Departmetn of Animal Science
University of Wyoming
Room 101 AS/MB
Department #3684
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2224
Fax: (307) 766-2355
Email: animalscience@uwyo.edu
Emily Barr is a Master’s student working under Dr. Hannah Cunningham-Hollinger in the Animal Science department. Emily is from Northwestern Pennsylvania where she grew up raising market hogs and lambs for 4-H. This influenced her decision to attend the University of Findlay where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in animal science. Through Emily’s undergraduate studies, she became interested in how seemingly unrelated processes in livestock are actually heavily influenced by each other, which led her to continuing her education in graduate school. Emily is looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills she learns at UW to her future career in animal science. | Email: ebarr3@uwyo.edu
Puja Boidya is currently serving as a Graduate Research Assistant and engaged in research activities conducted under the supervision of Dr. Bledar Bisha's lab. Her goal is to acquire a deeper understanding of antimicrobial resistance trends that are prevalent among a larger population as well as to identify potential public health issues linked to antibiotic resistance. To achieve this, she is working on wastewater influent to provide valuable insights into the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the community. Puja was born and raised in Bangladesh. | Email: pboidya@uwyo.edu
Olivia is a master’s student under the advisement of Dr. Bledar Bisha. Her research is divided into two modules, with the first involving enumeration and quantification of drug-resistant Salmonella enterica in retail food products using digital PCR (dPCR). The second module will involve the same enumeration and quantification of drug-resistant Salmonella enterica using dPCR. After her work here, she hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. | Email: ochase@uwyo.edu
Emily Eck is a masters student working under the advisement of Dr. Hannah Cunningham-Hollinger and Dr. Shelby Rosasco. She will primarily be studying stair-step nutritional management planning, and its effects on the reproductive physiology of beef heifers. Emily graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s in Animal and Veterinary Science and a minor in Spanish. She is excited for the opportunity to return to UW to continue her education, and looks forward to applying the knowledge and skills she gains to her future vocation. | Email: eeck@uwyo.edu
Kemsley Gallegos is a master's student working under the advisement of Dr. Hannah Hollinger and Dr. Cody Gifford in the Animal Science department. Kemsley is studying the impacts of two common human diets, and its effect on metabolic indicators of gut and cardiometabolic risk in a crossover design using swine. Kemsley was born and raised in laramie, Wyoming. | Email: kgalleg2@uwyo.edu
Jake Gillespie is a masters student working under the advisement of Dr. Cody Gifford and is also the meat judging coach. He is a Texas kid, born and raised in Texas. He graduated from Clarendon college in 2020, then got recruited to attend West Texas A&M as a meat judger. He graduated from West Texas A&M and shortly after was convinced to attend grad school here and coach a team of meat judgers. He loves God, meat judging, his family and basketball. | Email: jgilles6@uwyo.edu
Josie Hernandez is under the advisement of both Dr. Cody Gifford and Dr. Whit Stewart. The research project that she is conducting involves the collaboration of Katahdin sheep producers in the Intermountain West region and US-MARC. The goal is to evaluate optimal feeding and management strategies for lambs on different diets and analyze carcass data and attributes. She is enthusiastic about being able to work in the industry and continuing her education. Josie is from Auburn, CA. | Email: jherna35@uwyo.edu
Owen Hoal is a masters student working under the advisement of Dr. Cody Gifford in the Animal Science Department. His research will focus on congestive heart failure in beef cattle. Owen is from Colorado and competes on the rodeo team for the university.
Aaron Kersh is a masters Student in animal science under the direction of Drs. Whit Stewart and Derek Scasta. In his research he is studying the effects of targeted grazing of sheep on larkspur predominated rangelands and changes of trace mineral composition during various plant phenological stages over the grazing season. After his research is done, he hope to continue in range science as a range animal nutritionist. Aaron is from Cheyenne, Wyoming. |Office AS/MB Rm. 401| Email: akersh2@uwyo.edu
Dylan Laverell is an M.S. Student under the direction of Dr. Whit Stewart. Dylan master’s project will look at defining Calcium levels in clinical and sub-clinical ewes. Dylan finds fulfillment working in the sheep industry as he meets producers that work to produce sustainable food and fiber. He is from Big Timber, MT. | Email: dlaverel@uwyo.edu
Chase Markel is a PhD student working with Dr. Cody Gifford and Dr. Hannah Cunningham-Hollinger in the Department of Animal Science. Chase is studying hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in beef cattle and the impact of this pathology on economically important traits related to growth performance and meat quality. He hopes that his research will lead to advancements in the fed cattle sector, where he eventually would like to establish a consulting career. Chase strives to contribute to the beef industry by demonstrating the importance of data management and physiology in making educated management decisions to increase efficiency and sustainability. | Office AS/MS 403| Email: cmarkel1@uwyo.edu
Mack Myer is a master’s student working under the advisement of Dr. Dittoe. Mack is studying meat microbiology as well as ways to improve food safety in pre and post-harvest processes. She completed her bachelor’s degree in animal science at CSU. Mack is looking forward to continuing her education in this field. | Email: mmyer2@uwyo.edu
Olivia Ohm is a master's student under the guidance of Dr. Jeremy Block. She is originally from the Chicagoland area but has been out west for the better part of 4 years. Currently, she is investigating the development and viability of blastocysts following dissociation. In other words, she is separating individual blastomeres from the 8-celled blastocyst stage and looking to see if these individual cells can continue to divide and develop. | Email: oohm@uwyo.edu
Sarah Retherford is a second year masters student under the direction of Jeremy Block. Sarah's project looks at improving reproductive efficiency in cattle through understanding the role of the seminal plasma microbiome on sperm viability, function, and fertility. After her program is done she hopes to continue in academia or work in the industry. | Office 401 | Email: sretherf@uwyo.edu
Aniket Sharma is a graduate student from India. Microbiologist by background, he is currently working in understanding the antimicrobial resistance trend for bunch of different food-borne pathogens like Campylobacter, Salmonella under the mentorship of Dr. Bledar Bisha. When not in lab he likes to watch movies. Upon completion of his degree, he aims to move in the industrial sector to apply his research in making healthy what we eat! Fun fact: He is a vegetarian scientist working with meat samples! | Email: asharma7@uwyo.edu
Dania Sinzu is a Master’s student working in Dr. James Pru’s lab. Her research is on the role of casein kinase 1 delta and epsilon, an important proliferation regulator, on female reproductive tract and fertility. After her program is finished, she hopes to continue working in reproductive research. Dania is from Jackson, Wy. | Email: dsinzupr@uwyo.edu
Nikhil Srivastava is a PhD student in the Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Program, in Dr James Pru's lab. He is working to understand the complex molecular interactions taking place during pregnancy in mouse. He is from India and is a strong supporter of cultural diversity in the department. He is also a poet and writes regularly on various platforms. | Email: nsrivast@uwyo.edu
Departmetn of Animal Science
University of Wyoming
Room 101 AS/MB
Department #3684
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2224
Fax: (307) 766-2355
Email: animalscience@uwyo.edu
