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With over 35 majors and minor areas of concentration, Elmira College lays the foundation for a diverse, cross discipline education, encouraging you to both specialize and explore.
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Photo Courtesy of Heather Frantz, North Carolina State University
Rachel Bortnick '25, a Biology and Environmental Science major, wasn’t particularly interested in bees before the summer. She was even a little afraid of them. That was before Dr. Daniel Kjar, Professor of Biology at Elmira College, encouraged her to intern with the North Carolina State University BeeMORE (Bees and Microbes in Organized Research Experiences) summer research program, Bortnick’s love for the small pollinators blossomed, as did her confidence in her research skills.
During the nine-week program, Bortnick tested different bee species, assessing how added weight affected their flight and behavior.
“I got to design my project, which was great,” she exclaimed. “And now I know I want to have a career in research, and that I have the ability to do that.”
Guided by Dr. Elsa Youngsteadt, Associate Professor of Applied Ecology at NCSU, and Yougsteadt’s graduate assistant, Gwen Kirske, Bortnick designed a project that gives new insight into bee research.
Her testing phase began each morning when Bortnick collected and weighed a mix of solitary and social bees. She brought the bees to her flight tent where she outfitted each with a mock telemetry tag made of aluminum. Despite plenty of handling, she never got stung during her research.
Photo Courtesy of Heather Frantz, North Carolina State University
In the tent, Bortnick placed the bees on a pole and timed how long it took for the bees to start flying. She then observed their flight and behavior. Not surprisingly, as the weight she placed on the bee increased, the time it took for the bee to fly increased.
While many likely know that weight will affect the bee’s flight, Bortnick’s research provides enough nuance to help researchers select the right size and style of telemetry tag for optimal bee tracking. Increased use of tracking means researchers can gain a better understanding of bees, which is important in their conservation. According to The Bee Conservancy, bees pollinate one in three bites of our food but are increasingly in peril.
“Future researchers can see how much the tag will affect their research by knowing how much the tag will affect the bee’s behavior,” she explained. “If a researcher is conducting research on bumble bees and is comfortable with an 85% effect on the bee’s behavior, the tag must be 18% or less of the bee’s body weight.”
Bortnick’s advisors encouraged her and pushed her to practice her presentation skills by having her put together a research poster and video. She also spoke to the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, where she found a passionate audience of kindred spirits.
Photo Courtesy of Heather Frantz, North Carolina State University
“I got to share a niche topic with people who are really into it,” she said excitedly. “Now I have bee paintings in my room. I am bee crazy. You never know how fascinating things are until you study it. And being around people with shared interests helps you build connections and network with each other.”
Although Bortnick is now a bee advocate, she’s not yet certain whether she wants to settle into insect research or try her hand at researching mammals. She’s considering working in different labs to confirm where her heart truly lies before going to graduate school and choosing her specialty.
What she is certain of, is that she’s capable of a research career and now has a growing list of advocates to help her with work and graduate opportunities.
