2010 NMC Scholars Announced
Students will receive travel scholarships to attend NMC annual meeting
In the third annual
NMC Scholars Program, the National Mastitis Research Foundation (NMRF)
Board of Directors chose Alexandra Elliott, University of Tennessee;
Jennifer Walker, Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine; Lies Beekhuis,
University College Dublin; and Diego Borin Nóbrega, Săo Paul State University;
as the 2010 NMC Scholars.
The overall goal of the NMC Scholars Program is to support the development of future udder health,
milking management, and milk quality researchers/specialists.
Specifically, the program encourages graduate student participation in
NMC programs and activities. Funded by the NMRF, this year's NMC Scholars
will receive travel scholarships to attend the NMC 49th Annual Meeting,
January 31 - February 3, 2010, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Alexandra Elliott is pursuing a doctorate degree where she is striving
to identify weak links in the cow's immune system so she can devise
better strategies for mastitis prevention and therapy. With a keen interest
in the innate immune response, particularly cell migration and how immune
cells interact with the invading pathogen, her current research focuses
on finding out why certain cows are more susceptible to mastitis. Elliott
plans to pursue a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture or
a university and perform research associated with animal health.
Jennifer Walker's research involves a detailed characterization of naturally
occurring Staph. aureus intramammary infections. This project examines
the genetic relationship of isolates, allowing for the comparison of
strain differences. Her research strives to provide a better understanding
of the epidemiology of Staph. aureus, which will help to develop practical
standards for diagnosis and more effective measures to prevent and control
infections. After completing her doctorate degree, Walker, a veterinarian,
wants to earn a faculty position at a veterinary college where she will
follow her passion for teaching and research.
Lies Beekhuis, currently involved in a residency training program for
the European College of Bovine Health Management, is developing and
implementing a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point- (HACCP) like
approach to improve milk quality and minimize losses from clinical and
subclinical mastitis on Irish dairy farms. Her HACCP mastitis handbook
includes critical control points and monitoring sheets. A veterinarian,
she plans to continue working with dairy producers to help them achieve
optimal animal health and welfare - ensuring a quality milk supply for
humans and a healthy and humane existence for cows.
Diego Borin Nóbrega, seeking a master's degree, is studying the epidemiological
and molecular characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in
dairy cattle. His research goals include isolating this pathogen from
the cows' environment, milk and bedding, measuring the bacteria's genetic
diversity, and studying possible risk factors for K. pneumoniae infections
in dairy herds. This research will help enhance milk quality and determine
the infection pattern of K. pneumonia. After completing his degree,
Nóbrega wants to gain a teaching position at a public university in
an area related to public health and food safety.
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