Imagine driving along a stretch of Alabama highway and realizing that the narrow strips of land beside the pavement could hold the key to reversing declines in some of the most important insects on Earth. Native bees—solitary ground-nesters, colorful sweat bees, bumble bees, and dozens of other species—pollinate wildflowers, fruits, vegetables, and crops that underpin both natural ecosystems and human food systems. Yet habitat loss continues to threaten them across the southeastern United States. What if transportation corridors, long viewed mainly as infrastructure challenges, could be transformed into productive native wildflower habitats that support these essential pollinators while still meeting safety and maintenance standards?
That question sits at the heart of an exciting, fully funded Master of Science opportunity now open at the Auburn University Native Bee Lab. The position focuses on roadside pollinator habitat restoration and native bee ecology, offering a motivated student the chance to conduct applied research that directly informs real-world management decisions by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: USA
- Host University: Auburn University
- Scholarship Type: MSC Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Scholarship Benefits: Full tuition fee, Living stipend, etc.
Why Roadside Habitats Matter for Native Bees
Roadsides represent millions of acres of linear habitat across the United States. When managed thoughtfully, these rights-of-way can supply continuous blooms of native wildflowers, nesting sites, and movement corridors that connect otherwise fragmented landscapes. Research from the Federal Highway Administration and organizations such as the Xerces Society has shown that adjusted mowing schedules, selective herbicide use, and strategic plantings of native species can dramatically increase floral resources for bees and other pollinators without compromising road safety or increasing long-term maintenance costs.
In the Southeast, where native bee diversity is high and many species remain under-surveyed, the potential impact is especially significant. Alabama’s roadsides cut through agricultural lands, forests, and suburban edges—precisely the places where native bees need more reliable forage and nesting opportunities. The challenge is figuring out which vegetation management practices actually work best for establishing and sustaining diverse plant communities that, in turn, support rich native bee assemblages.
The Research Project: Science That Guides Policy
The Auburn University Native Bee Lab, housed within the Auburn University Bee Center in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, is seeking a highly motivated M.S. student to join this ALDOT-funded collaborative project. The core goal is to evaluate practical strategies for establishing and managing native wildflower habitats along roadsides so that they benefit native pollinators while satisfying transportation safety and infrastructure requirements.
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Research will center on how different vegetation management approaches—particularly selective herbicide applications and other restoration techniques—affect three interconnected outcomes: successful wildflower establishment, shifts in plant community composition, and the structure of native bee communities. Field experiments will be established and maintained across multiple sites in Alabama. The student will conduct vegetation surveys, sample native bees, identify plants and insects (with training provided as needed), manage data, perform statistical analyses, and contribute to GIS-based habitat assessments.
Results will be shared with scientific audiences and, crucially, with ALDOT personnel so that findings can translate into improved roadside management recommendations. The student will also be expected to publish in peer-reviewed journals. This is applied conservation science with a clear pathway from field data to policy influence.
What the Graduate Student Will Actually Do
Day-to-day and season-to-season work will be varied and hands-on. Expect to spend significant time outdoors establishing and maintaining experimental plots, walking transects for plant surveys, and collecting bees using standardized sampling methods. Back in the lab and office, the student will process specimens, enter and clean data, run analyses, and prepare maps and reports. Mentoring undergraduate researchers and helping with broader laboratory and field operations will form part of the leadership role the student assumes within the Native Bee Lab.
Beyond the core project, the position offers extensive professional development. Students develop expertise in native bee taxonomy, pollination ecology, restoration ecology, experimental design, and scientific communication. They participate in outreach activities, guest lectures, extension programming, and interdisciplinary projects. Collaboration opportunities extend across Auburn’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, the College of Agriculture, and partnerships with state and federal agencies.
The appointment lasts approximately three years and carries a starting salary of $25,000 per year as a Graduate Research Assistant, plus a full tuition waiver. Opportunities for advancement exist based on performance. The start date is January 2027, with review of applications already underway and a formal deadline of September 15, 2026 (or until a suitable candidate is identified).
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Who Should Apply for Native Bee Ecology Graduate Research
The minimum requirement is an undergraduate degree in Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Botany, or a closely related field from an accredited institution. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment. Prior experience with native pollinator research or plant and bee identification is desirable but not mandatory. The lab places equal value on candidates who are hard-working, collaborative, organized, team-oriented, and driven by a genuine passion for learning.
To apply, compile a single PDF containing: (1) a one-page cover letter describing your experiences, goals relative to this position, and how you meet the qualifications; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) contact information for three references; and (4) copies of all post-secondary transcripts. Email the package to Dr. Anthony Abbate at aunativebeelab@gmail.com with the subject line “Graduate Student Opportunity.”
The Lab, the Department, and the University
The Auburn University Native Bee Lab operates within the broader Auburn University Bee Center, a multidisciplinary program dedicated to advancing bee research, education, and extension. The lab currently includes graduate students, a laboratory manager, technicians, undergraduates, and local stakeholders, all working to promote bee health through research, instruction, extension, and outreach. Faculty and staff collaborations span the College of Agriculture and beyond.
Auburn University itself is a Carnegie R1 public flagship land-grant institution with more than 30,000 students. Located in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama, it offers a classic college-town atmosphere while remaining within easy reach of Birmingham, Atlanta, the southern Appalachians, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology supports more than 50 graduate students and maintains a strong tradition of research, teaching, and extension. Additional information is available at the department website and the main university site.
Dr. Anthony Abbate, Assistant Research Professor focusing on pollination ecology and conservation, leads the Native Bee Lab. His research examines how human-driven landscape changes shape native bee communities in the Southeast, including work on wildflower attractiveness, land-management effects, and habitat restoration. More about his background and publications can be found through Auburn’s College of Agriculture faculty directory.
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Broader Context and Resources for Readers
Anyone interested in this field will benefit from exploring related resources. The Federal Highway Administration maintains detailed guidance on best management practices for pollinators and roadsides, including recommendations on native plant use, mowing timing, and herbicide strategies. The Xerces Society offers practical guides on roadside habitat enhancement and native plant lists tailored to different regions. Alabama-specific information on native plants suitable for pollinator habitat is available through local conservation organizations and extension resources. These materials provide excellent background for understanding why projects like the one at Auburn matter and how research findings can scale.
This M.S. position is more than a graduate assistantship. It is an invitation to contribute original data that can reshape how transportation agencies across the region—and potentially beyond—think about the ecological value of the land they manage. For students passionate about native bees, restoration ecology, and turning science into practical conservation outcomes, the opportunity is both timely and rare.
Applications are being reviewed now. If the idea of turning roadside edges into thriving native bee habitat resonates with you, prepare your materials and reach out. The bees—and the landscapes they sustain—need the next generation of researchers who are ready to dig in, measure carefully, and communicate clearly.
For the official posting and any updates, visit the Natural Resources Job Board listing at https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/view-job/?id=117755. Direct questions and applications to Dr. Anthony Abbate at aunativebeelab@gmail.com.