2023 Veterinary Research Scholars

Scholar: Favour Ajibade, Univ of Ibadan, Veterinary Medicine, Nigeria, Class of 2025

Mentor: Kris Silver, PhD

VRSP Project: Optimizing a murine model for using electropenetrography to study blood feeding in arthropods

Scholar: Elayna Anderson, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Kate KuKanich, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)

VRSP Project: Canine urinary excretion profile of chloramphenicol and florfenicol

Scholar: Astrid Carcamo-Tzic, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Butch KuKanich, DVM, PhD, DACVCP

VRSP Project: Correlation of the antinociceptive and hypothermic effects of opioids in dogs

Scholar: Jessica Carnal, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Abbie Viscardi, PhD

VRSP Project: Evaluating the utility of firocoxib and bupivacaine liposome suspension to reduce pain associated with surgical castration and tail docking piglets using a CO2 laser: a pilot study

Scholar: Olivia Coppola, St. George CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Bethany McGregor, MS, PhD

VRSP Project: Impact of larval density on adult Culicoides sonorenesis biting midge size and susceptibility to bluetongue virus

Scholar: Doug Farleigh, KSU CVM Class of 2025

Mentor: Chieko Azuma, DVM, PhD, DACVR (Radiation Oncology)

VRSP Project: Canine nasal tumors as a sentinel for environmental exposure

Scholar: Amanda Fideldy, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Phillip Shults, PhD

VRSP Project: Detection of avian blood parasites from insect vectors

Scholar: Deanna Gennett, KSU CVM Class of 2025

Mentor: David Renter, DVM, PhD

VRSP Project: Incorporating sustainability metrics in beef industry research

Scholar: Abdulafees Hamzat, Univ. of Ibadan, Veterinary Medicine, Nigeria, Class of 2024

Mentor: Natalia Cernicchiaro, DVM, MSc, PhD

VRSP Project: Assessing the risk of introduction, transmission, and establishment of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus in the United States

Scholar: Annie Harris, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: T.G. Nagaraja, BVSc, MVSc, PhD

VRSP Project: Liver abscesses in cattle, assessing potential involvement of E. coli

Scholar: Greta Karwath, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor:  Stephanie Martinez, PhD

VRSP Project: Pharmacokinetics of emodepside in canines

Scholar: Danielle Lopez, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Stephanie Hall, PhD

VRSP Project: Anxiety in Alzheimer’s Disease

Scholar: Gabriella Lorino, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Matt Basel, PhD

VRSP Project: Designing thermosensitive nanoparticles for treatment of pancreatic cancer

Scholar: Gabrielle Maroulis, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Nate Kapaldo, DVM, MPH, DACVAA

VRSP Project: Assessment of a university veterinary hospital’s environmental sustainability practices

Scholar: Erin Mayhue, KSU CVM Class of 2025

Mentor: Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai, BVSc & AH, MS, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology and Immunology)

VRSP Project: Interaction of emodepside with canine MDR1

Scholar: Megan McGraw, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Cassandra Olds, MS, PhD

VRSP Project: Effects of management practices in reducing external arthropod parasitism in large animals

Scholar: Babatunde Olowu, Univ of Ibadan, Veterinary Medicine, Nigeria, Class of 2025

Mentor: Kathryn Reif, MS,P.H., PhD

VRSP Project: Evaluation of Amblyomma americanum feeding behavior using electropenetrography

Scholar: Hanna Rhoads, KSU CVM Class of 2025

Mentor: Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)

VRSP Project: Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes scapularis collected from horses in the United States

Scholar: Danny Rosen, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Barbara Drolet, MS, PhD

VRSP Project: Use of RNAi to reduce transmission of vector-borne animal disease

Scholar: Faith Stapleton, KSU CVM Class of 2026

Mentor: Raghavendra Amachawadi, BVSc, MS, PhD

VRSP Project: Ecology of Salmonella across the beef-on-dairy cattle production systems

Scholar: Vivienne Velič, Univ. Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic, Class of 2025

Mentor: Kathryn Reif, MS.P.H., PhD

VRSP Project: Investigating the fine details of tick feeding in real-time using electropenetrography