Julia Bowsher, a professor of biological sciences at North Dakota State University, has received a $880,218 grant to fund the research project, titled Collaborative Research: Insults for free: the roles of metamorphosis and dormancy in aging dynamics. This grant builds on a previously funded NSF grant between NDSU, USDA-ARS and the University of Wyoming to study the genomics of bee overwintering and predict the impacts of climate change on bee populations.

This research aims to shed light on how metamorphosis and dormancy influence the aging process in bees. This collaborative grant is a partnership between NDSU researchers Julia Bowsher, Kendra Greenlee and Britt Heidinger, USDA-ARS Staff Scientist Joe Rinehart and Michael Dillon of the University of Wyoming. The Integrative Ecological Physiology program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) have jointly funded this project.

“This project brings together expertise in physiology, aging, and stress. I am excited to work with this amazing research team to answer questions about aging dynamics.” Julia Bowsher

The study will focus on solitary and bumble bees, focusing on their tissue and cell transformations during metamorphosis and survival strategies like diapause (hibernation) in harsh winters. By studying bees' short life cycles, the team hopes to discover new ways to slow down aging's negative effects and preserve declining bee populations. Bees are the ideal model system for studying aging dynamics due to their short life cycles compared to vertebrates, making examining patterns over their lifetimes possible.

Bees share many aspects with insects and vertebrates, providing valuable insights into the effects of aging that may be applicable across different species. By understanding these processes, they hope to unlock insights into aging for all living beings, leading to potential benefits for human health and longevity.

The research project goes beyond scientific exploration. It also provides valuable training opportunities for six graduate students and six undergraduate students. The team also plans to create an interactive K-12 learning module on bumble bee spring emergence to inspire Native American high school students to explore STEM subjects. This research will create informational exhibits, and outreach events about pollinators.