Our People
John Hall
Professor; Beef Extension Specialist; Cattle Management Lead, Rinker Rock Creek Ranch
View ProfileMark McGuire
University Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean of Research & Director of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station
View ProfileRobert J. Collier
Department Head
Ag Science, Room 213
208-885-9489
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1976
M.S., Eastern Illinois University, 1973
B.S., Eastern Illinois University, 1969
Amin Ahmadzadeh
Professor
Ag Science, Room 219
208-885-7409
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ph.D., Virginia Tech
M.S., Virginia Tech
B.S., Delaware Valley
Courses
- AVS 172: Principles and Practices of Dairy Science
- AVS 222: Animal Reproduction and Breeding
- AVS 472: Dairy Cattle Management
- AVS 475: Advanced Dairy Management
Phil Bass
Assistant Professor - Meat Science
Ag Science, Room 221
208-885-0990
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Phil applies industry experience to teach, advise students and others involved in the Pacific Northwest meat production and processing community; conducts applied research in meat quality with emphasis in beef.
Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2009
M.S., California Polytechnic State University — San Luis Obispo, 2006
B.S., California Polytechnic State University — San Luis Obispo, 2004
Courses
- AVS 109: The Science of Animals that Serve Humanity
- AVS 363: Animal Products for Human Consumption
Carolyn Hovde Bohach
Distinguished Professor
Mines Building, Room 317
208-596-1747
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Carolyn's focus is infectious disease with emphasis on the foodborne pathogen E. coli O157:H7. Primary interests are in the relationship of this human pathogen with healthy cattle.
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1985
MT (ASCP), Swedish Hospital Medical Center, 1976
B.S., University of Illinois, 1975
Courses
- FS 517: Scientific Writing
- FS 518: Oral Seminar
Catherine Cantley
Assistant Professor
MBEB, room 2256
208-426-2181
TechHelp Idaho
1910 University Drive, MBEB 2256
Boise, ID 83725-1656
Catherine works with Idaho food manufacturers to improve their products, processes and cultures. She collaborates with commissions and consortiums that interact with food manufacturers to assist in reaching industry-wide opportunities.
Six Sigma Green Belt, Juran Institute, 2015
Certificate: Applied sensory and consumer science, University of California-Davis, 2014
M.S., Purdue University, 2007
B.S., Washington State University, 2004
Mireille Chahine
Dairy Extension Specialist and Professor
208-736-3609
Twin Falls Research and Extension Center
University of Idaho
PO Box 1827
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301-1827
Gwinyai Chibisa
Assistant Professor, Ruminant Nutrition and Metabolism
Ag Science, Room 212
208-885-7074
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ph.D., University of Saskatchewan, 2013
M.Sc., University of Saskatchewan, 2008
B.Sc., University of Zimbabwe, 2005
Courses
- AVS 305: Animal Nutrition
- AVS 306: Feeds and Ration Formulation
- AVS 474: Beef Cattle Science
- AVS 517: Macronutrient Metabolism
Michael Colle
Assistant Professor, Meat Science
Ag Science, Room 218
208-885-6007
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ph.D., University of Idaho, 2017
M.S., University of Idaho, 2014
B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 2011
Courses
- AVS 110: Science of Animal Husbandry
- AVS 110 Laboratory: Science of Animal Husbandry
- AVS 263: Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation
- AVS 274: Beef Feedlot Systems
- AVS 463/563: Growth and Lactation
Joseph Dalton
Professor, Dairy Extension Specialist
Caldwell Complex
208-454-7633
Caldwell Research and Extension Center
University of Idaho
1904 E Chicago St, Suite A, B
Caldwell, ID 83605
Dalton’s research is focused on increasing the efficiency of artificial insemination in dairy cattle, including sperm dosage, heat detection accuracy, synchronization programs, AI technician proficiency and identification of fertility markers.
Ph.D., Virginia Tech
M.S., Utah State
B.S., Cal Poly
Stacey Doumit
Senior Instructor
Ag Science, Room 209
208-885-7143
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
M.Sc., Michigan State University, 1994
B.Sc., Michigan State University, 1989
Courses
- AVS 466: Equine Science and Management
- AVS 450: Issues in Animal Agriculture
- AGLS 404: CALS Peer Leader Training
Melinda Ellison
Assistant Professor — Range Livestock & Sheep Extension Specialist
208-756-2749
Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension & Education Center
University of Idaho
16 Hot Springs Ranch Road
Carmen, ID 83462
Ellison's research focuses primarily on the effects of grazing livestock on wildlife and range.
Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 2016
M.S., University of Wyoming, 2013
B.S., University of Wyoming, 2011
Daniel Fitzsimons
Assistant Professor
Ag Biotech, Room 307
208-885-5054
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
My research focuses on identifying the molecular processes that underlie the regulation of cardiac contraction and relaxation in the context of normal and diseased states, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 1989
B.S., University of California, Irvine, 1983
Courses
- AVFS 371/373: Anatomy and Physiology
Benton Glaze
Beef Extension Specialist and Professor
208-736-3638
Twin Falls Research and Extension Center
University of Idaho
315 Falls Avenue East
Twin Falls ID 83301
Benton focuses on breeding and genetics, beef quality assurance, general management and reproduction. He serves as a resource for beef producers, allied industries, veterinarians, Extension educators and the general public.
Ph.D., Kansas State University
M.S., University of Missouri-Columbia
B.S., Tarleton State University
Courses
- AVS 330: Genetics of Livestock Improvement
- AVS 474: Beef Cattle Science
John Hall
Professor; Beef Extension Specialist; Cattle Management Lead, Rinker Rock Creek Ranch
208-756-2749
Nancy M. Cummings Research Extension & Education Center
University of Idaho
16 Hot Springs Road
Carmen, ID 83462
The center is the University of Idaho’s primary cow/calf and forage research center. John’s program conducts applied research to enhance food production and sustainability of beef production operations.
Janna Hamlett
Clinical faculty, Extension Food Processing Specialist
Evergreen Building, Suite B44
208-731-9363
Twin Falls Research and Extension Center
University of Idaho
315 Falls Avenue East
Twin Falls ID 83301
Janna works and assists the local food processing industry through TechHelp, UI Extension and Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences.
M.S., Washington State University, 2016
B.S., University of Idaho, 2003
Courses
- Food Processing Technology AAS and BAS curriculum, College of Southern Idaho
Denise Konetchy
Assistant Professor, Small Ruminant Medicine
Ag Science, Room 216
208-885-7390
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Owner and clinical practitioner of a rural mixed animal veterinary practice. The practice emphasized strategies, of preventative medicine, herd health and client education. In addition I was a temporary instructor at the University of Idaho.
MPH, University of Iowa, 2017
DVM, Washington State University, 1986
B.S., Washington State University, 1984
B.S., Washington State University, 1983
Courses
- AVS 452: Physiology of Reproduction
- AVS 471: Animal Disease Management
- AVS 476: Sheep Science
- Small ruminant medicine clinical instructor — WSU senior veterinary students
Vikas Kumar
Assistant Professor - Research (Fish Nutrition & Nutrigenomics)
Ag Science, Room 214 or Aberdeen center
208-885-1088
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Kumar’s research interest revolves around aquaculture (marine and freshwater); nutrition, physiology and genomics of aquatic animals. His primary research is to develop nutritionally balanced, environmentally sound and cost-effective seafood production.
Ph.D., University of Hohenheim, Germany, 2011
M.F.Sc., Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India, 2006
B.F.Sc., Central Agricultural University, India 2004
Courses
- AVS 504: Fish Nutrition
- AVS 404: Fish Nutrition
- CORS 232: Science on Your Plate
- AVFS 204: Anatomy & Physiology of Domesticated Animals
- AVS 501: Graduate Seminar
- FISH 600: Research and Dissertation
Languages other than English spoken
- Hindi
- Bengali
Scott Minnich
Professor
Ag Biotech, Room 209
208-310-2477
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Scott's focus is on bacterial pathogenesis of Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pestis, etiologic agents of yersiniosis and bubonic plague respectively; and ability to suppress the innate immune response of mammalian hosts.
Brenda Murdoch
Associate Professor
Ag Biotech, Room 311
208-885-2088
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Murdoch’s research focuses on characterizing the relationship between genetic variation in mammals and traits which are valued and important to society. She exploits a number of molecular and genetic tools to further improve our understanding of how these variations affect biological processes of both undesirable and desirable phenotypic traits.
Ph.D., University of Alberta
B.Sc., University of Alberta
Courses
- AVS 330: Genetics of Livestock Improvement
- AVS 501: Graduate Seminar
Matt Powell
Associate Professor
Aquaculture Research Institute
208-837-9096
Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station
3059F National Fish Hatchery Road
Hagerman, ID 83332
Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 1995
M.S., University of Idaho, 1990
B.S., University of Idaho, 1985
Courses
- AVS 504: Practical Methods for Analyzing Animal Science Experiments
- FISH 600: Research and Dissertation
Pedram Rezamand
Professor
Ag Science, Room 215
208-885-5392
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 2006
M.S., Tehran, Iran, 1995
B.S., Tehran, Iran, 1991
Courses
- AVS 306: Feeds and Ration Formulation
- AVS 411/511: Ruminant Nutrition
- AVS 517 (odd years) and AVS 531 (even years) Macronutrient Metabolism
Dojin Ryu
Professor
Ag Science, Room 116
208-885-0166
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Dojin focus is chemical and toxicological fate of mycotoxins, a diverse group of secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi. Developing culturally sensitive education programs for deaf teenagers to reduce foodborne illness.
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1997
M.S., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1992
B.S., Korea University, 1989
Course
- FS 110: Introduction to Food Science
Amy Skibiel
Assistant Professor, Lactation Physiology
Ag Biotech, Room 303
208-885-1161
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Skibiel’s research interests lie at the intersection of lactation biology, maternal effects and performance. These topics are studied using observational and experimental approaches and from both evolutionary and dairy production perspectives.
Ph.D., Auburn University, 2012
M.S., Auburn University, 2007
B.S., Juniata College, 2003
Course
- AVS 463: Growth and Lactation (fall 2019)
Jim Sprinkle
Beef Extension Specialist
208-756-2749
Nancy M. Cummings Research Extension & Education Center
University of Idaho
16 Hot Springs Road
Carmen, ID 83462
Ph.D., Texas A & M University
M.S., Montana State University
B.S., Brigham Young University
A.S., Ricks College
Gulhan Unlu
Associate Professor
Ag Biotech, Room 205
208-885-7771
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ünlü focus is targeting main agricultural interests, commodities (dairy, potatoes, fish) and byproducts (cheese whey, potato peel waste, fish skin/bones) in ID and WA.
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1998
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1992
B.S., Hacettepe University, 1987
Courses
- FS 401: Industrial Microbiology
- FS 416: Food Microbiology
- FS 417: Food Microbiology Laboratory
- FS 515: Food Fermentations — Microbiology and Technology
Hardy is an expert in animal nutrition, specifically fish nutrition and served as director of the Aquaculture Research Institute.
Ph.D., University of Washington
M.S., Washington State University
B.S., University of Washington
Andrzej focus is to discern and verify the unique proteins (biomarkers) that infer directly or indirectly the functional aspects of microbial tolerance of the extreme environmental conditions.
Ph.D., University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska, Lublin, Poland, 1980
M.S., University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska, Lublin, Poland, 1973
Matt Doumit
Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Professor
Ag Science, Room 65
208-885-7984
Academic Programs
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2336
Moscow, ID 83844-2336
Ph.D., Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1994
M.S., South Dakota State University, 1989
B.S., Washington State University, 1987
Mark McGuire
University Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean of Research & Director of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station
Ag Science, Room 47
208-885-6681
Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2331
Moscow, ID 83844-2331
Dawn Pollard
Student Support Specialist
Ag Science, Room 111A
208-885-2030
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
B.S., University of Idaho, 2016
A.S., North Idaho College, 2015
Mary Ellen Martin
Administrative Coordinator
Ag Science, Room 213
208-885-6345
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Bruna Calvo Agustinho
Postdoctoral Associate
Room 210
352-870-3589
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Expertise in ruminant nutrition, fibrolytic enzymes and current research area is focused on stress and inflammation of dairy calves.
Ph.D., State University of Maringa (Maringa, Brazil), 2020
Ph.D., Visiting Ph.D. Internship, University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida), 2020
M.S., State University of Maringa (Maringa, Brazil), 2017
B.S., State University of Maringa (Maringa, Brazil), 2015
Languages other than English spoken
- Portuguese
Kevin Carnahan
Senior Researcher
Ag Science, Room 123E
208-885-6831
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ph.D., Washington State University
M.S., Brigham Young University
B.S., University of Central Missouri
Haedun Kim
Research Specialist
Ag Science, Room 129B
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
M.S., Korea University, 2017 B.S., Dongduk Women’s University, 2015
Languages other than English spoken
- Korean
Mitra Mazinani
Research Specialist
Ag Science, Room 217c
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Mitra supports AVFS departmental functions and research experiments in animal nutrition and assist graduate students. Her main interest is dairy cattle nutrition with emphasis on protein and amino acids.
Visiting scientist, Mississippi State University (2019-2020)
Ph.D., Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran (2020)
M.S., Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran (2015)
B.S., Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran (2013)
Barbara Nielsen
Research Support Scientist
Ag Science
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Kayleen Oliver
Beef Feedlot Manager
Ag Science, Room 223D
509-998-3886
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
M.S., Washington State University (in progress)
B.S., Washington State University, 2017
A.A., Spokane Community College, 2014
Patricia Villamediana
Research Technician
Ag Science, Room 223E
208-885-6831
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Cytogenetics and reproductive biology contributes knowledge of the cellular mechanisms involved in mammal reproduction, leading new procedures in quality diagnosis in embryos and gametes, developed in parallel with assisted reproduction techniques, for agriculture and livestock farming.
Ph.D., Autonomous University of Barcelona, 1998
M.S., Autonomous University of Barcelona, 1996
B.S., University of Zulia, 1994
Languages other than English spoken
- Spanish
- Catalan
Janet Williams
Senior Research Scientist
Ag Biotech, Room 305
208-885-6351; 208-874-3213 (c)
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330
Moscow, ID 83844-2330
Ph.D., University of Idaho, 2016
M.S., Oklahoma State University, 1987
B.S., Oklahoma State University, 1985
- James England, professor, veterinarian for Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension and Education Center
- Rick Norell, professor, Extension dairy specialist
- Gordon Murdoch, professor, former Animal and Veterinary Science Department
- Ron Hardy, professor and former director of the Aquaculture Research Institute
- Carl Hunt, professor, former Animal and Veterinary Science Department
- Andrzej J. Paszcynski, professor, former UI-WSU School of Food Science