June 28, 2016
Beef Cattle Institute's Beef Scholars Program Provides Opportunities for Students, Resources for Beef Industry
Eight Kansas State University students from majors across campus are serving as the inaugural participants in the Beef Cattle Institute's Beef Scholars program this summer.
With new initiatives in decision tools and big data analytics, the Beef Cattle Institute, or BCI, developed this program to collaborate with different departments across the university to provide new resources for beef producers and veterinarians. The overall theme for the program this year is antimicrobial use in beef cattle. Specific focus areas for each student range from alternative antibiotic use to mobile app development.
Scholars were selected based on their research project and the outcome it would have to provide useful information directly related to the beef industry. Each scholar receives $3,500 to support summer stipend and/or project-related expenses.
The institute will host several events with the Beef Scholars, including seminars and scheduled tours of different segments of the beef industry. At the end of the summer, the scholars will have the opportunity to share their research.
"The BCI Summer Scholars program brings together students and faculty from a variety of disciplines to generate solutions for the beef industry," said Brad White, interim director of the institute. "This is the first year for this program and we plan to continue this event on an annual basis."
The following Kansas State University students are serving as summer 2016 Beef Scholars:
• Amanda Kathrens, senior in animal sciences and industry, Manhattan, is working on the project "Bacterial aspects in probiotics" with T.G. Nagaraja, university distinguished professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Allison McKiearnan, doctoral student in pathobiology, Manhattan, is working on the project "Foodborne pathogens in cattle" with Natalia Cernicchiaro, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Sarah Jones, senior in food science and industry, Riverton, is working on the project "Regulatory and historical uses: Antimicrobial resistance" with Justin Kastner, associate professor of food safety and security in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Carlee Wollard, third-year veterinary medicine student, Winfield, is working on the project "Colostrum transfer of antibody titers" with Manuel Chamorro, clinical assistant professor of clinical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Jose Soto, doctoral student in animal science, San Antonio, Texas, is working on the project "Alternatives to antibiotics used in livestock" with Mike Tokach, university distinguished professor of animal sciences and industry in the College of Agriculture.
• Allan Jay Cabanatuan, senior in computer science, Williamsburg, Virginia, is working on the project "iOS and Android/Java mobile apps" with Venkatesh-Prasad Ranganath, assistant professor of computer science in the College of Engineering.
• Kevin Manase, senior in computer engineering Madagascar, is working on the project "iOS and Android/Java mobile apps" with Venkatesh-Prasad Ranganath, assistant professor of computer science in the College of Engineering.
• Paula Mendez, junior in computer science, Paraguay, is working on the project "Bovine infectious disease analytics" with Bill Hsu, associate professor of computer science in the College of Engineering.