February 2026 Spotlight

Elena Adams, First-year PhD Student, Dr. Mary Gardiner’s lab

Research: My research is focused on urban insect conservation, particularly on identifying and reducing the pressures in urban environments which harm beneficial insects, like pollinators. My current project involves determining the impacts of mosquito sprays on bees and moths. 

Get to know me!

1. What skill would you most like to learn? 

I love textile arts, and I think being able to make and mend my own clothes (sewing, knitting, crochet, etc) would be such a flex.

2. If you were an animal, which one would you be? 

Statistically, probably an ant! 

3. What do you like that everyone else seems to dislike? 

Eating kiwis with the skin on... 

4. What is your favorite season? And why? 

It used to be fall, but nowadays I think there’s something fun to look forward to in every season! Spring is exciting though, after a long winter with minimal bug activity.