Animal Science
Department 3684
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2224
Fax: (307) 766-2355
Email: animalscience@uwyo.edu
Katherine Agster is a Masters student working with Dr. Brenda Alexander. In her graduate program, she is studying the effect of a progesterone agonist in the ventral tegmental area and dopaminergic reward pathway of reindeer brains while in rut in relation to herd management. Upon completion of her program, Katherine plans to attend veterinary school. Katherine is from Littleton, CO. | Office: AS/MB 401 | Email: kagster@uwyo.edu
Clara Bouley is a master's student advised by Dr. Bledar Bisha. Clara is studying the application of viral indicators in microbial source tracking of fecal contamination in Wyoming surface water. She plans to attend medical school following completion of her program. Clara is from Sheridan, WY. | Office: AS/MS Lab 129 | Email: cbouley@uwyo.edu
Codi Jo Broten is a final year PhD student working with Dr. Bledar Bisha in the Animal Science Department. Codi Jo is investigating paper-based microfluidic devices (µPADs) as a platform for detection of Listeria monocytogenes. After she completes her program at UW, it is her goal to obtain a career in food safety as a microbiologist in either government, industry, or academia. Codi Jo is from Montesano, WA. | Office: AS/MB Rm. 403 | Email: cbroten@uwyo.edu
Whitney Brown is a masters student working with Dr. Jeremey Block studying reproductive physiology. She is studying effects of administration of a mycobacterium cell wall fraction (MCWF) prior to mating on reproductive outcomes. Whitney plan to work in applied research. She is from Belleville, Wisconsin. | Office: AS/MS 401| Email:wbrown30@uwyo.edu
Shanan Davey is a Masters student working with Dr. Scott Lake in the Animal Science Department. Shanan research is titled "Host and genome microbe analysis in high and low pulmonary arterial pressure cattle". She plans on pursuing a PhD after she graduates with a focus on nutrition and genetics. Shanan is from Olathe, Colorado. | Office: AS/MB Rm. 401 | sdavey1@uwyo.edu.
Aaron Kersh is a master's 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.
Ryan Knuth is a Ph.D. student under the direction of Drs. Hannah Hollinger and Bledar Bisha. In his doctoral program, he is investigating microbial communities in the ewe, lamb, and environment and any relationships with health and performance of both lambs and ewes. Once he completes his program, Ryan hopes to pursue a career in academia to best the American sheep industry and continue his interests in research, teaching, and outreach. Ryan is from Loganville, WI. | Office: AS/MB Rm. 403 | Email: rknuth@uwyo.edu
Michaela Kuzniar is a masters student working with Dr. Jeremy Block. She is studying the effect of IL-1beta during embryo culture on embryo development following ovum pick-up and pregnancy rates following embryo transfer. After this program she is planning to pursue a PhD in cattle reproductive physiology. Michaela is from Chicago, IL. | Office AS/MS 401 | Email: mkuzniar@uwyo.edu
Chase Markel is a Master’s student working with Dr. Cody Gifford and Dr. Hannah Hollinger in the Animal Science department. Chase is studying right-sided heart failure caused by pulmonary hypertension in late finishing phase beef cattle, along with live growth performance and carcass quality. He hopes that his research will lead to advancements in the fed cattle sector, where he eventually would like to establish a career. Chase hopes to contribute to the beef industry in the future by focusing on the utilization of genomic and live performance metrics to increase efficiency in beef herds around the world. | Office AS/MS 401| Email: cmarkel1@uwyo.edu
Alexys McGuire is a Masters student advised by Dr. Bledar Bisha. She is currently working on a project surrounding the analysis of wastewater for COVID-19, as well as modeling COVID-19 prevalence in wastewater, and looking for COVID-19 variants in wastewater. Alexys hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in genetics and head her own lab, where she can study gene therapy. Alexis is from Akron, CO. | Office: Lab 130 | Email: amcguir9@uwyo.edu.
Courtney Newman is a first year M.S. Student under the direction of Drs. Whit Stewart and Cody Gifford. Courtney’s project will look at the potential use of blockchain technology in the U.S. Sheep Industry. She hopes her work will help those in the sheep industry begin to understand where they can utilize new technologies and ultimately help the entire sheep industry to continue to grow and progress. Courtney intends on continuing a career in the U.S. Sheep Industry. She is from Fort Collins, Colorado. | Office: AS/MB 401 | Email: cnewman@uwyo.edu
Sarah Retherford is a first year masters student under the direction of Jeremy Block. Sarah's project look 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
Clara Ritchie is a Masters student working with Dr. Cody Gifford. Her research involves a two part project. Fatty acid profiles were determined from muscles originating from 150 sheep to determine whether fatty acid profiles alone are related to overall sensory performance. In addition to this, a feeding trial is currently being conducted to assess carcass characteristics between high concentrate diets in comparison to lambs fed a grass diet followed by a short high-energy diet in these two management strategies. After she complete her program, she plan to pursue a career in R&D. | Office: AS/MB Rm. 401 | Email: critchie@uwyo.edu
Madison Shults is a Masters student under the advisement of Dr. Hannah Hollinger. She is working to further study on the ruminant microbiome and its implications on reproduction in beef cattle. Madison intends to be a reproductive physiologist focused on the advancement of applied reproductive technologies. Madison is from Meeker, CO. | Email: mshults1@uwyo.edu.
Anahita Tajani is a PhD student and her advisor is Dr. Bledar Bisha. She is working on antimicrobial resistance of some bacteria, such as E.coli and Salmonella, in retail meat. After her program is finished she would like to pursue her research in industry, especially in food safety. Anahita is from Iran. | Office AS/ MB Rm. 401|email:aghorban@uwyo.edu
Animal Science
Department 3684
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2224
Fax: (307) 766-2355
Email: animalscience@uwyo.edu