By Dr. Antiono Faciola
The 9th Annual UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Graduate Symposium unfolded on October 12th-13th at the Embassy Suites in St. Augustine Beach. This year’s symposium was designed to foster an inclusive community, equip students with valuable skills, promote scientific knowledge sharing, and nurture collaboration within our research endeavors.
The event drew an impressive crowd, boasting approximately 120 attendees, comprising faculty, staff, students, and honored guests. Among the highlights were the 50 oral and poster presentations delivered by our graduate students, student interns, and post-doctoral researchers.
A standout addition to this year’s symposium was the inaugural Gator Tank competition. In this competition, students pitched their innovative ideas that connected their research to pertinent issues in animal production. A panel of industry experts, including Kari Estes (Balchem), James Rohrer (CEO of RP Nutrients), Dr. Claudia Parys (Global Head of Ruminant Business at Evonik), Dr. Katie Schoenberg (Global Talent Acquisition Strategy at Elanco), and Dr. Marico Resende (UF/IFAS Faculty member and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence) evaluated these proposals.
One of the symposium’s most compelling moments was Dr. Schoenberg’s Distinguished Lecture titled “Catalyze Your Journey: Principles for Navigating a Career in Animal Sciences.”
UF CALS Dean Dr. Turner delivered remarks highlighting the alignment of the symposium with the college’s five key priorities. These priorities encompass recruiting top-tier students, offering relevant curricula, promoting excellence in teaching and mentoring, producing society-ready graduates, and strengthening alumni and stakeholder connections.
The success of the symposium was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Graduate Committee, the Graduate Student Association, dedicated faculty judges, and generous support from our sponsors: Balchem, Evonik, and RP Nutrients. Finally, we extend our gratitude to the UF CALS Dean’s Office, the UF IFAS Dean of Research Office, and the Department of Animal Sciences for their invaluable contributions to this remarkable event.
Oral Presentation Competition Winners:
1st Place: Cecilia Rocha (Binelli)
2nd Place: Zachary Seekford (Bromfield)
3rd Place: Mariana Marinho (Santos)
Poster Presentation Competition Winners:
1st Place: Gabriel Zayas (Mateescu)
2nd Place: Emily Bach (Warren)
3rd Place: Taylor Jackson (Batistel)
Gator Tank Competition Winners:
1st Place: Araceli Maderal and Federico Tarnonsky (DiLorenzo)
2nd Place: Charese Hammond and Mikayla Johnson (Faciola)
3rd Place: Ashley Beard, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Camila Rojas (Mateescu)
Find more information about the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences on our website. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Any questions or inquiries regarding this piece should be directed toward Aubrey Pearce at aubreypearce@ufl.edu. Read more stories like this one here: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/animalsciencesdept/.
0
