Rachel Vannette is an ecologist in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at UC Davis.  Research in her lab at UC Davis focuses on the bacteria and fungi in bees and flowers. Her lab studies how bees avoid spoilage in their stored nectar and pollen, how microbes might help solitary bees avoid disease, and the chemistry of these interactions. She and her lab conduct field work in the Tahoe Basin, the California coast and the Inner Coast Range, as well as in the Arboretum at UC Davis. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running, hiking, baking and spending time with her family and dog.