Our Graduate Students

My research is in the area of molecular genetics and genomics of sheep and cattle.

My major professor is Brenda Murdoch, Ph.D.

• B.S. Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho
• B.A. English, University of Idaho

My research is focused on improving meat quality by reducing lipid oxidation in beef patties. This would help reduce beef waste by increasing shelf life.

• Major professor: Michael Colle, Ph.D.
• B.S. Food Science, University of Tehran, Iran
• Hometown: Tehran, Iran

My project is testing the effect of by-product as a functional ingredient in meat.

• Major professor: Phil Bass, Ph.D.
• B.S., Food Science, Mississippi State University
• B.S., Animal Science, Mississippi State University
• Hometown: Saint Cloud, Florida

My research focuses on cardiac ventricular contractility and heart disease. We are currently working on quantifying the prevalence of cardiomyopathy in beef cattle and identifying developmental changes in left ventricular contractility of large mammals, from the fetus to neonate.

• Major professor: Daniel Fitzsimons, Ph.D.
• B.S., University of Florida
• Hometown: Lakeland, Florida

I am looking at congestive heart failure in feedlot cattle and the possible impact on meat quality. Cardiac diseases are now causing 4% mortality rate in feedyards; we are performing morphologic measurements, histology and sarcomere length and potentially identifying main disease(s) present.

• Major professor: Daniel Fitzsimons, Ph.D.
• B.S., Animal Science: Pre-veterinary option, University of Idaho
• Hometown: Madera, California

My research focuses on examining the impacts of an alternative fabrication method on the round primal in heavy weight cattle carcasses (HCW>1,000 lbs). This fabrication method could potentially have effects on the initial chilling rate, meat color and tenderness of cuts generated from the top round and the knuckle. We are exploring the possibilities to mitigate color and tenderness issues often observed in top round steaks in a retail setting by employing this alternative fabrication method.

• Major professor: Phil Bass, Ph.D.
• M.S. Meat Science, Purdue University
• B.S. Animal Science, minors in Biology and Forensics Science, Purdue University
• Hometown: Beijing, China

My research is focused on understanding the immunological effects of wildfire smoke on dairy cows' and calves' respiratory systems. Our specific goal is to expand the current knowledge about wildfire smoke as an environmental stressor for dairy cows and calves and provide producers with a feasible solution to improve animal health and productivity.

• Major professor: Amy Skibiel, Ph.D.
• DVM, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran, 2018
• Hometown: Kerman, Iran

I am researching inflammatory markers in dairy calves that were exposed to wildfire smoke during gestation. My project is part of ongoing research to understand how wildfire smoke impacts dairy cattle.

• Major professor: Denise Konetchy, DVM
• B.S.A.V.S., University of Idaho, 2020
• Hometown: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

My research focuses on the responses of salmonids to changes in water temperature as a result of global warming, particularly Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus). We will use genomics tools to evaluate the cellular mechanisms that govern physiological responses during heat-stress.

My major professor is Madison Powell, Ph.D.

• M.Sc. Marine Science and Limnology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México
• B.S. Biology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México
• Hometown: Mexico City

My research focuses on the development of microfluidic devices for culturing fish intestinal cells for use in anti-nutrition and intestinal physiology research. A secondary objective is to contribute to the characterization of the rainbow trout cell line RTgutGC by expanding current knowledge of the digestive and barrier functions of the cell line.

Major professor: Madison Powell, Ph.D.

• B.S. Plant and Wildlife Ecology, 2021

My current research is focused on understanding the impacts of wildfire smoke exposure on dairy cow health and production, and dairy calf health and growth. Ultimately, my goal with this project is to expand on our understanding of environmental stressors, such as poor air quality associated with wildfire smoke, on cattle physiology. As a researcher, I would like to contribute to producer knowledge and solutions involving environmental stressors to ensure animals are healthy and low stress, thereby fostering an environment for high productivity.

Major Professor: Amy Skibiel, Ph.D.

• B.S. Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Hometown: Walton, Nebraska

With rising concerns about antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in the animal agriculture industry, my research focuses on reducing antimicrobial resistance and improving health in young calves. My research will utilize bovine originated direct fed microbes, also known as probiotics, to examine the impact on enteric pathogens and overall health in weaning dairy calves.

• Major Professor: Denise Konetchy, DVM
• B.S. Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Idaho
• Hometown: Grace, Idaho

My current research is focused on understanding how exposure to wildfire smoke affects the health and performance of dairy calves. The goal with this project is to better understand how wildfire smoke affects dairy calf physiology so that we can develop solutions for producers that would reduce stress in their cattle to overall improve health and production.

• Major professor: Amy Skibiel, Ph.D.
• B.S., Animal Science, California State University – Chico
• Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Danny is dedicated to advancing dairy industry practices through cutting edge research and its influence on various aspects of production in lactating cows. As the dairy industry increasingly enhances the trend towards higher efficiency, enhanced profitability and sustainable practices, Danny's work plays a role in optimizing this transformation.

• Major Professor: Izabelle Teixeira, Ph.D.
• B.S., University of Idaho, 2023
• A.S., College of Southern Idaho, 2021
• Hometown: Jerome, Idaho

My research is developing a model using milk urea nitrogen as a predictive index for dietary crude protein in the lactating dairy cow. Our goal is to reduce nitrogen emissions through better feed management programs on the dairies.

• Major professor: Mireille Chahine, Ph.D.
• B.S. Agribusiness Management, Brigham Young University-Idaho, 2017
• Hometown: Idaho Falls

Specializing in meat science, more specifically, non-allergenic, plant-based water binders to improve the shelf life of beef patties, thereby reducing food waste.

• Major Professor: Michael Colle, Ph.D.
• B.S., Animal Science, West Texas A&M University
• Hometown: Wichita Falls, Texas

My research is in the area of molecular genetics and genomics of sheep and cattle.

My major professor is Brenda Murdoch, Ph.D.

• B.S. Animal Science, University of Findlay
• B.S. Biology, University of Findlay

My research focuses on the supplementation of rumen protected omega-6 fatty acids to beef cows during the late gestation and post artificial insemination (AI) time frames and its factors on cow reproduction and performance as well as calf-preweaning growth and health. The reproductive factors we will be focusing on are pregnancy rates to fixed time-AI, corpus luteum size and diameter, blood progesterone levels, as well as pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAGs).

• Major Professor: John Hall, Ph.D.
• B.S. Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University
• Hometown: Orting, Washington

Our research is dedicated to evaluating heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), antioxidants — especially, those involved in the mitigation of stress induced by reactive oxygenated species (ROS), including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in mature, lactating range cattle during the summer months. Additional focus is placed on the influence of stress on grazing behavior and the results of implementing technologies (injectable trace mineral; ITM) on SODs, catalase and GPx.

Ultimately, we hope to find the best candidates for range cellulose conversion as well as strategies to implement in husbandry practices to promote efficiency in this capacity.

Major professor is Jim Sprinkle, Ph.D.

• M.S.; Angelo State University
• M.A.T; University of Arkansas
• B.S.; University of Arkansas
• PAS; American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists

Publications and Presentations

• Sullivan, L.T., J.W. Dickison, C.M. Harris, M.W. Salisbury, and C. A. Runyan. 2018. Evaluation of essential oil and injectable trace mineral on bull growth performance and fertility. Transl. Anim. Sci. 2:S189–S192 doi: 10.1093/tas/
• Beck, P., L.T. Sullivan, M. Sims, J. Jennings. Reducing Winter Feeding Needs in Southern Arkansas Through the Use of Best Management Grazing Principles. 2014. Joint Annual Meeting (JAM).

My research focuses on examining bacteriophage, viruses that infect bacteria, in microbiomes. Currently, I am looking at the bee gut microbiome and bacteriophage related to the pathogen that causes European Foulbrood.

• Major professor: J.T. VanLeuven, Ph.D.
• B.S., Microbiology, University of Idaho
• M.S., Biology, Washington State University
• Hometown: Prosser, Washington

My research focuses on the effects of various aging strategies on water holding capacity, color, tenderness and sensory characteristics of the longissimus thoracis and gluteus medius in beef subprimals.

• Major professor: Michael Colle, Ph.D.
• B.S., Animal Science, West Texas A&M University
• Hometown: Lewiston, Idaho