Kiersten Ritchie

Manage research lab operations and work closely with faculty, students, and hourly workers to ensure smooth operations and experimental success, including managing hourly student scheduling and delegating tasks and labor accordingly. Manage inventory for experimental needs, assisting in data collection, sample processing, lab and field experiments, and data management. Maintain rigor in scientific experimental protocols and communicating clearly and effectively to support a high-quality research program.

Experience developing and executing organizational strategies, managing budgets and resources, and delivering measurable organizational outcomes.

Experience building collaborative partnerships across academia, industry and research institutions.

Manager - Honey Bees and Pollinators Program, WSU - Pullman, WA

(2025-06)

Manage research lab operations and work closely with faculty, students, and hourly workers to ensure smooth operations and experimental success, including managing hourly student scheduling and delegating tasks and labor accordingly. Manage inventory for experimental needs, assisting in data collection, sample processing, lab and field experiments, and data management. Maintain rigor in scientific experimental protocols and communicating clearly and effectively to support a high-quality research program.

Experience developing and executing organizational strategies, managing budgets and resources, and delivering measurable organizational outcomes.

Experience building collaborative partnerships across academia, industry and research institutions.

Research Assistant - Washington State University - Pullman, WA

(2019-08 - 2025-06)

My research focused on honey bee reproductive biology and evolution to understand the underlying mechanisms of differentiation between strains in the US. As part of the work, I conducted beekeeping duties and hive maintenance, semen collection from drones and instrumental insemination of honey bee queens to control the volume of semen each queen receives, and preform queen dissections. Lab work consisted of multiple polymerase chain reactions and RNA extractions.

I conducted analysis on population genetic data and RNA-seq analysis. Presented research data in meetings and during conferences. Organized education and outreach programs for community engagement with STEM and developed research protocols.

This works furthers evolutionary knowledge and applications for queen breeding to boost honey bee populations in a time of colony decline.

Master Beekeeping Course Instructor - WASBA - Pullman, WA

(2024-01 - 2024-12)

Complied data on beekeeping and bee breeding practices in a presentation. Information included queen rearing, natural and artificial insemination methods, treatments for pests, and data from research on honey bee reproductive biology. Recorded presentation to be available for beekeepers enrolled in the WASBA Master Beekeeping Course.

Secretary - WSU Entomology Graduate Student Association - Pullman, WA

(2021-01 - 2022-12)

Conducted meetings and kept minutes to inform students of current events in the Entomology Department

WSU Honey bee and Pollinator Health Extension Educator Search Committee Member - WSU Honey Bee Program - Pullman, WA

(2021-01 - 2022-12)

Practiced unbiased analysis of candidates for the extension educator position for WSU Entomology Honey bee Program. Was successful in selecting a qualified candidate for outreach work and educating the public and hobbyist beekeepers in Washington state on pollinator health

WSU Honey bee Reproductive Technologies Symposium Liaison - WSU Honey Bee Program - Pullman, WA

(2020-01 - 2020-12)

Built rapport with international researchers to invite them to speak at the WSU Honey bee Reproductive Technologies Symposium, held in Pullman, WA. Was successful in bringing together a diverse and exceptionally knowledgeable group of scientists to put on the symposium.

WSU Honey bee and Pollinators Research, Extension and Education Liaison - WSU Othello Facility - Othello, WA

(2020-01 - 2020-12)

Communicated effectively to organize and invite guests and speakers to the opening event of the WSU Honey Bee Extension facility

Industrial Hygiene Technician - Washington River Protection Solutions - Richland, WA

(2017-12 - 2019-06)

Collected samples of dust, gases, vapors and other toxic materials for analysis, collected samples of hazardous materials, prepared hazardous and mixed waste samples for transport and storage by packing and labeling them, ordered suspension of activities that posed threats to workers' health and safety

Laboratory Technician - Labbeemint, Inc. - White Swan, WA

(2013-06 - 2017-09)

Worked summers (June – Sept) from 2013 – 2017, conducted standardized tests on peppermint oil to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors including color and flavor, recorded and compiled test results, prepared charts and reports, analyze test results to classify products with industry standards, cleaned and sterilized laboratory equipment, operated and maintained GC-MS machines

Doctorate of Philosophy - Entomology - Washington State University (2019-01 - 2026-12)

Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry - University of Washington (2013-01 - 2017-12)