As the Research Scientist - Nutrition, I lead and manage the nutrition research program at the Prairie Swine Centre. In this role I am responsible for:1. Development and maintenance of an extramurally-funded research program, with more than $6 million in funds secured from multiple grants (NSERC, Saskatchewan ADF, Results Driven Agricultural Research, Mitacs) and industry sponsors (Evonik, CBS Bio-Platforms, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Biomin)2. Management of research studies, from conceptualization, methodology development, conduct of study and collection of data, interpretation of data, and communication of results3. Communicate with the scientific and agricultural communities through participation in conferences (> 110 abstracts) and individual meetings with members of the pork value chain, publication of popular press (> 40) and scientific articles (> 50), and giving presentations and interviews (> 60) in Canada and around the world4. Maintain multi-institutional, multinational, and multidisciplinary collaborations with researchers and industry representatives 5. Training of highly-qualified personnel (HQP), including summer students, research technicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, having been involved in the training of more than 50 HQP to-date6. Stay up-to-date with the current scientific advances in nutrition, physiology, and metabolism and pork value chain needs 7. Participate and contribute to efforts of the Prairie Swine Centre Executive Management Team towards the continued success of the Centre

As an Adjunct Professor, I contribute to the training of graduate students in the areas of nutrition, physiology, and metabolism of non-ruminant animals through the supervision and committee membership of undergraduate thesis and graduate students and lecturing in various courses.Courses taught:ANSC 818 - Advanced Monogastric NutritionANSC 485 - Swine Production and ManagementANSC/ANBI 492 - Literature Thesis in Animal Science/Animal Bioscience ANSC/ANBI 494 - Research Thesis in Animal Science/Animal Bioscience

My research at the CNRC focused on understanding the physiology of muscle growth and on developing strategies to increase lean tissue gain as a means to improve development and long-term health of low-birth weight infants. Specifically, leucine has been shown to regulate muscle protein synthesis and may have the potential to improve lean growth in neonatal animals and humans. Specific projects include: 1. the impact of long-term leucine supplementation of a low protein diet on protein synthesis, mTOR activation, and lean gain in neonatal pigs of leucine to improve lean gain in neonatal animals fed low protein diets, 2. the impact of leucine supplementation of a low protein and low energy diet on hindlimb muscle protein turnover, 3. the impact of short- and long-term leucine or branched-chain amino acid supplementation of a low protein and low energy diet on protein synthesis, mTOR activation, and lean gain in neonatal pigs, 4. the effect of leucine on protein synthesis and degradation in neonatal animals during immune system stimulation, and 5. the use of a leucine metabolite to improve protein synthesis in neonatal animals fed a low protein diet.Activities and Societies: CNRC Postdoctoral Training Program Steering Committee, American Society for Nutrition, American Society of Animal ScienceSupervisor: Dr. Teresa A. Davis

Responsible for maintaining and ensuring compliance with the By-Laws of the GSA and communication with students, GSA Board members, and internal University committees and administration. During my tenure the corporation saw the introduction of elections for general directors, a substantial increase in the number of general directors on the board and participation in GSA activities and communication with their constituents, placement of GSA representation on all University boards with a graduate seat, gaining of membership on University boards with no prior graduate student involvement, increased visibility of the GSA and its activities to the University student community and senior administration, creation of the Activities Co-ordinator position, and a complete assessment and revision of the By-Laws of the GSA. I also sat on the Athletics Advisory Council, University Centre Board, and the Campus Master Plan Steering Committee as GSA/graduate student representative.

Assisting in the operations of the swine nutrition laboratory including supervision of in-barn experiments and liquid feeding system as well as assisting graduate students with experiments and analysis.

Arkell Feed Mill (May 2003 to August 2003; preparation of feed for general research station herd and research projects), Research Station Operations (May 2004 to August 2004; maintenance of research station grounds and crop/field work), Arkell Swine (May 2005-April 2006; assistance in all aspects of swine production including breeding/gestation, farrowing/nursery, and grower-finisher); Arkell Equine/Poultry (May 2006 to September 2006; assistance in maintenance of horse and pony herd and in poultry station operations).