The Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota is pleased to announce that Dr. Lewis Bartlett will join the faculty as the Spivak/Manitou Fund Honey Bee Chair and Assistant Professor, effective September 2027. This endowed position was established through generous donor support to ensure long-term funding for innovative research, education, and extension efforts dedicated to honey bee health and sustainable beekeeping practices.
Dr. Bartlett is currently an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in Entomology and Ecology at the University of Georgia (UGA), where he served as Director of the UGA Bee Lab. An accomplished researcher in insect disease ecology, his work addresses some of the most critical challenges facing managed honey bees today, including the impacts of varroa mites, pesticide exposure, invasive species, and improving commercial tools for honey bee health from nutrition to immune-boosting biotechnology.
In addition to his research, Dr. Bartlett is widely recognized for his dedication to science communication, industry outreach, and mentorship, working actively to train a growing workforce of honey bee health experts and support beekeeper-led scientific research and projects.
In his new role at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Bartlett will direct honey bee research initiatives in the UMN Bee Lab, building on the department’s long-standing legacy of groundbreaking bee health research, teaching, extension, and community engagement.
