LFS Applied Biology Program Blog

Description
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe, a trend that is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Wildfires emit numerous air pollutants that contribute to disease when inhaled. In dairy cattle, exposure to wildfire smoke also impairs milk production. However, there is little research investigating the physiological responses to wildfire smoke that lead to poor health and lactation outcomes, which is necessary to establish mitigation or intervention strategies.

The Lactation Physiology Lab and the Dairy Nutrition Research Lab in the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences at the University of Idaho are seeking motivated and passionate graduate students for a funded research project to quantify immunological and metabolic markers of health and performance in dairy cows and calves exposed to wildfire smoke.

To learn more about research in these labs, please visit www.skibiel-lab.com and https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/animal-veterinary-and-food-sciences/research-andextension/dairy-nutrition

Qualifications
B.S. in Animal Science or related field.
Excellent inter-personal communication skills.
Ability to work independently and in a group.
An interest in animal science and environmental physiology.

If you are interested, email Dr. Amy Skibiel (askibiel@uidaho.edu) or Dr. Pedram Rezamand (rezamand@uidaho.edu) with 1) a brief statement of interest in the position, 2) a curriculum vitae (resume), and 3) unofficial transcripts. For information about our graduate program please visit https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/animal-veterinary-and-foodsciences/majors-and-degrees

M.S. Position in Food Studies at Syracuse University.

Position Description. Graduate research assistant to work under the supervision of Dr. Rick Welsh, Professor of Food Studies (https://falk.syr.edu/people/welshrick/), as part of a National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded Sustainable Agriculture Systems grant.  The position is fully funded for two academic years and includes a 20 hour per week work schedule and stipend and 30 graduate credits leading to a M.S. in Food Studies (https://falk.syr.edu/food-studies/academic-programs/food-studies-ms/).

In this project you will work as part of a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional team seeking to understand the feasibility and ecological, economic, social, and political implications of developing micro and macro algae feed supplements (AFS) for dairy cattle to potentially enhance herd health and reduce methane emissions. Our focus is on measuring current organic and conventional farmers’, and other dairy professionals’, understanding and knowledge of AFS to inform the biophysical research on AFS, and develop outreach strategies to inform interested parties of project results as they become available. For more information see: Can Kelp Help? Research Examines Dairy Farmer, Dairy Nutritionist Attitudes on Adding Feed Additive to Cut Methane Emissions | Syracuse University News.

Applicants should possess a bachelor’s degree and a keen interest in sustainable agriculture systems, including social justice aspects of sustainability which is a significant part of the M.S. in Food Studies at Syracuse University. Quantitative and qualitative training in research methods helpful but not required. The degree program is 100% in-person and requires moving to Syracuse, New York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse,_New_York) for approximately two academic years- August 2023-May 2025. Interested applicants should apply to the M.S. in Food Studies (https://falk.syr.edu/admissions/graduate/how-to-apply/)  and indicate in their personal statement they are interested in the working with Dr. Welsh on this project. Preferred deadline is 2/1/2023, but applicants will be considered after that date.

For more information on this position, please contact Rick Welsh at jrwelsh@syr.edu. For general information on the M.S. program please contact the Graduate Director, Dr. Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern at lminkoff@syr.edu.