Center for Integrated Animal Genomics

 

CIAG Faculty

 

CIAG Faculty help build research capacity and scientific prestige in Integrated Animal Genomics through interdisciplinary collaborative research and support of Center activities.  To become affiliated with or learn more about CIAG, or to update your information in the CIAG directory, please send an email to ciag@iastate.edu.

 

NAME DEPARTMENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
Adams, Dean C. Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology; Statistics

Evolutionary ecology, and understanding the evolution of complex phenotypes.  Components of my empirical work touch upon adaptive diversitification, phenotypic plasticity, and quantitative genetics, largely in Plethodon salamanders.  My theoretical work involves the development of statistical and analytical procedure for quantifying patterns of change in multivariate data

Anantharam, Vellareddy Biomedical Sciences Cellular and molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection; development of novel strategies for treating neurological disorders
Bartholomay, Lyric Entomology Employ microarrays and bioinformatics tools to describe the molecular response within a mosquito that is triggered by infection with a pathogen, emphasizing on arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses)
Baum, Thomas Plant Pathology Compatible interaction between cyst nematodes and their hosts with particular emphasis on the soybean cyst nematode
Beetham, Jeffrey Veterinary Pathology; Entomology Parasitology, oxidative stress, lysozomes; gene regulation
Beitz, Donald C. Animal Science; Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Lipid metabolism; cholesterol homeostasis in animal and humans; nutritional and genetic control of animal-derived food quality
Birt, Diane Food Science and Human Nutrition Identification and study of mechanisms for cancer prevention by novel dietary constituents and mechanisms for cancer enhancement by overeating and obesity; assessment of potential bioative and toxic components of botanical dietary supplements and studies on the mechanism of these effects
Blitvich, Brad Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses); molecular determinants of arbovirus-vector interactions; sequencing and characterization of genes involved in apoptotic regulation in mosquito vectors; epidemic potential of West Nile virus in Mexico
Blanchong, Julie Natural Resource Ecology and Management Wildlife disease ecology and genetics; use of molecular genetic techniques to identify and characterize susceptibility, routes of transmission, spatial distribution, and impacts of disease in wildlife populations
Bonning, Bryony Entomology Virus pathogenesis; molecular determinants of baculovirus host range; virus-based strategies for management of insect pests and plant disease
Bronikowski, Anne Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Evolution of life history variation with empahsis on senescence studied through field and laboratory experiments (physiological and molecular genetic) and mathematical/computational modeling
Carpenter, Susan Animal Science Molecular virology and virus evolution; host-pathogen interactions; genetics of disease resistance; regulation of gene expression.
Carriquiry, Alicia Statistics Nutrition and dietary assessment; Bayesian methods and applications; environmental statistics
Chou, Hui-Hsien Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology; Computer Science Modeling of self-replication behaviors using cellular automata; computational biology
Coffman, Clark R. Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Developmental genetic analyses of the networks mediating cell migration and programmed cell death using Drosophila germ cells as a model system for metastasis
Cook, Dianne Statistics Dynamic graphics; exploratory data analysis; multivariate methods; statistical computing
Cornick, Nancy Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Bacterial colonization mechanisms; zoonotic transmission of bacterial pathogens; microbial ecology of gastrointestinal systems
Day, Tim Biomedical Sciences Neuromuscular systems of parasitic worms; bioinformatic and PCR-based efforts to discover neuropeptide receptors in parasitic worms
Dekkers, Jack C. M. Animal Science Quantitative genetics and animal breeding with application to swine genetics, including design and optimization of breeding strategies, use of molecular genetic information, QTL detection, and economic aspects of breeding programs
Dickerson, Julie Electrical and Computer Engineering Intelligent systems; bioinformatics; pattern recognition; data visualization
Dobbs, Drena Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Protein structure prediction; algorithms for genome-wide identification of protein structural homologs, discovery of sequence and structural correlates of protein-ligand recognition
Dorman, Karin Statistics; Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Biomathematics, computational biology, stochastic modeling, bioinformatics; models of viruses and phylogenetic trees
Ellinwood, Matthew Animal Science Pathogenesis and therapy of canine and feline models of lysosomal storage disorders, neurodegeneration associated with lysosomal accumulation of haparan sulfate and GM1 and GM2 gangliosides, identification of novel feline and canine models of human disease
Essner, Jeffrey J. Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Genomics approach using zebrafish to model migration of and formation of blood supply for cancer cells and identify genes that are required at specific steps in cancer progression
Eulenstein, Oliver Computer Science Algorithms, computational complexity, bioinformatics, computational biology; design of algorithms to construct large subtrees of the "Tree of life; the inverse protein folding problem
Fales-Williams, Amanda J. Veterinary Pathology Pathogenic mechanisms of disease, including storage diseases, neoplasia and infectious diseases
Fernando, Rohan Animal Science Statistical methodology for mapping QTL; marker assisted selection; genetic evaluation and parameter estimation in crossbred populations
Gabler, Nicholas Animal Science The genetic and molecular mechanisms of intestinal transport and immunity; Understanding the molecular aspects of feed efficiency in swine; Maternal nutrition, epigenetics and fetal programming
Garrick, Dorian Animal Science Interested in genetics and its application to the improvement of animal populations
Girton, Jack Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Developmental and molecular genetics pf Drosophilia pattern formation, genetic regulation of cell determination
Greenlee, Heather West Biomedical Sciences Characterization of photoreceptor differentiation using proteomics and the role IGF-1 signaling plays in this process; use of retinal anatomy to better understand transmissible spongiform encephalopathy pathogenesis
Gu, Xun Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Evolutionary functional genomics; comparative and evolutionary genomics; multi-layer genome data exploration and gene network evolution; human population genetics and primate evolution
Hansen, Stephanie Animal Science Molecular and genomic mechanisms involved in mineral metabolism in cattle and pigs
Harris, D. L. Hank Animal Science Infectious diseases of swine and shrimp; new alternatives to antimicrobials, specifically those that may reduce the levels of human foodborne Salmonella in swine, pathogenic microbiology, bacteriophage therapy, vaccinology, infectious agent elimination techniques and xenotransplantation
Henderson, Eric Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Entrepreneurial science with emphasis on nanotechnology, DNA nanodevices, DNA origami, atomic force microscopy, novel devices for ultraminiaturized bioanalysis, nanoacoustics, digital media, social graphs, programming and music.  Emphasis on technology transfer and translational research
Hendrich, Suzanne Food Science and Human Nutrition Food toxicology; gut microbial metabolism of phytochemicals; health effects and bioavailability of soybean isoflavine, detoxification of fumonisin (a corn fungal toxin), immune and other cellular functional regulation by prostaglandins and oxidatively modified (S-thiolated) proteins
Honavar, Vasant Computer Science Artificial intelligence, bioinformatics and computational biology; biological computation; cognitive science; data mining and knowledge; discovery, distributed information systems; intelligent agents and multi-agent systems; knowledge representation and inference; machine learning and computational learning theory; complex systems monitoring and control
Hostetter, Jesse Veterinary Pathology  
Huiatt, Ted Animal Science; Biochemistry Biophysics and Molecular Biology Regulation of embryonic skeletal muscle growth and differentiation; assembly of myofibrillar proteins during embryonic development of skeletal muscle
Janzen, Fredric Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Biology of reptiles, including population genetic structure and molecular evolution; evolutionary physiology; computational biology; evolutionary ecology; conservation biology; life-history evolution; computer modeling of hybrid zones and population demography
Jergens, Albert E. Veterinary Clinical Sciences Animal models of gastrointestinal inflammation:  host-microbiota interactions which modulate gastrointestinal health and disease; comparative gastroenterology with a focused interest in canine/feline inflammatory bowel diseases
Jernigan, Robert Baker Center for Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences; Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology Molecular computational biology (computational studies on the structures of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules, and their interactions); functions of large structures (relationship between structures and sequences; protein threading, protein interactions with other biomolecules, conformation generation, large domain motions of protein and assemblages, including the ribosome, and systems biology)
Jones, Doug Veterinary Pathology Host factors that influence the development of resistance and susceptibility to infectious diseases caused by intracellular pathogens, murine immune response to the protozoal parasite Leishmania and the bovine immune response to Mycobacterium avium subs paratuberculosis
Kanthasamy, Arthi Biomedical Sciences The overall long term goal of my lab is to identify cellular mechanisms underlying region specific neuronal vulnerability in neurodegenerative conditions including ischemia, Parkinsons' disease and methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity
Keating, Aileen Animal Science Investigating environmental chemical effects on ovarian physiology and function in terms of how what signaling transduction pathways are involved in ovarian damage, how these chemicals are metabolized by the ovary and development of therapeutic approaches to protect the ovary from xenobiotic exposures
Kuhlman, Julie Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology The current and future focus of my research efforts is to understand the molecular basis of the formation and function of the enteric nervous system (ENS).
Lamont, Susan Animal Science Molecular genetics and immunogenetics of poultry; identification of molecular markers and genes controlling bacterial resistance, antibody kinetics, growth, body composition, skeletal integrity and other biological traits; physiological genetics; gene expression; major histocompatibility complex genes
Lavrov, Dennis Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Molecular evolution, phylogenetics, and comparative genomics; use of gene order data for the analysis of ancient relationships; evolution of animal mitochondrial DNA with a special emphasis on arthopods and sponges; bioinformatics
Levine, Howard Mathematics Mathematical biology; applied mathematics and mathematical modeling; partial differential equations
Liu, Peng Statistics Statistical genetics, bioinformatics, inference for high-dimensional data such as microarray
Logue, Catherine Veterinary Microbiology & Preventive Medicine Bacterial pathogens of production animals (pre- and post-harvest) and the food chain.  Exploration of the critical links between infectious diseases and foodborne illness using classic, molecular and genomic based approaches
Lonergan, Elisabeth Huff Animal Science Post-mortem conversion of meat and muscle biology
Lonergan, Steven Animal Science Mechanisms governing degradation of skeletal muscle protein
Mabry, John Animal Science Across herd genetic evaluation; genetic parameter estimation; genetic system design and implementation; application of BLUP breeding value estimation for on-farm usage; integration of molecular genetics with quantitative genetics for profitable swine production
Mallapragada, Surya Chemical and Biological Engineering Bioinspired smart copolymers; patterned surfaces for nerve regeneration; combinatorial synthesis and characterization of polyanhydrides; semicrystalline polymer drying
Mayfield, John Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Evolution and computation; general physical and mathematical principles regarding biological evolution
McGrail, Maura A. Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Molecular genetics in the vertebrate model organism zebrafish; transgenic approaches to model cancer; development of gene targeting methods for functional genomic studies
Miller, Cathy Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Viral molecular biology, including understanding the regulation of viral translation and replication in the context of the host cell and its varied defenses.
Minion, Chris Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis; pathogenomics; proteomics; gene expression profiling and molecular vaccines
Morrison, Jo Ann Veterinary Clinical Sciences; Veterinary Teaching Hospital Areas of interest include canine and feline thyroid disease and hepatitis in Doberman pinschers.
Narasimhan, Balaji Chemical and Biological Engineering Molecular design of polymer interfaces; structure-property relationships in lithographic polymers; bioerodible polymers with tailored microstructure for controlled drug/vaccine delivery; rational protein stabilization strategies using nanostructured biodegradable block copolymers; combinatorial strategies for nanoscale design and testing of adhesives and nanocomposites
Nettleton, Dan Statistics Order restricted inference; mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL); categorical data analysis
Nilsen-Hamilton, Marit Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology Regulation of gene expression by growth factors in animal cells; tissue-specific regulation of gene expression; imaging gene expression; interaction between mother and fetus during reproduction
Nolan, Lisa Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Bacterial diseases of production animals, including their effects on animal health, public health and food safety; molecular basis of virulence and antimicrobial resistance of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and other E. coli and Salmonella spp. causing disease in various host species
Petersen, Christine Veterinary Pathology Assessing the role of genetic traits in susceptibility to canine visceral Leishmaniasis through both a genome wide association study and a linkage study.
Phillips, Greg Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Bacterial genetics and molecular biology of membrane protein localization; structure and functional analysis of the signal recognition particle; genetic tools for study of gene function
Powell-Coffman, Jo Anne Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Genetic analysis of hypoxia response and aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, using C. elegans as a model system
Reecy, James Animal Science Transcriptional control of skeletal muscle growth and development; molecular mechanisms controlling heart formation; beef cattle molecular genetics; bovine microarray
Reinhardt, Tim National Animal Disease Center (USDA-ARS); Animal Science Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating calcium transport in the mammary gland; the role of mammary calcium transport in the development of clinical and subclinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows; proteomic analysis of the mammary gland in different developmental states
Rosenbusch, Ricardo Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Molecular events in mycoplasmal and bacterial infection of ruminants, emphasizing bovine respiratory disease and pinkeye; virulence attributes of ruminant mycoplasmas; diagnostic systems for mycoplasma infections; characterization of surface markers on equine tenocytes
Ross, Jason Animal Science Identification and the study of the effects miRNAs have on transcriptome and proteome during oocyte maturation, early embryonic development and implantation in the pig.  These mechanisms are studied in vivo, in vitro and SCNT derived embryos.
Rothschild, Max Animal Science Gene mapping; identification of genes controlling growth, reproduction and immunogenetics of swine; new statistical methods to evaluate animals
Sakaguchi, Don Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Developmental neurobiology, stem cell transplantation, development and regeneration of vertebrate visual systems, glaucoma and other retinal diseases, coupled biological and mathematical modeling of neural stem cell pattern formation
Schalinske, Kevin Food Science and Human Nutrition Nutritional and hormonal regulation of folate/methyl group metabolism relevant to health and disease
Schneider, Stephen Q. Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Gene regulatory networks and asymmetric cell division in animal development and evolution; transcriptome analysis of early development in the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii; reconstruction of urbilaterian features (gene families, gene function, and gene expression)
Selsby, Joshua Animal Science Skeletal muscle pathologies and therapies with a special emphasis on Duchenne muscular dystrophy and disue atrophy; manipulation of pathways with gene therapy; muscle physiology and adaptation to excerise
Sen, Taner Z. Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology Maize genome computations, as well as bioinformatic analysis of bacterial enzymes inserted in maize for the production of biofuels.
Serb, Jeanne M. Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Molecular evolution; evolution of developmental pathways; identification of genetic and environmental factors involved in complex trait evolution, with an emphasis on eyes; phylogenetics
Singh, Natalia Biomedical Sciences Interested in aberrant splicing and diseases and understanding the mechanism of how environmental stress causes alterations in splicing regulation
Singh, Ravindra Biomedical Sciences Interested in identifying the genome-wide distribution of novel cis-elements that regulate alternative splicing in humans and animals
Sponseller, Brett Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine; Veterinary Clinical Sciences Equine viral pathogens; equine immune responses
Spurlock, Diane Moody Animal Science Identification of genes influencing energy balance in dairy cattle; QTL identification; analysis of gene expression; Investigation of functions of novel genes
Spurlock, Michael E. Food Science and Human Nutrition; Animal Science The role of adipocytes and inflammation in obesity and insulin resistance; specifically, the role of the adipocyte-derived hormone, adiponectin, in the regulation of energy metabolism and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in peripheral tissues and the immune system, and how these integrated regulatory pathways influence obesity and its co-morbidities
Stalder, Ken Animal Science Swine genetics and management; genetic and management effects on pork quality; swine waste and nutrient management; management to improve reproductive efficiency of sows; management of growing-finishing swine to improve profitability
Toth, Amy Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Evolution of sociality in insects with a focus on bees and wasps; physiological and comparative genomic approaches to the study of behavior.
Trimarchi, Jeff Genetics, Development and Cell Biology My research focuses on understanding the genetic programs that are responsible for generating neuronal diversity.  Specifically I am using single cell gene expression profiling to develop a molecular taxonomy of mouse and chicken retinal ganglion cells.
Tuggle, Christopher Animal Science Gene expression; gene transfer; genome mapping and analysis; embryogenomics; genome structure and function
Valenzuela, Nicole Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Gene discovery, comparative gene expression; chromosome evolution; microsatellites DNA; mitochondrial DNA; population structure; ecological and conservation genetics
Vleck, Carol Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Examining the effects of age on animals and specifically studying telomere dynamics, oxidative stress and DNA damage and immunosenescence.
Wang, Kan Agronomy Genetic transformation of corn, soybean and rice; development of plant-based edible vaccines
Wang, Zhengdao Electrical and Computer Engineering Information and communication theory;  Genomic signal processing
Wannemuehler, Michael Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Interactions between host and bacterial pathogens with regards to mucosal immunity and inflammatory diseases of the bowel; role normal flora has on development of mucosal immunity and mechanisms of antigen-specific T cell responses to regulate inflammation
Wendel, Jonathan Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Molecular evolution, genome evolution, and phylogenetics of higher plants; use of molecular and genetic tools to explore evolutionary change in DNA sequences and relationships with morphological change; analysis of polyploidy, with a special focus on the cotton genus
White, Wendy Food Science and Human Nutrition Nutritional genomics; bioavailability and metabolism of carotenoids, including beta-carotene and lutein; health protective effects of carotenoids; use of stable isotopic tracers to measure the bioefficacy of beta-carotene in humans; molecular biology and nutritional modulation of beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase activity; biofortification to combat vitamin A malnutrition
Whitley, Dave Veterinary Clinical Sciences Interested in inherited ophthalmic diseases and inherited diseases with ophthalmic manifestations.  Other research interests include ocular manifestations of systemic diseases and pharmacokinetics of opthalimic drugs.
Whitley, Elizabeth Veterinary Pathology I have a long-standing interests in the genetic basis of disease, especially in oncology.  I am currently working in collaboration with others to study genetic defects in lysosomal storage diseases and investigating the development of ocular tumors in zebrafish.
Zhang, Qijing Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Molecular and genetic basis of bacterial adaptation, mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and persistence, transformation-mediated horizontal transfer of genetic materials, and development of control measures for foodborne diseases