Graduate students are at the core of our research efforts to deliver science-based solutions to solve the swine industry’s problems. You may be familiar with their names through scientific publications or you may have seen them present the results of their research at various conferences but they deserve a proper introduction. Meet our 2021-2022 graduate students!
There are many graduate students in our group. For readability purpose, we chose to limit our list to 10 people today. Stay tuned to read part 2 of this series.
Albert Canturri
From: Andorra
Advisor: Dr. Maria Pieters
Degrees: D.V.M., Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain.
Residency in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
ECVP Diplomate.
Areas of Research Interest: My research focuses on the development of novel molecular diagnostic techniques to better understand Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae pathogenesis, transmission and prevention in swine.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? The close working relationship that exists between practitioners in the field and researchers and diagnosticians in the academia, aiming at improving our pig’s health and welfare has always motivated me and influenced my decision of working with and for pigs.
Fun Fact: I like to go camping up north in my DIY camper van with my wife and my dog Douma
Moumita Das
From: Bangladesh
Advisor: Dr. Andres Perez
Degrees: Masters in Epidemiology and Public Health from Sylhet Agricultural University
DVM from Sylhet Agricultural University
Areas of Research Interest: My PhD research is going to be focused on Risk Analysis and Development of Progressive Control Strategies of a Zoonotic Disease.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? To get experience with pigs as swine practice and research are uncommon in Bangladesh.
Fun Fact: This is the first time in my career, I have got opportunity to think scientifically for a pig
Cipriano De Abreu
From: Venezuela
Advisor: Dr. Maria Pieters
Degrees: D.V.M. equivalent, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 2019.
Areas of Research Interest: My research is focused on swine Mycoplasmas of clinical importance, particularly Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis, aiming to better understand their pathogenesis and transmission, in order to develop prevention measures to improve the swine health worldwide.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? I grew up surrounded by the swine production world, that inspired me to become a Veterinarian.
Fun Fact: I love cooking, and pulled pork is one of my stars!
Jing Huang
From: China
Advisor: Drs. Maxim Cheeran and Declan Schroeder
Degrees: Masters of Agriculture from Huazhong Agricultural University
Bachelor of Agriculture from Huazhong Agricultural University
Areas of Research Interest: The overall purpose of my research is to help understand how porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses evolve to escape immune pressure in vaccinated pigs.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? My parents works at a veterinary pharmaceutical company and their devotion to this field has driven me to decide to go into swine health.
Fun Fact: I’m a huge fan of horror movies
Miranda Medrano
From: Wasco, CA
Advisor: Completing laboratory rotations
Degrees: B.S Animal Sciences, Cornell University
MPH, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
DVM, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Areas of Research Interest: My research focus is infectious disease epidemiology, especially as it pertains to alternative swine production systems. I also have interest in biosecurity, policy, and public health.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? I am interested in disease risk and biosecurity. The swine industry offers plenty of opportunity to explore these areas.
Fun Fact: I like to do community theater
Mariana Meneguzzi
From: Santa Catarina, Brazil
Advisor: Drs. Montserrat Torremorell and Noelle Noyes
Degrees: B.S., Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal Catarinense
Areas of Research Interest: My research focuses on using next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods to better understand swine influenza co-infections and the role of the respiratory microbiome in influenza infections.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? Being born in an agricultural-driven family in a small town in the countryside of Santa Catarina state, Brazil in which poultry and swine production are very important for the town’s economy influenced me to go into swine health.
Fun Fact: All my pets as a kid (to my mother’s despair) were food production animals, such as lamb, calves, rabbits, ducks, and chicks. My family had a pig called Michele and I loved to scratch her belly to see her laid down!
Guilherme Preis
From: Brazil
Advisor: Drs. Fabio Vannucci and Cesar Corzo
Degrees: B.S., Veterinary Medicine, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina
Areas of Research Interest: My research is focused on the transmission and pathogenesis of Senecavirus A in swine, as well as the determination of herd-level risk factors associated with the disease.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? Family raises hogs in Brazil, so I decided to be a swine vet. While practicing in Brazil I realized that I liked swine health, so that’s why I focused on it.
Fun Fact: I know how to ride a bike backwards and I have a scar in my arm from when I was learning how to do it
Rachel Schambow
From: Janesville, WI
Advisor: Dr. Andres Perez
Degrees: B.S. Physiology, University of WyomingDVM, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Areas of Research Interest: My research area is African Swine Fever epidemiology with a focus on risk analysis and identifying novel tools for early detection and control of the disease.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? As a veterinarian, I love large animal medicine and epidemiology. The swine industry has tons of opportunities in population health and has been really great and welcoming to work in.
Fun Fact: I grew up raising and showing breeding stock sheep
Daniella Schettino
From: Brazil
Advisor: Dr. Andres Perez
Degrees: M.S., Food Safety, University Federal de Minas Gerais, BrazilD.V.M., University Federal de Lavras, Brazil
Areas of Research Interest: My research area is in Veterinary Epidemiology, focused in risk analysis, animal movement network analysis and animal surveillance by applying epidemiological tools in Official Veterinary Services.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? I’m official veterinarian of Mato Grosso State in Brazil, and responsible for swine health of that State.
Fun Fact: I love to bake and my daughter Ana Cecilia is my huge fan, she says that my cakes score 100!! 🙂
Lan Wang
From: China
Advisor: Dr. Montse Torremorell
Degrees: M.S., Preventive Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University B.S., Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, China
Areas of Research Interest: My research is the development of novel surveillance methods to enhance our understanding of epidemiology of swine infectious diseases, especially porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and swine influenza virus (IAV-S), and advance the regional control of these diseases.
What influenced you to go into Swine Health? Interest, curiosity, love and care about animals.
Fun Fact: I come from a place that is even colder than Minneapolis
Read more about all of the University of Minnesota current graduate students in Veterinary Medicine.