UM Honey Bee Lab
The Honey Bee Lab at the University of Manitoba investigates the effects of various stressors on managed pollinators. Our research integrates both basic and applied approaches, with a strong emphasis on honey bee (Apis mellifera) health, host-pathogen interactions, social immunity, disease diagnosis and management, and the application of 'omics' tools. Our goal is to support agricultural science by promoting healthy and productive honey bee colonies, while contributing to the maintenance of sustainable agroecosystems.
Our team
| Nuria Morfin | Assistant Professor Head of the UM Honey Bee Lab | Nuria's research interests include the effect of stressors on honey bee health, behavioural immune responses and mechanisms of disease resistance, and host-pathogen interactions. Nuria will be teaching World of Bugs (alongside other outstanding instructors) and Beekeeping for the Hobbyist in Winter 2025. Email: nuria.morfin@umaniotoba.ca UM Department of Entomology Courses
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| Rob Currie | Professor Emeritus | Rob's research interests include the biology, physiology and behaviour of honey bees, impact of stressors on colony health, honey bee nutrition, and pollination. Email: rob.currie@umanitoba.ca |
| Zoe Rempel | Biological Technician | Zoe manages more than 100 colonies at the research apiary, and conducts molecular lab techniques for disease diagnosis and gene expression. She has many years of experience with beekeeping practices, including Manitoba and New Zealand. |
| Charu Sharma | Master Student | Charu is a Master's student under the supervision of Dr. Rob Currie, investigating the effects of oxalic acid on the ectoparasite Varroa destructor and virus replication in honey bees. She is also collaborating with Dr. Nuria Morfin on studies exploring the defense mechanisms honey bees use against diseases and pests.
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| Sara LaValley | Master Student | Sara is completing her Master thesis under the supervision of Dr. Rob Currie. |
| Keaira Vianzon | Summer research intern | Keaira joined the lab as a URA awardee and is collaborating on a research project under the supervision of Dr. Nuria Morfin, focusing on the selection of honey bee stock resistant to diseases and pests. She has a strong interest in the role of veterinarians in honey bee health and welfare.
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| Derek Micholson | Provincial Apiarist | Derek is the Provincial Apiarist for the Province of Manitoba. He also lectures in the Beekeeping for the Hobbyist diploma course and is a strong supporter of the UM Honey Bee Lab, where he completed his Master’s degree. |
| Matthew Polinsky | Program Lead, Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program | Matthew leads the Knowledge and Research Transfer Program (KRTP), part of the Manitoba Beekeepers' Association, conducting applied research, workshops, services, and education for Manitoba beekeepers. He also delivers lectures for the Beekeeping for the Hobbyist diploma course. |
| Amanda Turriff | Field and Lab Technician, KRTP | Amanda works in the field and lab with the KRTP, supporting the beekeeping industry applied research and education, including workshops on beekeeping management, queen rearing, and varroa mite monitoring. |
| Keziah Bartel | Field and Lab Technician, KRTP | Keziah recently joined the KRTP, bringing experience in commercial beekeeping and agriculture. She is a recent graduate of the UM with a degree in Science and Agriculture. |
| Cameron Jay | Head of the UM Honey Bee Lab from 1961 to 1991 | Cameron's research focused on honey bees and leafcutter bees. His contributions to entomology and the beekeeping industry in Manitoba, Canada, and internationally have been recognized with a number of prestigious awards. |
| Alvin Valentine Mitchener | Founder of the Department of Entomology in 1921 | Alvin's contributions to honey bee research include generating honey flow data for the province of Manitoba. He also contributed to the insect collection that later became the J.B. Wallis/R.E. Roughley Museum of Entomology. |
Recent publications
- De la Mora A, Goodwin PH, Morfin N, Petukhova T, Guzman-Novoa E. Diversity of Potential Resistance Mechanisms in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Selected for Low Population Growth of the Parasitic Mite, Varroa destructor. Insects. 2025 Apr 4;16(4):385. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040385
- Tran L, Lansing L, Cunningham M, Ho J, Deckers T, Newman T, Wu L, Gregoris AS, Zorz J, Muntz L, Lee K, Trépanier-Leroux D, Conflitti IM, Pepinelli M, Walsh EM, Morfin N, Powell JE, Moran N, Hoover S, Currie RW, Giovenazzo P, Guzman-Novoa E, Jabbari H, Foster LJ, Zayed A, Polo Ortega R, Guarna MM. Gut microbiome metagenomic sequences of honey bees (Apis mellifera) exposed to crops. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 2025 Feb 4:e00731-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00731-24
- Zaldivar-Ortega AK, Cenobio-Galindo AD, Morfin N, Aguirre-Álvarez G, Campos-Montiel RG, Esturau-Escofet N, Garduño-García A, Angeles-Hernandez JC. The Physicochemical Parameters, Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Honey from Stingless Bees and Apis mellifera: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Antioxidants. 2024 Dec 16;13(12):1539. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13121539
- Morfin N, Goodwin PH, Guzman-Novoa E, Legge N, Longstaffe J. 1H NMR Profiling of Honey Bee Brains across Varying Ages and Seasons. Insects. 2024 Jul 30;15(8):578. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15080578
- Morfin N, Foster LJ, Guzman-Novoa E, Van Westendorp P, Currie RW, Higo H. Varroa destructor economic injury levels and pathogens associated with colony losses in Western Canada. Frontiers in Bee Science. 2024 May 21;2:1355401. https://doi.org/10.3389/frbee.2024.1355401
- Micholson D, Currie RW. Heightened sensitivity in high-grooming honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Insect Science. 2024 May 1;24(3):21. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieae057
More publications
Get involved
Students and members of the general public are welcome to apply for a volunteer position.
Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks that change throughout the seasons, including general apiary management and support for field and/or lab research.
We kindly ask that you contact us if you are available for at least one full morning or afternoon per week. We accept volunteers during the winter, summer, and fall semesters.
Please note that some tasks can be physically demanding. Volunteer applicants should be comfortable working outdoors, able to lift and carry beekeeping equipment, and willing to work around stinging insects.
To apply, please complete the Volunteer Application Form and send it to Nuria.Morfin@UManitoba.ca
Graduate and undergraduate student opportunities
The Honey Bee Lab is open to inquiries from potential graduate students (under the supervision of Dr. Nuria Morfin). Students with scholarships and funding to support their research are welcome to apply for both MSc and PhD positions with us.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to reach out to us to inquire about summer positions. Please send a short CV highlighting your experience and your potential for contributing to projects withing the Honey Bee Lab.
"The UM Honey Bee Lab gave me an opportunity [two summer intern positions] that planted the kernel of knowledge and gave me hands-on experience. I was meant to be a beekeeper." Julia Common -Chief Beekeeper of Bees Actually and Co-founder of Hives for Humanity.
Graduate and undergraduate positions are subject to funding availability
Confirm eligibility and funding opportunities
Beekeeping for the Hobbyist
This diploma course has been offered since 1919, and covers the main aspects of honey bee biology and beekeeping management.
Many prominent industry professionals have taken this course, including Ian Steppler—one of the most successful commercial beekeepers in the province and the Chairperson of the Manitoba Beekeepers' Association.
Alumni, collaborators and friends
| Alumni | Year | Current position |
| Steve Pernal, PhD | 2000 | Research Scientist and National Lead, Apiculture Research Program. Agriculture and AgriFood Canada |
| David Ostermann, MSc | 2003 | Apiculturist, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada |
| Robyn Underwood, PhD | 2005 | Extension Educator, Apiclutre. Pennsylvania State College of Agricultural Sciences |
| Paul Kozak, MSc | 2008 | Provincial Apiarist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Agribusinesses |
| Suresh Desai, PhD | 2014 | Senior Scientist, RNAi, Ivaio Sciences |
| Rassol Bahreini, PhD | 2015 | Research Associate, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta |
| Graham Parsons, MSc | 2017 | Pollinator Biosecurity Specialist, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture |
| Cole Robson-Huyska, MSc | 2018 | Instructor, Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba |
| Rossana Punko, MSc | 2021 | Admission and Academic Assistant, University of Alberta |
| Derek Micholson, MSc | 2022 | Provincial Apiarist with Manitoba Agriculture, he is also an active collaborator with the UM Honey Bee Lab and a co-lecturer in the Beekeeping for the Hobbyist diploma course. |
| Megan Colwell, PhD | 2023 | Scientific Evaluator, Health Canada - Pest Management Regulatory Agency. She also took amazing photographs that we use in our website. |
| Paul Gregory | Summer student under the supervision of Dr. Cam Jay in 1976. He now manages a 1,500-colony apiary with his son, and is the owner of a seed trade company. He serves as Chair of the Manitoba AgriStability Appeal Committee and Vice Chair of the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association. He is also actively involved in regenerative agriculture projects with the local Watershed District seed trade activities. |
| Lloyd Harris | Completed his graduate studies in 1980 under the supervision of Dr. Cam Jay, with research that advanced understanding of honey bee longevity and colony dynamics. Although now retired, he remains active in the beekeeping community and continues to write research articles. |
| Julia Common | Summer student under the supervision of Dr. Cam Jay. Julia is the Chief Beekeeper of her 150-colony operation in British Columbia, Bees Actually, and co-founder of Hives for Humanity. She is a certified instructor with the BC Honey Producers’ Association and an active member of both the beekeeping and bee research communities. |
| Daryl Wright | Research Technician from 1982 to 1994. He remains actively involved in the beekeeping industry and is a close friend and valued collaborator of the UM Honey Bee Lab. |
| David Holder | Research Technician from 1986 to 2023. He continues to collaborate with the UM Honey Bee Lab and remains actively involved in projects, such as improving our Honey House. |
| Rhéal Lafrenière | Extension Apiarist from 1996 to 2002 and as Provincial Apiarist from 2003 to 2022. He was also a key contributor to the Beekeeping for the Hobbyist course throughout that time. He remains highly active in the beekeeping community in Manitoba and internationally. |
| Ian Steppler | As a Diploma student, he took the Beekeeping for the Hobbyist course. In addition to managing a purebred Charolais herd, he oversees 1,200 honey bee colonies. He is an active educator and currently serves as Chair of the Manitoba Beekeepers' Association. |
| Lisa Babey | Research Technician. |
| Jordan Janisse | Research Technician. Jordan is currently an Apiary Inspector for the province of Manitoba. |
If you are an alumnus or collaborator and would like to be acknowledged on our website, please contact us at the UM Honey Bee Lab.
