Chair's Welcome!
The Department of Animal and Avian Sciences was formed in 1997 through the merger of the Animal Science, Dairy Science and Poultry Science Departments. Animal science is the study of domesticated animals used for food, biomedical research and leisure. Our department fulfills a tripartite mission of research, teaching, and extension. Departmental research programs are focused in four areas:
- Animal Genetics and Cell Biology
- Nutrient Utilization and Management
- Animal Reproduction and Development
- Pathobiology and Infectious Diseases
The Animal Science graduate program offers advanced training in each of these research focus areas. Learn More>>
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Department Newsletter
Read our latest Newsletter, which highlights faculty, staff, and student academic and research achievements.
Students
Mader Wins First Place in Undergraduate Dairy Production Oral Competition at ADSA
The 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) was held June 23-26 in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended by ANSC students Hannah Mader, Rachael Rha, graduate student Amanda Fischer, and ANSC alum, Dr. Cynthia Scholte. >>
Two ANSC Students Intern at The Maryland Zoo
During the spring semester Abbi Santoni and Nancy Huffman, students in Dr.Monica VanKlompenberg's ANSC359 internship course, got up close and personal with exotic animals during their internships at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. >>
Graduate School’s Outstanding Research Assistant Award
ANSC graduate student, Chaitra Surugihalli in Dr. Nishanth Sunny's lab was recognized with one of the Graduate School’s Outstanding Research Assistants Awards (AY 2018-19) at the Graduate School’s Annual Fellowship and Award Celebration on May 14, 2019. >>
Faculty/Staff
Burk Elected as Chair of the Board for the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics (NAEAA)
Congratulations to Amy Burk, associate professor in Animal and Avian Sciences and leader of our equine program, for being elected as Chair of the Board for the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics (NAEAA)! >>
Dr. VanKlompenberg Wins AGNR On-campus Professional Track Faculty Excellence Award
Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg was awarded the On-campus Professional Track Faculty Award on Wednesday, May 15th at the 2019 State of the College Awards & Service Recognition Ceremony. >>
Dr. Porter receives Golden Alumni Award
The Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota awarded Dr. Tom Porter with the Golden Alumni Award for Achievement in Academia. The Golden Alumni Award recognizes an alumnus from academia that has achieved distinction in their professional life for their outstanding contributions to animal agriculture and exceptional service to their respective fields.
Peters awarded ARPAS Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Robert Peters received the 2019 Washington D.C. Area Chapter American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) Dr. Vernon G. Pursel Memorial Distinguished Service Award. >>
Sarah Balcom Wins Woodrow Wilson Foundation Excellence in Teaching Fellowship
ANSC Professor Sarah Balcom received a $20,000 Excellence in Teaching Fellowship from Course Hero & the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. This program provides “Genius Grants” to Tenure-Track and Non-Tenure-Track Faculty to recognize, promote outstanding teaching. >>
Dr. Jourdeuil Awarded Fellowship
Dr. Karyn Jourdeuil was awarded a $20,000 Postdoctoral Fellowship from the American Association of Anatomists for her proposal, "Investigating the role of gap junctions and connexin proteins in chick trigeminal ganglion
formation" >>
Research
UMD Professor Observes Crystallized Iron Product, Hemozoin, Being Made in Mammals, with Widespread Implications for Future Research and Treatment of Blood Disorders
Findings could be used to treat sickle cell disease and malaria patients, while opening up diverse research avenues across immunology, parasitology, neuroscience, microbiology, and even urology. >>
Dr. Porter receives fourth NIFA grant
Dr. Porter and colleagues were awarded a fourth grant in the past three years from the USDA-NIFA for their proposal titled "Molecular Basis for Egg Production Rates in Turkey Hens". >>
Dr. Moyes awarded USDA Grant
Dr. Kasey Moyes was awarded a $498,500 grant from USDA Animal Health Program (2018-22) for her proposal, “PlyC: Use of recombinant bacteriophage endolysin as a mastitis therapeutic in lactating dairy cows”. >>
Dr. Stahl and Dr. Telugu awarded $1.6 Million Grant
Drs. Chad Stahl and Bhanu Telugu have been awarded a $1.6 million grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the NIH for their proposal, “A porcine model for investigating the role of an insulin signaling regulator in development and disease”. >>
Gates Foundation Grant Awarded to Dr. Telugu
The Gates Foundation has awarded a $1.3 million dollar grant to Dr. Bhanu Telugu in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to facilitate cutting-edge research into the development of precision breeding technologies. >>
Alumni
Alumnus Daniel Castranova at Charles River
Daniel Castranov (’03) former MS graduate student in Dr. Woods laboratory is an aquatic research specialist studying the living cells and tissues of zebrafish.
ANSC Alumni Teaching in Liberia
ANSC alumni Anna and Nathan Glenn (Class of '12) have gone to Liberia to teach Agriculture.
