Graduate Group Research Proposal
LSC 555 – Molecular Biology, Arizona State University (Summer 2026)
Overview
This proposal investigates how viral infections, agricultural management, and pesticide exposure may influence the gut microbiome and overall health of Apis mellifera. We developed an integrated study design combining viromics, shotgun metagenomics, RT-qPCR, pesticide residue analysis, and computational methods to examine host–microbiome interactions.
Research Objectives
- Characterize the baseline virome and gut microbiome of unmanaged honey bee colonies.
- Compare viral prevalence across agricultural management systems.
- Investigate associations between viral infection, pesticide exposure, and microbiome dysbiosis.
Skills Demonstrated
- Scientific literature review
- Experimental design
- Metagenomics
- Viromics
- Computational biology
- Research proposal writing
Project Type
Collaborative graduate coursework completed with permission from all group members.
chelsea Doop 