I am interested in understanding how and why pollinators make choices about which flowers to visit, and how this affects the success and fitness of both sides of the plant-pollinator mutualism. In particular my research focusses on how the physical and chemical properties of nectar and pollen interact with bee foraging dynamics and energetics to shape their pollination behaviour.
I moved to Oxford following a PhD at the University of Cambridge on the biomechanics of plant-pollinator interactions. Here, I have been researching taste perception and floral reward evaluation in several bee species, focussing on nectar sugar composition, and the many minor and often non-nutritive secondary compounds present in nectar.
In my fellowship I plan to apply computer vision and machine learning techniques to enhance the resolution and throughput of bee behavioural and biomechanical assays. The aim is to transfer lab-based experimental techniques to the field to improve understanding of the key factors which influence the ecosystem service provided by these pollinators in both natural and agricultural systems.
