Welcome to the KOB Pollinator Ecology Research Page
Research Highlight
Summer 2025 was very busy with several new graduate students working on projects, along with two monarch interns collecting field data on monarchs and floral microbes.
We're currently working on four projects. One is related to hover flies, bees, and butterflies in conservation practices near agricultural fields.
We're also looking in the fields to find the pollinators within corn, soybean, and alternative crops like peas and buckwheat.
Within perennial systems, we are examining how remnant and reconstructed prairies support plants and butterflies, depending on management and landscape context.
As always, we're always looking for ways to increase resources and space for pollinators in all land uses across Iowa.
Current Opportunities
We’re currently looking to hire 6 temporary summer field technicians to collect data on plants and pollinators in Minnesota and Iowa. Technician duties will include observations of pollinator-plant interactions; floral and plant surveys; collecting bees and hoverflies from nets and traps; and data processing including insect preservation for identification and data entry. Technicians are expected to be based out of Iowa (housing not provided). Technicians traveling to Minnesota will be provided housing while traveling.
Summer 2026 Projects
Two monarch butterfly interns to collect data on plants and monarch numbers in established monarch habitats around Iowa. Interns may also work on tracking monarchs with bluetooth tracking technology.
One research technician focused on prairie plant surveys in Iowa and Minnesota.
One research technician focused on butterfly surveys in Iowa and Minnesota.
One research technician focused on bee sampling in corn and soybean fields in Iowa.
One research technician focused on bee, hoverfly, and butterfly surveys in conservation practices in Iowa.
Desired qualifications include: Working towards a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, fisheries and wildlife, or a related field; comfortable working long hours in the field under potentially high heat and humidity; and prior experience with field work, including plant and pollinator surveys.
Salary will range from $15-18/hr depending on experience.
Please submit a cover letter and resume describing your interest and qualifications in one pdf to Dr. Katherine Kral-O'Brien (kralob@iastate.edu). In the subject line, please write "2026 Summer Research Technician".
Undergraduate Opportunities
Undergraduate students from Iowa State may have additional opportunities to conduct independent research. If you would like to join the lab through some of the programs offered by the University including Science with Practice, University Honors Program, or another Undergraduate Research Opportunity, please reach out!