People

Lewis Malloy

Technician

I am a laboratory technician working to fill in the genetic barcodes for all of New York’s native bee species. Genetic barcoding is fast becoming a powerful tool for conservation and ecological monitoring, allowing detection of species presence in an area and detection of unknown, potentially new species as well. I am proud to be breaking new ground with rapid, high-throughput and relatively affordable genetic techniques that are moving towards making genetic studies available to laboratories of meager financial means.

I earned my MS in Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources from the Justus Liebig University in Germany, where I tested RNAi targets specific to the agricultural pest Psylliodes chrysocephala. Prior to this I spent two years teaching English as a foreign language in Chengdu, China and earned my Bachelor of Biology at Colorado State University. Living and working with people from many states, countries, belief systems, political bends and economic backgrounds has given me a rounded understanding of the conflicting needs and values of people and natural ecosystems around the world. I am passionate about public outreach and breaking down lofty, complex scientific systems into building blocks that anyone could understand. It is my long term goal to manage a research space where students can learn necessary technical and psychological skills to work efficiently, harmoniously and with ingenuity while minimizing stress.