Source: UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI submitted to NRP
INNOVATIVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRAINING OF ANIMAL SCIENTISTS IN REPRODUCTION AND GENOMICS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1017201
Grant No.
2019-38420-28972
Cumulative Award Amt.
$241,000.00
Proposal No.
2017-09441
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 1, 2018
Project End Date
Oct 31, 2023
Grant Year
2019
Program Code
[KK]- National Needs Graduate Fellowships Program
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(N/A)
COLUMBIA,MO 65211
Performing Department
Animal Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Global population growth and the essential need to increase food supply requires scientific advances and highly skilled researchers. This Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship (NNF) proposal addresses the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) in Animal Production with a focus on the Animal Science (Code A) discipline. The objective here is for a group of 17 faculty members to conduct an innovative multidisciplinary graduate training program that focuses on reproduction, genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. Aspirational goals are to: 1) recruit and select four outstanding students with a strong emphasis on multicultural diversity; 2) carefully mentor and educate the fellows (two MS and two PhD); and 3) assist fellows in obtaining a position in Animal Sciences that contributes to shortage areas in food and agricultural sciences. The challenging multidisciplinary training program provides: significant research, teaching and extension opportunities; emphasizes new technologies ethics, leadership, and mentoring; develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and utilizes measurable targets to ensure training success. Expected outcomes are an increase in multicultural diversity of the graduate program at the University of Missouri and provision of new scientists and professionals that will conduct research, education, and extension and impact food and agriculture sciences. This innovative multidisciplinary training program is critical to produce scientists who can address and solve ongoing and emerging agricultural challenges in the 21st century.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3013399102050%
3033399108150%
Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals; 301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3399 - Beef cattle, general/other;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding; 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
The objective here is for a group of 17 faculty members to conduct an innovative multidisciplinary graduate training program that focuses on reproduction, genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. Aspirational goals are to: 1) recruit and select four outstanding students with a strong emphasis on multicultural diversity; 2) carefully mentor and educate the fellows; and 3) assist fellows in obtaining a position in Animal Sciences that contributes to shortage areas in food and agricultural sciences.
Project Methods
The challenging multidisciplinary training program provides: significant research, teaching and extension opportunities; emphasizes new technologies ethics, leadership, and mentoring; develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and utilizes measurable targets to ensure training success.This innovative multidisciplinary training program is critical to produce scientists who can address and solve ongoing and emerging agricultural challenges in the 21st century.

Progress 11/01/18 to 09/11/23

Outputs
Target Audience:agricultural scientists, animal scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and four M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alana Rodney, Alexis Jones, Rylie Noland) have been recruited and entered into the graduate training program. Kelsey (Clarke) Lockhart and Alana Rodney have completed their Master of Science degrees via this training program. Kelsey Clarke is currently employed as a bovine embryologist. Alana Rodney was accepted into a doctoral training program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fellows have attended and presented at regional, national and international scientific meetings. Further, they have published theses and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Since initiation of the grant, one Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and four M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alexis Jones, Rylie Noland, Alana Rodney) were recruited and entered the graduate training program. The primary faculty mentor(s) are: KatyStoecklein with Dr. Randy Prather; Kelsey Clarke with Drs. Sofia Ortega and Thomas E. Spencer; Alana Rodney with Dr. Wes Warren; Alexis Jones with Dr. Rodney Geisert; and Rylie Noland with Drs. Randall Prather and Paula Chen. The fellows have completed graduate classes, organized an advisory committee, and initiated work in the laboratory. All fellows have participated in and presented their research at local, regional and national scientific meetings. Of note, Katy Stoecklein successfully competed for a 2021 NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship and was funded in 2022. Further, she recently was awarded a College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Dissertation Research Improvement Grant as well as named a Roger L. Morrison Scholar from the University of Missouri. Both Kelsey (Clarke) Lockhart and Alana Rodney successfully completed their M.S. thesis and graduated in Fall 2021 or Spring 2022, respectively. Kelsey Lockhart is now employed by Genus-ABS as a research embryologist. Alana Rodney is pursuing a PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Minnesota.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Ortega MS, Bickhart DM, Lockhart KN, Null DJ, Hutchison JL, McClure JC, Cole JB. Truncation of IFT80 causes early embryonic loss in Holstein cattle associated with Holstein haplotype 2. J Dairy Sci. 2022 Nov;105(11):9001-9011. doi: 10.3168/jds.2022-21853. Epub 2022 Sep 7. PMID: 36085107.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Zuidema D, Jones A, Song WH, Zigo M, Sutovsky P. Identification of candidate mitochondrial inheritance determinants using the mammalian cell-free system. Elife. 2023 Jul 20;12:RP85596. doi: 10.7554/eLife.85596. PMID: 37470242; PMCID: PMC10393022.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rodney AR, Skidmore ZL, Grenier JK, Griffith OL, Miller AD, Chu S, Ahmed F, Bryan JN, Peralta S, Warren WC. Genomic landscape and gene expression profiles of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma. Front Vet Sci. 2023 May 17;10:1079019. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1079019. PMID: 37266381; PMCID: PMC10229771.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lockhart KN, Drum JN, Balboula AZ, Spinka CM, Spencer TE, Ortega MS. Sire modulates developmental kinetics and transcriptome of the bovine embryo. Reproduction. 2023 Sep 1:REP-23-0030. doi: 10.1530/REP-23-0030. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37672361.


Progress 11/01/21 to 10/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:agricultural scientists, animal scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and four M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alana Rodney, Alexis Jones, Rylie Noland) have been recruited and entered into the graduate training program. Kelsey (Clarke) Lockhart and Alana Rodney have completed their Master of Science degrees via this training program. Kelsey Clarke is currently employed as a bovine embryologist. Alana Rodney was accepted into a doctoral training program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fellows have attended and presented at regional, national and international scientific meetings. Further, they have published theses and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?All fellows will continue to execute their training program as outlined in the proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Since initiation of the grant, one Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and four M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alexis Jones, Rylie Noland, Alana Rodney) were recruited and entered the graduate training program. The primary faculty mentor(s) are: KatyStoecklein with Dr. Randy Prather; Kelsey Clarke with Drs. Sofia Ortega and Thomas E. Spencer; Alana Rodney with Dr. Wes Warren; Alexis Jones with Dr. Rodney Geisert; and Rylie Noland with Drs. Randall Prather and Paula Chen. The fellows have completed graduate classes, organized an advisory committee, and initiated work in the laboratory. All fellows have participated in and presented their research at local, regional and national scientific meetings. Of note, Katy Stoecklein successfully competed for a 2021 NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship and was funded in 2022. Further, she recently was awarded a College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Dissertation Research Improvement Grant as well as named a Roger L. Morrison Scholar from the University of Missouri. Both Kelsey (Clarke) Lockhart and Alana Rodney successfully completed their M.S. thesis and graduated in Fall 2021 or Spring 2022, respectively. Kelsey Lockhart is now employed by Genus-ABS as a research embryologist. Alana Rodney is pursuing a PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Minnesota.

Publications


    Progress 11/01/20 to 10/31/21

    Outputs
    Target Audience:agricultural scientists, animal scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and fourM.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alana Rodney, Alexis Jones, Rylie Noland) have been recruited and entered into the graduate training program. Kelsey (Clarke) Lockhartand Alana Rodney have completed their Master of Science degrees via this training program. Kelsey Clarke is currently employed as a bovine embryologist. Alana Rodney was accepted into a doctoral training program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fellows have attended and presented at regional, national and international scientific meetings. Further, they have published theses and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?All fellows will continue to execute their training program as outlined in the proposal.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Since initiation of the grant, one Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and four M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alexis Jones, Rylie Noland, Alana Rodney) were recruited and entered the graduate training program. The primary faculty mentor(s) are: Katy Stoecklein with Dr. Randy Prather; Kelsey Clarke with Drs. Sofia Ortega and Thomas E. Spencer; Alana Rodney with Dr. Wes Warren; Alexis Jones with Dr. Rodney Geisert; and Rylie Noland with Drs. Randall Prather and Paula Chen. The fellows have completed graduate classes, organized an advisory committee, and initiated work in the laboratory. All fellows have participated in and presented their research at local, regional and national scientific meetings. Of note, Katy Stoecklein successfully competed for a 2021 NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship and was funded in 2022. Further, she recently was awarded a College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Dissertation Research Improvement Grant as well as named a Roger L. Morrison Scholar from the University of Missouri. Both Kelsey (Clarke) Lockhart and Alana Rodney successfully completed their M.S. thesis and graduated in Fall 2021 or Spring 2022, respectively. Kelsey Lockhart is now employed by Genus-ABS as a research embryologist. Alana Rodney is pursuing a PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Minnesota.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Stoecklein K, Prather R, Ortega MS. (2022) Cytokine supplementation influences transcriptome differences at various stages of bovine embryo development. Reproduction, Fertility, and Development. https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv35n2Ab116
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Stoecklein K, Garc�a-Guerra A, Duran B, Prather R, Ortega MS. (2022) Actions of FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 on Bovine Embryo Survival and Conceptus Elongation following Slow-rate Freezing. Front. Anim. Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2022.1040064
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Stoecklein K, Drum J, Garc�a-Guerra A, Duran B, Moraes J, Spate L, Prather R, Ortega MS. (2021) Cytokine supplementation to improve developmental competence of bovine embryos following slow-rate freezing. Reproduction, Fertility, and Development. https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv34n2Ab79.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Stoecklein K, Ortega MS, Spate L, Murphy CN, Prather RS. (2021) Improved cryopreservation of in vitro produced bovine embryos using FGF2, LIF, and IGF1. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243727
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Ortega MS, Bickhart DM, Lockhart KN, Null DJ, Hutchison JL, McClure JC, Cole JB. Truncation of IFT80 causes early embryonic loss in Holstein cattle associated with Holstein haplotype 2. J Dairy Sci. 2022 Nov;105(11):9001-9011. doi: 10.3168/jds.2022-21853. Epub 2022 Sep 7. PMID: 36085107.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Stoecklein KS, Ortega MS, Spate LD, Murphy CN, Prather RS. Improved cryopreservation of in vitro produced bovine embryos using FGF2, LIF, and IGF1. PLoS One. 2021 Feb 3;16(2):e0243727. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243727. PMID: 33534866; PMCID: PMC7857633.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Rodney AR, Buckley RM, Fulton RS, Fronick C, Richmond T, Helps CR, Pantke P, Trent DJ, Vernau KM, Munday JS, Lewin AC, Middleton R, Lyons LA, Warren WC. A domestic cat whole exome sequencing resource for trait discovery. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 30;11(1):7159. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86200-7. PMID: 33785770; PMCID: PMC8009874.


    Progress 11/01/19 to 10/31/20

    Outputs
    Target Audience:agricultural scientists, animal scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and three M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alana Rodney, and Alexis Jones) have been recruited and entered into the graduate training program. Kelsey Clarke and Alana Rodney have completed their Master of Science degrees via this training program. Kelsey Clarke is currently employed as a bovine embryologist. Alana Rodney is applying to doctoral training programs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fellows have attendedand presented at regional, national and international scientific meetings. Further, they have published theses and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The final Ph.D. student has been recruited to enter the training program in Summer of 2022. The other fellows will continue to execute their training program as outlined in the proposal.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Since initiation of the grant, one Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and three M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke, Alana Rodney, and Alexis Jones) were recruited and entered the graduate training program. The primary faculty mentor for: Katy Stoecklein is Dr. Randy Prather; Kelsey Clarke is Drs. Sofia Ortega and Thomas E. Spencer; Alana Rodney is Dr. Wes Warren; and Alexis Jones is Dr. Rodney Geisert. The fellows have all completed graduate classes, organized an advisory committee, and initiated work in the laboratory. Both Kelsey Clarke and Alana Rodney successfully complete their M.S. thesis and graduate in Fall 2021 or Spring 2022, respectively. Katy Stoecklein successfully competed for a 2021 NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship and was funded. Further, she recently was awarded a CAFNR Dissertation Research Improvement Grant from the University of Missouri.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Stoecklein KS, Ortega MS, Spate LD, Murphy CN, Prather RS. Improved cryopreservation of in vitro produced bovine embryos using FGF2, LIF, and IGF1. PLoS One. 2021 Feb 3;16(2):e0243727. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243727. PMID: 33534866; PMCID: PMC7857633.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Stoecklein KS, Drum NJ, Garc�a-Guerra A, Duran BJ, Moraes JGN, Spate LD, Prather RS, Ortega MS. 79?Cytokine supplementation to improve developmental competence of bovine embryos following slow-rate freezing. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2021 Dec;34(2):276. doi: 10.1071/RDv34n2Ab79. PMID: 35231207.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Rodney AR, Buckley RM, Fulton RS, Fronick C, Richmond T, Helps CR, Pantke P, Trent DJ, Vernau KM, Munday JS, Lewin AC, Middleton R, Lyons LA, Warren WC. A domestic cat whole exome sequencing resource for trait discovery. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 30;11(1):7159. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86200-7. PMID: 33785770; PMCID: PMC8009874.


    Progress 11/01/18 to 10/31/19

    Outputs
    Target Audience:agricultural scientists, animal scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and two M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke and Alana Rodney) have been recruited and entered into the graduate training program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fellows have attending and presented at regional, national and international scientific meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The final Ph.D. student will be recruited and enter the training program. The other fellows will continue to execute their training program as outlined in the proposal.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? During the past year, one Ph.D. student (Katy Stoecklein) and two M.S. students (Kelsey Clarke and Alana Rodney) have been recruited and entered into the graduate training program. The primary faculty mentor for Katy Stoecklein is Dr. Randy Prather, for Kelsey Clarke is Drs. Sofia Ortega and Thomas E. Spencer, and for Alana Rodney is Dr. Wes Warren. The fellows have started taking graduate classes, organized an advisory committee, and initiated work in the laboratory.

    Publications