Research Opportunities

Transcript

I’d like to introduce you to Kaitlin. She’s a senior in the pre-vet program with a dairy emphasis. Kaitlin’s immersed herself in research at Idaho and has recently participated in a pretty cool study on dairy cows through her professor’s lab. Let’s find out more. All yours, Kaitlin.

– Thanks, Alex. Growing up on a dairy farm in southern Idaho strongly influenced the qualities that I was looking for during my college search. I wanted to attend a university which would allow me to give back to the industry that shaped me into the person that I am today. The University of Idaho has allowed me to contribute to agriculture by participating in undergraduate research. I am currently working in a lactation physiology lab under Dr. Amy Skibiel. I have worked on four different projects with Dr. Skibiel, with my responsibilities ranging from performing RNA extractions and measuring mitochondrial area, to feeding lab rats and performing jugular blood draws on dairy cows. This summer, I completed an independent research project looking at the effects of wildfire smoke on Holstein dairy cows. I worked closely with a graduate student who was looking at the effects of smoke on free weaned Holstein heifer caps, which are female baby cows that are still being fed milk. We analyzed air quality and particulate matter data to analyze the smoke exposure on a given day. I monitored the respiration rates, body weights, and body condition scores of cows on a weekly basis. Additionally, I collected blood samples before, during, and after smoke events in order to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorph nuclear cells in order to quantify the expression of inflammatory genes. The wildfire project aims to assist producers in making their management techniques more effective and sustainable, and it’s not the only research that Idaho is doing on wildfire. Throughout all of the departments and colleges on campus, students have the opportunity to participate in research projects that are Idaho-focused, but have global impacts. In fact, nearly two thirds of the students on U of I’s campus are currently participating in research. Undergraduate research has prepared me to become a better industry professional and provided hands-on experience that will be beneficial as I apply to veterinary school this upcoming fall. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my dairy interesting research. Back to you, Alex.

– Kaitlin, what you are doing is so moving. That is some dairy exciting research and such a unique opportunity to be at a public institution where most undergrads are doing research. Thanks for sharing. I’m so impressed that U of I challenges students to not just work on dairy science, but push research to the next level, and study the science of wildfire smoke and how it affects our world. Absolutely incredible. Thanks, Kaitlin.