriculture Technology working under the supervision of Dr. Maria Alejandra Palacio. His research has 3 objectives. The first is to characterize the molecular genetics of bee populations where African and European bees coexist. His second objective is to look for molecular markers for hygienic behavior and varroa tolerance. His third objective is to compare ProApi germplasm maintained in both a closed and naturally mated populations. He began his studies in 2009 and much of his research is on-going.
Marcelo Nicolas Agra 2011 Application 
Cristina Botias is a Ph.D. student studying bee pathology under the supervision of Dr. Marino Higes at the Bee Pathology Department of the Regional Apicultural Centre (Guadalajara-Spain). Her work focuses on the microsporidium Nosema cerenae, both at the individual and colony level. Her research includes both basic pathological studies and evaluating 3 new drugs for treating Noema: Nosestat®, Phenyl Salicylate and VitaFeed Gold.® She is currently writing her dissertation, and she has authored or co-authored 10 scientific publications.
Cristina Botias 2011 Application
Michael Smith is a Ph.D. student at Cornell University working under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Seeley. He began his Ph.D. studies in August 2011. He completed his M.S. studies at Princeton studying molecular biology. While a M.S. student he became fascinated with honey bees and organized a beekeeping club at Princeton. He is currently conducting behavioral experiments on honey bees, and his research will focus on developing a better understanding of robbing behavior. His research will provide valuable insight into a little-studied behavior of honey bees that has great practical importance to beekeepers.
Michael Smith 2011 Application
Johan van den Heever is a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta working under the supervision of Drs. Jonathan Curtis and Steve Pernal. He has a strong background in analytical and organic chemistry, and his research addresses both the synthesis and efficacy evaluation of new compounds for the treatment of Nosema, as well as the detection of metabolites in honey following treatment. He has completed his coursework and candidacy exams and will soon be seeking a research position. Although still a student, he has authored or co-authored 8 scientific publications on drug synthesis and metabolism.
Johan van den Heever 2011 Application
