Lab PI - Assistant Professor of Pollinator Ecology, Department of Entomology

Email: mchristman@agcenter.lsu.edu

Mo's (she/her) passion for ecology and conservation began as an undergraduate at Denison University. She started her career as an pollinator ecologist during her Ph.D. at Utah State University, and continued her training as a postdoctoral scholar at The Ohio State University and a USDA-NIFA-AFRI postdoctoral fellow at the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect–Biology, Management, Systematics Research Unit. 

Mo is actively engaged in science advocacy and deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science through mentorship and public engagement. In the wild, Mo can be found hiking with her dog, boxing, and baking.

If you are interested in joining the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Imperiled Bombus Task Force, please email Mo or co-chairs Tam Smith, tamara_smith@fws.gov and Lora Morandin, lm@pollinator.org.

Email: stephanievaughn@agcenter.lsu.edu  

Stephanie (she/her) earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Truman State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Entomology at LSU. She has always been interested in conservation and ecology, which led her to focus on pollinator research. Her research broadly explores the roles Lepidoptera play in ecosystem function with an emphasis on how understanding these interactions can inform conservation efforts and support biodiversity.  Stephanie’s thesis investigates the effects of light pollution on sphingid pollination and compares floral visitation by nocturnal and diurnal species through pollen metabarcoding. 

By focusing on Lepidoptera within pollination ecology, Stephanie aims to contribute to a better understanding of the environmental benefits insects provide and the need to protect them. Outside of academics, Stephanie enjoys swimming, spending time outdoors, and the company of her animals. 

Email: sbarclay@agcenter.lsu.edu

Sylvia (she/her) earned her undergraduate degree in 2025 with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She has always had a curiosity for the natural world and outside of her studies, she began beekeeping through a college club and helped establish a native pollinator garden on campus. These experiences, along with her passion for environmental sustainability and conservation, led her to pursue a Master’s in Entomology in the Christman Lab at LSU.  

Her research focuses on native bee ecology by investigating bumble bee population genetics and floral associations to inform conservation strategies. Her thesis explores the genetic diversity of the imperiled Bombus pensylvanicus (American bumble bee) through contemporary field collections in Louisiana as well as through museum specimens spanning the species’ broader native range. She also seeks to understand the phenology, plant-pollinator interactions, relative abundance, and community composition of Bombus species in southeastern Louisiana while working to produce a guide to the bumble bee species of this region. When she’s not catching bees, she enjoys running, listening to music, hiking, and gardening. 

Sarah (she/her) is an undergraduate student in Natural Resource Ecology and Management with a concentration in Conservation Biology at LSU. She enjoys learning the identification and taxonomy of bees and moths. When not in the lab, she just be knitting, crocheting, hiking, and reading. 

Kyle (he/him) is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Power at LSU that generally loves to learn. He focuses on topics such as robotics, controls, applied electronics, and now iterative rapid prototyping. If he's not in school, he's probably tinkering with some new gadget he found or in a robotics lab working with big robots or haptic control devices.

Leea (she/her) is an undergraduate student in Microbiology at LSU. She is passionate about getting outside and enjoying the world around her. Leea began to see the importance of pollinators in the environment and is excited to pursue research in the Christman Lab at LSU. She enjoys hiking, birding, and swimming!