John M. Mola
Lab PI – Assistant Professor, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
John (he/him) completed his PhD at the University of California Davis and a postdoc at U.S. Geological Survey. John grew up in Connecticut/Florida and is a first-generation college student. His favorite bee is a frisbee.
Faculty Webpage | Personal Webpage
john.mola[at]colostate.edu
Lab Staff & Associates
Sophia Gulutzo
Sophia (she/her) recently defended her master’s thesis in the lab, where she explored topics including insect overwintering, bumble bee nesting, and bumble bee movement ecology. She now works as FRSBEE Lab Manager and Research Associate. Sophia is passionate about bridging science and art, whether it be through scientific illustration or data visualization. In the wild, Sophia can often be found working at the farmer’s market, crafting, fishing, or skiing.
sophia.gulutzo[at]colostate.edu | sophiagulutzo.com
Nathan Comai
Nathan Comai is an Entomologist with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) as well as a Research Associate for both the Mola Lab and Seth Davis’ Forest Health Lab. Nathan graduated with a B.S. degree in Wildlife, Conservation, Fisheries, Biology with a minor in Entomology at CSU in 2019. Nathan’s main focus is the Statewide Natural Heritage Survey conducted by CNHP as well as assisting Colorado Parks and Wildlife with integrating invertebrates into the State Wildlife Action Plan. Nathan also works as a floating helper for students and faculty in the lab. He has worked on many different projects, from native bee identification and collection/curation (his favorite), to DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis with Bark beetles. In his free-time Nathan most enjoys playing soccer, wildlife photography, and nature excursions with his dog.
nathan.comai[at]colostate.edu
Graduate Students
Nicki Bailey
Nicki (she/her) is a PhD student in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. Her dissertation research investigates honey bee-native bee competition across the Front Range of Colorado. Nicki graduated with an MS in Ecology from CSU in 2025, and a BA in Biology from Kalamazoo College in 2021. In her previous work, she investigated how wild bee and butterfly communities in Denver city parks differed across a gradient of neighborhood income levels. In her free time, she likes to do art, see live music, and take pictures of every insect she sees while hiking.
nicki.bailey[at]colostate.edu | nickibailey.com
Laura Lukens
Laura (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. Her dissertation research explores questions in population and conservation genetics, urban ecology, and responses to environmental stressors. She earned her BS from the University of Minnesota in 2015 and previously studied monarch butterflies, parasitoids, and grassland ecology at the University of Minnesota and with Monarch Joint Venture. Outside of research, Laura enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, camping, hiking, gardening, cross-country skiing, and baking.
laura.lukens[at]colostate.edu | lauralukens.com
Kyle M. Ruszkowski
Kyle (he/him) is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. In 2023, he completed a master’s degree with Dr. Jennifer Bousselot, focusing on plant phenology and pollinator forage opportunities on green roofs. He is interested in multi-trophic systems and understanding how invasive species interact with native species. His current work examines how Megachile rotundata navigates different land cover types and how invasive bees influence interactions between native bees and their associated wasp parasitoids. Kyle is deeply committed to outreach, extension, and fostering community within the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology.
k.ruszkowski[at]colostate.edu
Hannah Burke
Hannah (she/her) is a PhD student in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology interested in how diet and nutrition interplays with various ecological stressors in bumblebee systems. Her current research project investigates how nutrition influences bumblebee responses to neonicotinoid pesticides. Hannah grew up in Ormond Beach, a small beach town in Florida, and graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Florida State University in 2024. Before attending CSU, Hannah spent two summer field seasons at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory studying thermal tolerance in bumblebees and working on The Phenology Project. In her free time, Hannah enjoys playing violin, hiking, climbing, running, reading, and traveling with friends.
h.burke[at]colostate.edu | burkes-bees.com
Undergraduates
Allie McQuiston
Allie (she/her) is a senior undergraduate studying Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. She is helping multiple graduate students in their research, including work with Laura Lukens’ bumble bee colonies and Sophia Gulutzo’s research on overwintering behavior in bumble bees. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Allie moved to Colorado following a passion for ecology, backpacking, climbing, and her interest in eusocial wasps.
Keirs Manlapas
Keirs (they/them) is a senior undergraduate studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. They are working with Hannah Burke to research how nutrition and pesticides influence bumblebees. Born and raised in Roswell, Georgia, Keirs moved to Colorado to explore their passion for ecology, nature, and adventure. In their free time, Keirs enjoys crafting and spending time outdoors.
Grayce Wojniak
Grayce (she/her) is a senior undergraduate studying Fish, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology. She is currently working with Laura Lukens studying urban bee population genetics and habitat connectivity around Denver, Colorado. Her previous research focused on native and invasive plant species interactions to inform grassland conservation and drought recovery. In her free time, Grayce enjoys drawing, hiking, and crocheting.
Katie Carpenter
Katie (she/her) is a senior undergraduate studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with minors in Sustainable Energy and Economics. She is working with Laura Lukens studying urban bee population genetics and habitat connectivity around Denver, Colorado. Being from Colorado, Katie has a passion for nature and the outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and watching movies.
Visitors and Other Collaborators
Jon Tetlie
Jon (he/him) recently completed his PhD in the Harmon-Threatt Lab of the Entomology Department at the University of Illinois. He is interested in prairie restoration ecosystems, characterizing structural community interactions, and understanding how these interactions are altered by the near ubiquitous contamination of neonicotinoid insecticides found in midwestern agricultural regions. Before joining the Mola lab, Jon completed his MS at the University of Illinois and BA at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. In his free time, Jon enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, playing soccer, and disc golfing.
National Park Service Inventory & Assessment Program
The National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Assessment Program (I&A) collaborate with the Mola Lab to conduct pollinator inventories on park lands.
Michelle Boone
Michelle oversees pollinator inventories at 26 NPS units for the NPS Inventory and Assessment Program as a federal contractor through the Mola Lab at Colorado State University. In addition to her project management role, she currently serves as PI on a bumble bee and monarch inventory at Rocky Mountain National Park with fieldwork in 2026-2027. She is interested in topics around study design, occupancy modeling, threatened and endangered species, pollinator conservation, and mentorship. Prior to her role with NPS, Michelle completed a post-doc investigating western monarch microhabitat needs at Washington State University Vancouver. She earned her AA in Liberal Arts from North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, MN, a BSc in Biology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and a PhD in Entomology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she studied patterns of occupancy and detection of Bombus communities that included a federally endangered species. Michelle is an active member of the Entomological Society of America and currently serves as the Vice-President Elect of the Plant-Insect Ecosystem Section and Member-at-Large on the North Central Branch Early Career Professionals Committee. Michelle leads a team of Scientists in Parks Pollinator Ecology Assistants based in Colorado and Minnesota. Learn more about her work with the national parks in this article featuring NPS pollinator partners!
Brooke Bellmar
Brooke (she/her) is a Pollinator Ecology Assistant with NPS Inventory and Assessment Program through the Scientists in Parks program. She is currently serving as field lead on the 2026/2027 Rocky Mountain National Park bumble bee and monarch inventory. She earned her B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Environmental Studies from Knox College in 2025 and is passionate about pollinator conservation and outreach. Outside of work, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and volleyball, going for meandering walks, losing at trivia, and playing music. Brooke is based at Rocky Mountain National Park during field season and Fort Collins in the off season.
Zoie Andre
Zoie (she/her) is a Pollinator Ecology Assistant with NPS Inventory and Assessment Program through the Scientists in Parks program. She is working on an inventory of pollinators at Voyageurs National Park in collaboration with the Cariveau Native Bee Lab at the University of Minnesota to support a NPS-funded project. She earned a BS in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution from UC San Diego in 2025. In her free time, she enjoys pottery, hiking, and reading. Zoie is based at the University of Minnesota Native Bee Lab.
Matalyn Garcia
Matalyn Garcia is a Pollinator Ecology Technician for the Mola Lab conducting bumble bee and monarch surveys in Rocky Mountain National Park in collaboration with the NPS Inventory and Assessment Program. She is interested in human-wildlife interactions, social science, and data collection. Matalyn completed her BS in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University and is looking forward to studying these fascinating insects! Before graduating, Matalyn worked on Mexican Spotted Owl surveys, participated in insect inventories, and tested the efficacy of non-lethal deterrent methods for pumas and coyotes. She likes to paint wildlife and play darts in her free time. Matalyn is based at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Owen Brown
Owen (he/him) recently graduated with his B.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University. He is now serving as a Pollinator Ecology Assistant in Rocky Mountain National Park. His work includes utilizing Bumble Bee Atlas protocols to sample for bumble bees and comparing milkweed herbivory between Monarch Butterfly and Milkweed Tussock Moth larvae. Owen has previously worked with the Bureau of Land Management to complete a Lepidoptera census in the state of Idaho and with the National Park Service conducting eDNA surveys for amphibians at park units across the Southwest. In his free time, Owen enjoys playing spikeball, going to the movies, and hiking. Owen is based at Rocky Mountain National Park during field season and Fort Collins in the off season.
Micah Sharer
Micah (he/they) is a Scientists in Parks Pollinator Ecology Assistant with the NPS Inventory and Assessment Program working on Bumble Bee Atlas and Minnesota Nest Quest surveys in the Midwest in collaboration with University of Minnesota Extension and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Additionally, he works on bumble bee outreach projects. He is fascinated by bees and interested in their ecology, conservation, and taxonomy. He earned his bachelor’s in biology from Emory University, where he worked in the Brosi Lab as an undergraduate research assistant. While in the lab, he completed an REU at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory on pollinator niche breadth changes in response to early snowmelt. After college, Micah surveyed pollinators, sampled bees, and curated the pinned collection at the Atlanta Botanical Garden with the Southeastern Center for Conservation. Most recently, he completed a bumble bee conservation internship with the FWS, where he enjoyed working on rusty patched bumble bee conservation. In his free time, Micah likes making art, playing with his cat Bucky, and doing the daily Wordle. Micah is based at the University of Minnesota Native Bee Lab.
Maya Wadhwani
Maya (she/her) is a Pollinator Ecology Assistant with NPS Inventory and Assessment Program through the Scientists in Parks program. She recently graduated from Brown University with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences. With a focus on conservation biology and policy, she enjoys learning about ecology and agriculture. Thus far, she has worked in outdoor education and marketing at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. In her free time, you can find her playing frisbee, climbing, or gardening. Maya is based at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Eclosed Lab Members
Postdoctoral Scholars
Veronica Champine, PhD (with Dr. Becky Niemiec and the Animal Human Policy Center) – now with a food systems think tank!
Undergraduates
Madisyn Pinney (2025 CSU Extension Intern), Olivia Linscomb (2025 Research Technician), Dylan Mitchell (2025 CSU Extension Intern), Megan Fenner (2024 Research Technician), Zella Benson (2024 CSU Extension Intern), Nancy Bartholomew, Ava Tolbert (2023 Research Technician)
