Biography

Jessica Bikaun (née Moran) grew up on a small cattle farm in the southwest of Australia, but became addicted to honey bees during her Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Australia. After volunteering as a field assistant for the Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), she went on to complete her Honours research on honey bee reproductive biology with CIBER’s Prof. Boris Baer. Since 2018, Jessica has combined her passion for honey bees and biosecurity through her PhD research on “A beehive breathalyser for American foulbrood” with the CRC for Honey Bee Products. In 2021 she joined the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as Project Officer (Bees). As a Bee Biosecurity Officer, Jessica helps beekeepers manage endemic pests and diseases and works with the bee industry to prepare for exotic threats. She is an avid science communicator and advocate for the Australian honey bee and pollination industry.