Animal Science Graduate Students

Keerthi Bandaru is a PhD student, and her advisor is Dr. Bledar Bisha. She is from India. She is a Veterinary Graduate and completed a master's in veterinary microbiology and worked on Canine Distemper Virus. Currently working on Foodborne Viruses, analysis of wastewater for Food borne viruses. After her program is finished, she would like to pursue her research in Virology and Immunology and want to be a part in working with emerging diseases. | Email: kbandaru@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

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

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

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

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