The Department of Animal Science Graduate Program

C. E. Farin, Director of Graduate Programs

 

Introduction

The graduate program in the Department of Animal Science consists of a talented group of 41 students pursuing advanced studies in nutrition (49%), physiology (27%) and genetics/genomics (24%).  Graduate students are recruited from many countries (e.g., Argentina, Jordan and China) and states (e.g., Iowa, New York, Michigan, Minesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Maryland), as well as from North Carolina, to work on a PhD (32%), MS (61%) or Masters of Animal Science (7%).  The graduate students not only conduct their own research, but are actively involved in their faculty advisor’s research program.  As part of their degree requirements, the graduate students serve as teaching assistants in the department’s undergraduate classes.  Upon completion of their degree program, they will fill academia, industry, or postdoctoral positions.  Some who complete their MS at NCSU will continue their education toward a PhD or DVM elsewhere.

 

2005 Graduates, Mentors and Their Thesis Titles

 

Master of Science

Emily Jean Baird                               (Dr. Jerry Spears)

“Effect of Calcium Supplementation on Ruminal Soluble Calcium Concentrations and

Ruminal Fermentation”

 

Jan-Marie Bender                             (Dr. Joseph Cassady)

“Growth, Carcass, and Meat Quality in Lines Divergently Selected for Testosterone Production and Their Crossbred Progeny”

 

Caroline Elizabeth Brown                  (Dr. Scott Whisnant)

“Effects of Feeding Pattern on Plasma Ghrelin Concentrations in Pigs”

 

Keri Evelyn Boyette                          (Dr. Joseph Cassady)

“Characterization of Follistatin as a Candidate Gene for Litter Size in Pigs”

 

Lauren Renae Gast                           (Dr. Scott Whisnant)

“Reversal of the Effects of TNF-a on In Vitro Derived Bovine Embroys by Addition of a Prostaglandin Synthesis Inhibitor, Indomethacin”

 

Stephanie Laura Hansen                   (Dr. Jerry Spears)

“The Effect of Supplemental Manganese on Growth, Reproductive Performance, and Manganese Status of Beef Heifers”

 

Jennifer Nicole Klein             (Dr. William L. Flowers)

“Increasing Sperm Production in Mature Boars via Manipulation of their Neonatal Environment”

 

Sarah Alissa Muncie                         (Dr. Melissa Ashwell)

“Fine Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting Health and Reproduction in US Holstein Cattle on Chromosome 18”

 

Bianca Merrick Thompson               (Dr. Steve Washburn)

“Effects of Milk Feeding Period and Anthelmintic Treatment on Fecal Egg Counts and Growth in Pastured Dairy Steers”

 

Ph.D.

 

Frank Gerard Bottone, Jr.                (Drs. Brenda Alston-Mills and Thomas E. Eling)

“The Biology and Regulation of Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Dietary Compounds with Chemopreventive Activity”