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Graduate Students

Complete Graduate Student Contact List

Victor Antonio Absalon-Medina
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2008 to January 2011
Advisor:  W. Ronald Butler
Anticipated Graduation Date:  January 2011
Degrees:   B.S. at Universidad Veracruzana, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Veracruz, Mexico.
M.S. in Animal Science at Cornell University
 
Research Area(s):
-Use of CNCPS as nutritional tool to characterize Dual-purpose systems in Veracruz, Mexico.
-Milk progesterone kinetics and its role in conception and embryonic survival rates in Holstein cows.
-In vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes.
-Utilization of a cattle database from T&R Center to understand epigenetic factors, at the time of conception (and other critical times during gestation), which may contribute to the future performance of female offspring.

Meghan Filbert
Degree Program:  Masters

Years of Study: 2008 to May 2010
Advisor: Dan Brown
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2010
Degrees:   B.S., Animal Science, International Agriculture, Iowa State University
 
Research Area(s):
Livestock nutrition in developing countries. Nutritional toxicology.

 

 

 

Ryan Higgs
Degree Program:  Masters / Animal Science

Years of Study: 2007 to 2009
Advisor: Larry Chase
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2009
Degrees:   Bachelor of Applied Science with first class Honours in Agriculture from Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
 
Research Area(s):
Focus of my current degree is nitrogen utilization on commercial dairy farms and using CNCPS v6.1 as a tool to evaluate and improve aspects of nitrogen use in the commercial situation.

 

 

Megan Hofherr
Degree Program:  Masters

Years of Study: 2008 to 2010
Advisor: Mike Van Amburgh
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2010
Degrees:   B.S. in Animal Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
 
Research Area(s):
Metabolism and regulation of milk protein synthesis in dairy cows

 

 

 

Heather Holl
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2009 to 2013
Advisor: Samantha Brooks
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2013
Degrees:   B.S. in Equine Science Preveterinary/Pregraduate Studies and Life Science Molecular Biology, Otterbein College, Westerville, OH
 
Research Area(s):
Equine genetics.

 

 

 

Julie Huzzey
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2007 to 2011
Advisor: Tom Overton
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2011
Degrees:   B.S. Agroecology, University of British Columbia, Canada
M.S. in Animal Science, University of British Columbia, Canada
 
Research Area(s):
My research is focused on studying stress physiology in transition dairy cattle and how this relates to health and management. Currently, I am investigating whether particular physiological indicators of stress (e.g. related to energy, immune, inflammatory status) can identify cows that are at a high risk of becoming sick after calving. If we can identify these animals early on, than we may be able to explore management related interventions that could prevent severe health disorders from occurring.

Mila Kundu
Degree Program:  Masters

Years of Study: 2008 to 2010
Advisor: Patricia Johnson
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2010
Degrees:   Bachelor’s from SUNY Geneseo
 
Research Area(s):
The process of follicle selection and development in the hen; examining the production of specific hormones such as AMH and FSH within the follicles.

 

 

 

Keenan McRoberts
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2009 - 2013
Advisor: Debbie Cherney
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2013
Degrees:  B.S., Biochemistry, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, MPS - International Agriculture and Rural Development, Cornell University

 
Research Area(s):
International livestock nutrition and nutrient cycling in mixed crop-livestock systems.

 

 

 

Fernando Migone
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2009 - 2013
Advisor: Susan Quirk
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2013
Degrees:  B.S. Animal Science Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru
 
Research Area(s):
Reproduction Physiology: The ovary.

 

 

 

Anne Marie O'Donnell
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2006 to 2009
Advisor: Dale Bauman
Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2009
Degrees:   B.S. in Animal Science and Management, University of California, Davis
 
Research Area(s):
Real-world implementation and production of naturally enhanced-conjugated linoleic acid dairy products to further increase the nutritional and functional food components of milk and promote human health.

 

 

 

Emiliano Raffrenato
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2005 to 2010
Advisor: M.E. Van Amburgh
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2010
Degrees:   Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture, University of Catania, Italy
Master in Animal Breeding, Cornell University, 2002
 
Research Area(s):
Implementation of a mathematical approach to calculate rate of NDF degradation for commercial labs. Methodological improvement of the detergent system for fiber and lignin procedure through better recovery; interested in how lignin and lignin-carbohydrate linkages, in particular ester and ether linked phenolic acids like ferulic and p-coumaric acids, affect rate and extent of fiber digestibility in forages, and how they affect the value of lignin*2.4 as a protector of NDF as used in CNCPS/CPM; how therefore these linkages affect energy from both NDF and ND solubles and dry matter intakes estimation of NDF. I am also developing a dynamic optimization to be implemented in CNCPS to better allocate feeds within a farm to improve either profit, milk yield or environmental impact, through also an optimal grouping strategy. As a side interest, I work with calf and heifer growth and how it affects subsequent milk performance and longevity.

Jose M Ramos-Nieves
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2007 to 2011
Advisor: Yves Boisclair
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2011
Degrees:   B.S. in Agronomy and Animal Science, ITESM CQ, Mexico
Cornell University, M.S. in Animal Science
 
Research Area(s):
My research activities are dedicated to the better understanding of central control of metabolism in sheep and the effects that intrauterine growth retardation has on the metabolism of the newborn lamb.

 

 

Erin Recktenwald
Degree Program:  Masters/Doctorate

Years of Study: 2003 to 2009
Advisor: Mike Van Amburgh
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2009
Degrees:   B.S. Animal Science at UW-River Falls
M.S. Animal Science at Cornell University
 
Research Area(s):
Nitrogen metabolism, particularly quantifying and understanding the mechanisms of urea recycling; protein/energy interactions; biological modeling

 

 

Yi (Athena) Ren
Degree Program:  Masters/Doctorate

Years of Study: 2006 to 2011
Advisor: Susan Quirk
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2011
Degrees:   B.S., Animal Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
 
Research Area(s):
My research interest includes multiple aspects of female reproductive physiology, with a focus on the ovary. My present research project uses transgenic mouse model to study the role of Hedgehog signaling pathway in the development and function of ovary.

 

 

Debbie Ross
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: Employee Degree Program
Advisor: M.E. Van Amburgh
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2009
Degrees:  B.S. in Animal Science, Cornell University
M.S., Cornell University
 
Research Area(s):
Ruminant feed nitrogen solubility and digestion methodology; milk protein synthesis

 

 

 

Fernando Soberón
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2008 - 2011
Advisor: M.E. Van Amburgh
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 2011
Degrees:  B.S. as Engineer in agronomy and zoology at Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey Campus Queretaro, Mexico
M.S. in Animal Science, Cornell University, 2008
 
Research Area(s):
Factors affecting or influencing the development of the mammary gland in postnatal dairy calves as well as the mechanism through which the mammary gland reacts to stimuli from the environment; some of the cell types being studied are stem cells and myoepithelial cells. Also under study is the signaling pathway that ushers the mammary gland from a period of allometric growth to one of isometric growth.

Melanie Soberón
Degree Program:  Masters/Doctorate

Years of Study: 2005 - 2011
Advisor: Debbie J. Cherney
Anticipated Graduation Date: August 2011
Degrees:  B.S. in Animal Science and Life Science Communications, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005
M.S. in Animal Science, Cornell University, 2007
 
Research Area(s):
The transfer and metabolism of feed-derived compounds to the milk of lactating ruminants and subsequent effects on milk sensory properties.

 

 

Katie M. Schoenberg
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2007 - 2010
Advisor: Tom Overton
Anticipated Graduation Date:2010
Degrees:  B.S., Animal Science, Cornell University
M.S., Animal Science, University of Maryland
 
Research Area(s):
Transition cow health is a critical area for dairy producers to target for increased productivity and profitability. Orchestration of nutrient partitioning is necessary to meet the metabolic demands of lactation, which correspond with a simultaneous decrease in dry matter intake. Understanding the metabolic regulation of glucose homeostasis, lipolysis and lipogenesis that occurs during this period will help improve transition cow health and performance. We are currently targeting a PPAR-gamma ligand, thiazolidinedione (TZD) for use during the transition period. TZDs have potential to heighten insulin sensitivity and regulate lipolysis, especially in overweight transition cows. By studying the effects of TZD and its potential to decease the incidence of metabolic disorders, we will gain a better understanding of metabolic adaptations that occur during early lactation.

Lindsey S. Treviño
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2004 - 2010
Advisor: Patricia A. Johnson
Anticipated Graduation Date:2010
Degrees:  B.S. St. Marys University, San Antonio, TX
 
Research Area(s):
My overall research project is focused on the role of steroid hormones in the development and/or progression of ovarian cancer. Our lab utilizes the hen as a model for ovarian cancer because it is one of the few species, besides humans, that contracts the disease spontaneously. Furthermore, incidence of ovarian cancer in the hen increases with age, similar to women. It is known that there is an increased risk of ovarian cancer in women who are on estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy and a possible decreased risk in women who take the contraceptive pill, lending support to the idea that steroid hormones are playing a role in the etiology of ovarian cancer. Using various techniques and approaches, our goal is to further knowledge of the role of steroid hormone signaling in ovarian cancer.

Jeremy D. Weaver
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2007 - 2010
Advisor: Xingen Lei
Anticipated Graduation Date:2010
Degrees:  B.S., Animal Science, Cornell University
M.S., Animal Science, Cornell University
 
Research Area(s):
My research aims at improving the nutritional benefits of phytase supplementation to simple-stomached animals through studies of phytase biochemistry and physical chemistry.

 

 

Laurie Winkelman
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2007 - 2010
Advisor: Tom Overton
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2010
Degrees:  B.S. in Dairy Science and Agricultural Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S. Animal Science Ruminant Nutrition, The Ohio State University
 
Research Area(s):
My research focuses broadly on milk protein synthesis. We are trying to define recommendations for transition period and early lactation methionine supplementation and are also working on the role of insulin in milk protein synthesis.

 

 

Xi Yan
Degree Program:  Doctorate

Years of Study: 2008 - 2012
Advisor: Xingen Lei
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2012
Degrees:  B.M. in clinical medicine (equivalent to M.D.), Medical College of Jinan University, China
 
Research Area(s):
My research is focused on the molecular mechanism of selenoprotein and antioxidant enzymes associated with the development of diabetes mellitus and obesity. We aim at finding the way to prevent and improve the diseases.

 

 

 

Dr. Jennifer Zambriski
Degree Program:  Masters/Doctorate

Years of Study: 2008 - 2011
Advisor: Daryl Nydam and Alice Pell
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2011
Degrees:  B.S. Tufts University, 2000 D.V.M. with certificate in International Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 2006
 
Research Area(s):
Currently working with cryptosporidium parvum in neonatal dairy cattle. Future research will be focused on infectious disease epidemiology in east Africa examining cross-over of zoonotic parasites between people, livestock, and wildlife.