University of Florida

Scientists in the Laboratory: Past and Present

Present Graduate Students

  1. • Eliab Estrada, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology. Research topic is epigenetic regulation of embryonic development. • Thiago Amaral, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology. Research topic is regulation of embryo survival by dickkopf reated protein 1. • Froylan Hernandez Sosa, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology. Research topic is regulation of embryo stress responses by colony stimulating factor 2. • Laura Jensen, M.S., Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology. Research topic is genetic determinants of fertility and thermotolerance in cattle. • Surawich Jeensuk, M.S., Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology. Research topic is regulation of embryonic development by embryokines.

    Present Postdoctoral and Visiting Scientists

    1. Serdal Dikmen, Associate Professor, Uludag University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa, Turkey, periodic visitor since June, 2010. Research interests: thermotolerance in cattle.
    2. Xian-zhong Wang, Professor, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

    Technicians

    1. Martha Hoggard, 1984-1986.
    2. Marie V. Leslie, 1986-1990. Also received M.S. degree, 1990. Subsequently obtained DVM and currently in private veterinary practice, Trenton Animal Hospital, Trenton, Florida.
    3. Susan Gottshall, 1991-1996. Present position; Resource and Scheduling Coordinator, CBSET Inc, Lexington, MA.
    4. Rocío M. Rivera, 1996-2003 (M.S., Iowa State Univ.).  Present position: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri.
    5. Amber Brad, 2003-2006 (M.S. Purdue Univ.). Present position: Partner, Tec Professionals, Lafayette, Indiana.
    6. Jim Moss (Ph.D., University of California-Riverside), 2006-present.
    7. Luciano Bonilla (DVM, Universidade Federal de Viçosa), 2009-2011. Present position: Senior embryologist, Minitube of America, Mt. Horeb, WI.

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    Past Graduate Students

    1. Jerry R. Malayer, Ph.D., 1989, Animal Science (Biochemistry minor). Thesis title: Uterine, oviductal and conceptus responses to heat shock. Postdoctoral training: Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin (Jack Gorski). Present Position: Professor, Dept. of Physiological Sciences, and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University.
    2. Claire Plante, Ph.D., 1990, Animal Science (W. W. Thatcher, co-chair). Thesis title: The role of alpha-interferons in the recognition of pregnancy in cattle. Postdoctoral training: Dept. of Pathology, University of Guelph (R. Miller). Present Position:  Plante Veterinary Services, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
    3. Boon Guan Low, Ph.D., 1990, Veterinary Medicine-Animal Biology (M. Drost, chair; P.J. Hansen, co-chair). Thesis title: Expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens in the placenta and pregnancy immunology in ruminants. Postdoctoral training: Dept. of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri (R.M. Roberts). Present position: Executive Director, CalgonCarbon Asia, Singapore. 
    4. François Elvinger, Ph.D., 1990, Animal Science (R.P. Natzke, chair; P.J. Hansen, co-chair). Thesis title: Immunomodulation by heat stress and somatotropin in dairy cows: relevance for the epidemiology of mastitis. Present Position: Professor, Dept. of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnical Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia.
    5. Manuel F. Lander Chacin, M.S., 1990, Veterinary Medicine-Animal Biology (M. Drost, chair; P.J. Hansen, co-chair). Thesis title: Uterine immune mechanisms in the bovine. Present Position: Private veterinary practice, Anaco, Venezuela.
    6. Marie V. Leslie, M.S., 1991, Dairy Science. Thesis title: Characterization of secretion of the uterine milk proteins produced by the sheep and cow uterus. Present Position: Founder and veterinary practitioner, Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Lake City, Florida.
    7. Alan Ealy, Ph.D., 1994, Animal Science (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology). Thesis title: Developmental changes in resistance of mammalian embryos to elevated temperature and strategies to improve fertility in dairy cattle during heat stress.  Postdoctoral Fellow (1994-1998) and Research Assistant Professor (1998-2000), Dept. of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia (under R.M. Roberts).  Present Position: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Dairy and Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University.
    8. Jill Davidson, M.S., 1994, Dairy Science. Thesis title: Regulation of bovine uterine and embryonic function by interleukin-1 and interferons.  Received Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2002.  Current position: Present position: Research scientist, Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, Gray Summit, MO.
    9. Victor Monterroso, M.S., 1995, Dairy and Poultry Sciences. Thesis title: Influence of heat shock on function of frozen/thawed bovine sperm. Present Position: Associate Professor and Associate Director, Department of Comparative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
    10. Wen-jun Liu, Ph.D., 1996, Animal Science (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology). Thesis title: Regulation of lymphocyte function by sheep endometrial serpin-like proteins. Present Position: Present Position:  Professor and Deputy Director of Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.   Postdoctoral training: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (Supervisor: Joan Weliky Conaway)and Dept. of Medicine, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK (Supervisor: R.P. McEver).
    11. Janice Lannett Edwards, Ph.D., 1996, Animal Science (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology). Thesis title: Ontogeny of thermotolerance in bovine embryos: HSP70 synthesis and
      resistance to heat shock during oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. Present position: Associate Professor, Dept. of Animal Science, University of Tennessee. Postdoctoral training: Gene Evaluation and Mapping Laboratory, USDA-Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD (Supervisor: C.E. Rexroad, Jr.).
    12. Carlos Aréchiga, M.S., 1994, Dairy Science; Ph.D., 1997, Animal Science. M.S. Thesis title:
      The role of antioxidants in thermoprotection of embryos. Ph.D. Thesis Title: Strategies for improving reproduction and milk yield of dairy cows through use of antioxidants and timed insemination.  Present position: Dean, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico.
    13. Alice de Moraes, Ph.D., 1997, Animal Science (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology). Thesis title: Regulation of bovine embryonic development and protein secretion by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-1. Present position:  Teacher, J.F. Byrnes High School, Duncan, SC; Assistant Professor of the School of Education and Graduate Studies, Converse College, Spartanburg, SC.
    14. Morgan Peltier, Ph.D., 2000, Animal Science (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology). Thesis title: Immunoregulatory activity, biochemistry and phylogeny of uterine serpin. Recipient 2001 Graduate Research Award, University of Florida Chapter of Sigma Xi. Present position: Postdoctoral training: Dept. of Pathobiology, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (Supervisor: Mary A. Brown). Current position: Lead Scientist, Women's and Children's Health Section, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY.
    15. Andrew Majewski, M.S., 2001. Thesis title: Regulation of uterine immune function in the sheep by progesterone and the conceptus.  Current position: Current position: Scientific Program Manager, the DOLF Project, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
    16. Yaser Al Katanani, Ph.D., Animal Science (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology), 2001. Thesis title:  Responses of bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos to elevated temperature:  possible causes of embryonic loss and strategies to improve fertility under heat stress conditions.  Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Florida (R.T. Kennedy, K. Moore and P.J. Hansen, supervisors).  Current position:  Laboratory Director, Aurora Fertility Services, Milwaukee, WI.
    17. Saban Tekin, Ph.D., Animal Science (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology), 2002. Thesis title:  Natural killer-like cells in peripheral blood and uterine endometrium in sheep:  Characteristics and regulation by pregnancy associated proteins.  Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept. of Animal Sciences, University of Florida (P.J. Hansen, supervisor). Present Position: Present position:  Professor, Dept. of Biology, Gaziomanopasa University, Tokat, Turkey. 
    18. Heather Rosson, M.Ag., Animal Sciences, 2002.  Research topic was characterization of ovine uterine serpin in colostrum.  Present position: veterinary school, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
    19. Fabíola Freitas de Paula Lopes, M.S., 1998, Ph.D., 2002; Animal Sciences (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology), M.S. Thesis title: Regulation of bovine embryonic development by interleukin-1. Ph.D. Dissertationtitle: Determinants of embryonic resistance to heat shock during the preimplantation period in cattle.  Recipient of the 1997 International Student Academic Award bestowed by the University of Florida College of Agriculture. Awarded University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences Dissertation of the Year, 2003.  Current Position:  Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Federal Universidade de Sao Pnulo (UNIFESP).
    20. Paolete Soto, M.S., Animal Sciences, 2003 (R.P. Natzke, co-chair).  Thesis title: In Vitro Actions of Mediators of Inflammation on the Bovine Oocyte and Embryo.Recipient of the 2000 International Student Academic Award bestowed by the University of Florida College of Agriculture.   Present position: embryo production facility, British Columbia, Canada.
    21. Rocío M. Rivera, Ph.D., Animal Sciences (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology), 2003.  Dissertation title: Cellular, sub-cellular and developmental responses of bovine two-cell embryos to a physiologically-relevant heat shock.  Winner of the 2002 Ruska Award from the Southeastern Microscopy Society; 2003 Graduate Student of the Year, University of Florida Animal Sciences Graduate Student Association; 2004 Graduate Research Award, University of Florida Chapter of Sigma Xi. Postdoctoral training:University of Pennsylvania. Present position: Assistant Professor, Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri.
    22. Charles E. Krininger III, M.S., 2004, Animal Sciences.  Thesis title: Developmental and genetic determinants of bovine embryonic resistance to cellular insult. Present position: AP Biology Teacher,  Satellite  High School, Satellite Beach, Florida and Lecturer, Brevard Community College, Melbourne, Florida.
    23. Carlos Moises Franco, M.S., Present position: Owner, Embogen, San Carlos, Bolivia. 2005, Animal Sciences. Thesis title: Strategies to enhance fertility in dairy cattle during summer including use of cryopreservation of in vitro produced embryos. (.pdf 504KB)
    24. Dean Jousan, Ph.D., 2006, Animal Sciences (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology), PhD Student of the Year, 2005, UF Animal Sciences Graduate Student Association.Dissertation title: Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and Apoptosis as Determinants of Preimplantation Bovine Embryonic Development. (.pdf 754KB)
    25. Jeremy Block, M.S. Animal Sciences, 2003; Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2007. 2004 Graduate Student of the Year, University of Florida Animal Sciences Graduate Student Association. M.S. Thesis title: Strategies to improve post-transfer survival of bovine embryos produced in vitro. (.pdf 595KB) Ph.D. Dissertation, Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 on development and post transfer survival of bovine embryos produced in-vitro. .  Postdoc: University of Florida (PJ Hansen). Current position: Owner, Ovatech LLC and Research Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal Sciences, University of Florida.
    26. Luis Augusto de Castro e Paula, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2007. Dissertation title: Role of oxygen and sphingomyelin metabolism in actions of heat shock on the oocyte
      and embryo.       (.pdf 696KB). Current position: GE Biosciences, Sao Paolo, Brazil.
    27. Adriane Bell, M.S., Animal Sciences, 2008. A. de Vries (advisor) and P.J. Hansen (co-advisor). Thesis title: Effectiveness and economics of bovine somatotropin use to enhance conception in dairy hers experiencing seasonal heat stress. (.pdf 597KB)
    28. Katherine E.M. Hendricks, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2008. Dissertation title: Consequences of post-ejaculatory stress on the bovine spermatozoa for the resultant
      embryo.       Present position: Scientist, Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Immokolee, Florida.
    29. Maria Beatriz Padua, Ph.D. Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2009. Dissertation title:  Evolution and cellular biology of the uterine serpins.    Received M.S., Animal Sciences (Animal Molecular and Cell Biology) in 2004.  Thesis: Endometrial adenogenesis and uterine immune regulation in sheep. Recipient of the 2009 Graduate Research Award, University of Florida Chapter of Sigma Xi.  Current position: Vera Bradley Fellow, Dept. of Surgery, School of Medicine, Indiana University (Harikrishna Nakshatri, advisor).
    30. Lilian Oliveira, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2010.  Dissertation title: Maternal immune changes during bovine pregnancy: a focus on the endometrial macrophages.   Recipient of the 2008 PhD Student of the Year, UF Animal Sciences Graduate Student Assn. Current position:  Postdoctoral Scientist, Universidade de Sao Paulo - Pirissanunga (Flavio Meireilles, advisor).
    31. Justin M. Fear, M.S., Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2010. Thesis title: Developmental Acquisition of Apoptosis in the Preimplantation Bovine Embryo: Returning to the Balance of Life and Death.  Current position: Doctoral student, University of Florida, Genetics Program.
    32. Aline Q.S. Bonilla, Ph.D. Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2010. Ph.D. Dissertation: Regulation of Growth and Thermoprotection of the Bovine Preimplantation Embryo by IGF1. Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept, of Pathology, University of Florida (N. Terada, advisor).
    33. Barbara Loureiro, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cell Biology, 2010. Ph.D. Dissertation title: Regulation of the Preimplantation Bovine embryo by Colony Stimulating Factor 2.   Recipient
      of the 2010 Graduate Research Award, University of Florida, Chapter of Sigma Xi.
    34. Christine Meyer, M.S. (non-thesis), Animal Sciences, 2011.  Research focus was on improvements in  in vitro fertilization. Current position: embryologist, North Florida Holsteins, Bell, Florida.
    35. Kelly Buchanan, M.S. (non-thesis), Animal Sciences, 2013.  Research interest was the relationship between body temperature and fertility. Current position: McArthur Dairy, Okeechobee, Florida.
    36. Kyle B. Dobbs, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2014. Dissertation:  Developmental programming of the preimplantation bovine embryo by colony stimulating factor 2. Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Biology, Northeastern University (Jonathan Tilly, supervisor).
    37. Anna Denicol, Ph.D., Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology. 2014. Dissertation: Regulation of development and survival of the preimplantation bovine embryo by the canonical WNT signaling pathway and its secreted antagonist dickkopf 1. Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, joint program with Universidade de São Paulo – Pirrasinunga (Flavio Meirelles, supervisor), Northeastern University (Jonathan Tilly) and University of Florida (PJ Hansen).
    38. Antonio Ruiz de King, M.S., Animal Sciences (Jeremy Block, advisor, PJH co-advisor). Effect of the addition of metabolic regulators during culture on development and cryotolerance of bovine embryos produced in vitro.

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