June 14, 2023
Beyond pollinating flowers and crops, bees are also helping researchers decode the genes behind social behaviors.
Princeton biologist Sarah Kocher studies these genes in sweat bees — which, unlike their hive-making cousins, can either be solitary or form social groups.
Understanding the bees’ social behavior could give scientists insights into social behaviors in a wide range of creatures, including humans.
Kocher was recently named one of the first Freeman Hrabowski Scholars by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for her successes as an early career scientist and her strides in creating a diverse and inclusive lab environment. She has also won major awards from Pew and the NIH.