Source: MICHIGAN STATE UNIV submitted to
SUMMER FOOD SYSTEMS FELLOWSHIP: DEVELOPING THE SKILLS OF THE FUTURE VETERINARY AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE THROUGH RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INTERNSHIPS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1025881
Grant No.
2021-67037-34657
Cumulative Award Amt.
$499,999.00
Proposal No.
2020-09324
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Apr 15, 2021
Project End Date
Apr 14, 2026
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[A7401]- Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates
Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824
Performing Department
LG ANML CLIN SCI
Non Technical Summary
The overall objective of this proposal is to enhance the technical and leadership skills of the future agricultural workforce by providing value-added on-the-job summer internship experiences to diverse populations of veterinary students from Michigan State University (MSU) and Tuskegee University (TU). Each year, 10 multicultural veterinary students will complete mentored summer research and extension experiences related to animal agriculture at MSU and with partner organizations in industry. In addition, training and career exploration sessions related to veterinary food supply medicine will be offered to the students.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
70%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3113410109030%
3113410117020%
3113410101010%
3113310101010%
3113799109010%
3113510117010%
3153410102010%
Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases; 315 - Animal Welfare/Well-Being and Protection;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal; 3510 - Swine, live animal; 3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal; 3799 - Cultured aquatic animals, general/other;

Field Of Science
1090 - Immunology; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 1170 - Epidemiology; 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
This proposal aims to increase recruitment and training of multicultural food-animal veterinarians in sectors facing shortfalls through providing experiential learning opportunities in research and extension in academia, government, or industry. The Summer Food Systems Fellowship will provide a unique and valuable summer experience that adds value to the students' education by broadening their skills and creating professional relationships with researchers, extension staff, industry consultants, and governmental agents. This proposal will target students from underrepresented groups in veterinary medicine and, thus, contribute to diversifying the agricultural workforce. A total of 50 veterinary students from Michigan State and Tuskegee University will complete summer internships in research laboratories, large production operations, industry, and government agencies. In the short- to mid-term, the project outcomes will improve the training of future veterinary medical professionals to meet the needs of the food animal agriculture industry. In the long-term, increasing the number of multicultural students that are interested in food-animals through early exposure to different career options in food supply veterinary medicine will likely alleviate the national shortage of food-animal veterinarians in the public, private, industrial, and academic sectors while contributing to the diversification of the agricultural veterinary profession.
Project Methods
This project will support 5 editions of the Summer Food Systems Fellowship Program in which a total of 50 veterinary students (10 students/yr) from Michigan State and Tuskegee will complete individual research or extension projects through internships at MSU or industry partner organizations. Each year, 10 projects related to animal agriculture will be selected and matched with the 10 selected students. During the summer, students will undertake a week-long orientation composed of different training sessions relevant to all the different roles explored in the program (i.e., research, extension, industry, etc.). After the orientation week, the students will work full-time on their summer projects under the direct supervision of their mentors. Additionally, different meetings will be convened throughout the 12-week internship to enhance the students' knowledge of veterinary career opportunities serving animal agriculture. These will include careers in the academy, government, or industry. At the end of the program, students will submit a written report and give a 10-minute oral presentation summarizing the outcomes of their projects.

Progress 04/15/23 to 04/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience was US citizens/permanent residents currently enrolled in a veterinary degree program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The program participants participated in an individualized research and/or extension training program with their assigned mentors. Additional professional development opportunities in communication and emotional intelligence were provided. The students also met with various veterinary professionals to learn about less common career options related to animal agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The 2023 summer participants presented their experiences at a public closing event that was widely attended by external partners. Moreover, an annual report was developed and distributed in printed format to all past and present partners. Additionally, an online version is available on the program's website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the remainder of 2024 we plan to execute the summer program, prepare its annual report, and start recruiting the 2025 participants.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During 2023, 9 students (3 from Michigan State and 6 from other colleges of veterinary medicine) participated in summer experiences with MSU faculty or partners from industry. They also participated in various professional development opportunities and career exploration sessions throughout the summer. In 2024, we worked on advertising and selecting a new cohort of participants. A total of 7 students have already been matched with their mentors for the 2024 summer.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Owczarzak, E. J. and A. Abuelo. 2024. Effect of F-isoprostane class on cow peripheral blood neutrophil microbicidal function in vitro. Developmental & Comparative Immunology 156:105180. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2024.105180
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Owczarzak, E. J. and A. Abuelo. 2024. Effect of F-isoprostane class on cow peripheral blood neutrophil microbicidal function in vitro. CRWAD 2024, January 21-23, Chicago, IL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Harper, L., S. Thompson, and M. Benjamin. 2024. Exploring the use of ultrasound at palpable landmarks on sows to measure and track body composition. Page 240-241 in Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Nashville, TN (February 24-27, 2024).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2024 Citation: Myers MN, Chirivi M, Gandy J, Tam J, Zachut M, Contreras GA. Lipolysis pathways modulate endocannabinoid biosynthesis and signaling networks in dairy cows adipocytes, 01 April 2024, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4138963/v1]
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Myers MN, Chirivi M, Gandy J, Tam J, Zachut M, Contreras GA. Fatty acids alter endocannabinoid and lipid inflammatory mediator profile during lipolysis in cow adipocytes. Proceedings of the 2023 National Association of Veterinary Scholars Combined Degree Colloquium at the Puerto Rico Convention Center; August 2nd, 2023; San Juan, PR; p 46.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Myers MN, Chirivi M, Gandy J, Tam J, Zachut M, Contreras GA. Lipolysis pathways modulate endocannabinoid synthesis in dairy cow adipose tissue. Phi Zeta Research Day, Michigan State University. August 10th, 2023. Pp 20
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Myers MN, *1Chirivi M, Gandy J, Tam J, Zachut M, Contreras GA. Endocannabinoid synthesis is modulated by lipolysis pathways in dairy cows adipose tissue. CRWAD 2024, January 21-23, Chicago, IL. Pp 94.


Progress 04/15/22 to 04/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The main audience of this program are veterinary students interested in exploring careers in food supply medicine. Changes/Problems:Recruitment for the 2022 cohort was below our expectations (based on previous experiences with the program). This could have been attributed to several factors, but the COVID-19 pandemic probably had a great impact as students were just coming back to in-person learning. To increase recruitment of participants, we opened the 2023 cohort to veterinary students in any accredited program that met the selection criteria (e.g., US citizenship or permanent residency, etc.), resulting in 14 suitable applicants. We plan to move the 2022 not used funds due to lower than expected enrollment to support more students/year in future cohors so that the final number of participants of this program is not affected. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the summer of 2022, we provided training opportunities to 3 veterinary students. We are in the middle of the selection process of the 2023 cohort of participants with 14 applicants that will undertake mentored experiential learning opportunities throughout the summer of 2023. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will complete the summer experiences of the 2023 cohort of students and start organizing the 2024 program, with a particular focus on advertising and recruiting the program across veterinary schools in the USA.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During 2022, we selected 3 students to participate in the Summer Food Systems Fellowship Program. These students completed mentored experiences in different aspects of food supply medicine (e.g., research, extension, etc.) that resulted in their co-authorship in multiple peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. During this reporting period we also advertised and conducted the recruitment of the 2023 cohort of participants. We received a total of 14 suitable applicants from AVMA-accredited veterinary schools and plan to have them matched with mentors by the beginning of March 2023 for starting their summer experience at Michigan State University in May 2023.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Myers MN, Abou-Rjeileh U, Chirivi M, Parales J, Lock A, Tam J, Zachut M, Contreras GA. Cannabinoid receptor 1 modulates adipose tissue lipid mobilization and adipogenesis in dairy cows. Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Phi Zeta Research Day at Michigan State University; Oct 14, 2022; East Lansing, MI; pp 4
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Velasquez-Munoz A, E Schuurmans, F Cullens, and A Abuelo. Association of maternal late-gestation lipid mobilization and their offspring's disease risk during the pre-weaned period and performance through first lactation: A cohort study in a dairy herd. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Accepted
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Crannell, P. and A. Abuelo. Comparison of calf morbidity, mortality, and future performance across categories of passive immunity. A retrospective cohort study in a dairy herd. Journal of Dairy Science. Accepted
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Velasquez-Munoz A, Schuurmans E, Cullens F, and Abuelo A. Association of maternal late-gestation lipid mobilization and their offspring's disease risk during the pre-weaned period and performance through first lactation: A cohort study in a dairy herd. Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association. Kansas City, MO, June 2022.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Crannell, P. and A. Abuelo. Comparison of calf morbidity, mortality, and future performance across categories of passive immunity. A retrospective cohort study in a dairy herd. Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD). Chicago, IL. January 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: J-T. Liu, S. Lamichhane, L. Vanblois, B. Gorgoglione. Diagnostic investigation upon a large mortality event in an ongrowing carp farm. World Aquatic Health conference, Pretoria, South Africa. December 202.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: C.K. Fusianto, L. Vanblois, J-T. Liu, G. Whelan, B. Gorgoglione. First detection of Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae in the Great Lakes. Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Phi Zeta Research Day at Michigan State University; Oct 14, 2022; East Lansing, MI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: L. Vanblois, J-T. Liu, B. Gorgoglione. Diagnostic investigation upon a large mortality event in an ongrowing carp farm. Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Phi Zeta Research Day at Michigan State University; Oct 14, 2022; East Lansing, MI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: C.K. Fusianto, G. Whelan, L. Vanblois, B. Gorgoglione. Discovery of Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae infecting salmon in the Great Lakes. 9th ISAAH Santiago, Chile. September 2022
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Myers MN, Abou-Rjeileh U, Chirivi M, Parales J, Lock AL, Zachut M, Tam J, Contreras GA Cannabinoid-1 receptor activation modulates lipid mobilization and adipogenesis in the adipose tissue of dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. Accepted


Progress 04/15/21 to 04/14/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The main audience of this program are veterinary students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will complete the summer experiences of the 2022 cohort of students and start organizing the 2023 program as well as advertising and recruiting the program at both Michigan State University and Tuskegee University.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In addition to the insecurities related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the award was received too close to the summer of 2021 and was impossible to organize summer experiences during 2021. Thus, the start of the program was delayed until summer of 2022. However, during this reporting period, we have worked to organize and advertise the 2022 program summer experiences. Currently, the students are matched with their mentors and scheduled to start their summer internships, which will be detailed in the next progress report.

Publications