Mario is joining Dr. Robert Orpet’s lab as a 4th year Ph.D. student in spring of 2023. He earned his BS in Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences, with a minor in Sustainable Development, from WSU in 2019. Before completing his bachelors, Mario kept honey bee colonies and worked in the waste reduction sector, educating the public on compost, recycling, and pollinator conservation. His research focuses on the ecology of parasitic mites on bumble bees, and how landscape management strategies impact mite prevalence. Mario enjoys gardening, hiking, and video games.
