Samuel Ramsey's fascination with entomology started more than 25 years ago and still shows no signs of waning. With a focus on emerging symbioses and their impact on pollinator health, Dr. Ramsey has rapidly distinguished himself as an unconventional thinker in the field of bee research. His work spans multiple species of bees and has highlighted the emergence of devastating pandemics in our pollinator populations. Much like Covid-19, these pollinator pandemics are easier to manage the sooner action is taken. As such, the Ramsey lab will work to compile and make accessible relevant data concerning the distribution, spread, and impact of bee symbionts around the globe.
In each model system, Dr. Ramsey works to further resolve the symbioses at play highlighting the interconnected nature of our world and the need to understand the sum of its parts. His award-winning research on the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor has changed the standing paradigm on how this parasite ultimately kills its host. Recognized nationally and internationally, his work was awarded first place in both categories of the International Three-Minute Thesis Competition, received the American Bee Research Conference’s Award for Distinguished Research, the Alumni Excellence Award from the University of Maryland College Park, and the Acarological Society of America’s Highest Award for Advances in Acarology Research.
Dr. Ramsey received his B.S. in entomology from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Maryland College Park. He completed his post-doctoral training with Dr. Jay Evans, Steve Cook, and Daniel Sonenshine at USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory. Featured on Hulu’s Docuseries: Your Attention Please as well as in the Washington Post, on NPR, CNN, Wired, CBS This Morning, Khan Academy, Seeker, The Today Show and several local news segments, Dr. Ramsey is celebrated as an engaging science communicator. He uses this talent to make science more accessible to a broad audience. His nonprofit, The Ramsey Research Foundation, works to remove barriers that slow the progress of and decrease access to science by developing novel pathways for scientific funding and by removing paywalls that keep the public from engaging with published scientific work.