The National Science Foundation awarded a $1,599,274 Project Grant to Utah State University under the Biological Sciences federal grant program (CFDA 47.074) to study the context-dependent effects of nectar microbes on pollination mutualisms. Over a three-year period from June 2022 to May 2025, the awardee will explore how nectar microbes affect cooperation between plants and floral visitors using wildflowers and their microbial residents in floral nectar as a model system. Key deliverables include characterizing the drivers of nectar microbial community structure, how nectar microbes influence behaviors of floral visitors, and the impact on plant reproduction. The awardee will train undergraduate students, a graduate student, and postdoctoral researcher. Outreach is planned with a nonprofit museum and middle schools. A $150,000 subaward to Thanksgiving Point Institute will support related research on context-dependent effects of nectar microbes on pollination.