Graduate Mentors

Nov. 13, 2017

Noel R. Aloysius

Noel Aloysius’ research and teaching focus on terrestrial hydrology, watershed biophysical processes and environmental informatics. Noel’s research group investigates how climate and weather, landscapes and land management drive precipitation-runoff processes and fate and transport of pollution at field-, watershed- and continental-scale river basins. His group utilizes field observations, long-term hydro-climate data, numerical and statistical models to examine the movement of water, solutes and sediments in response to environmental change and human management. Noel is a member of the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force SERA-46 research group representing the University of Missouri. The SERA-46 group is a consortium of twelve Land…

Nov. 9, 2017

Jared E. Decker

IDENTIFYING LOCI RESPONDING TO SELECTIONIn 2012 Decker published a method, now called Generation-Proxy Selection Mapping, to identify loci responding to current selection. In this analysis, birth date (as a surrogate to generation number) is fit as the dependent variable in a mixed model equation. Variants that have changed in frequency rapidly due to selection are strongly associated with birth date, thus the method identifies regions under selection. The mixed model equations correct for demography, relatedness, and population structure within the data. We have previously used this method in Angus cattle using approximately 45,000 SNPs. In…

Nov. 2, 2017

Dana Massengale

Educational background Courses taught…

Nov. 2, 2017

Anthony Lupo

Lupo, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Atmospheric Science Program, University of Missouri (MU). He has a BS in Meteorology (State University of New York at Oswego, 1988), and an M.S. and Ph.D. in atmospheric science (Purdue University, 1991, 1995). His research is in large-scale atmospheric dynamics and teleconnections, climate dynamics and variability, tropical meteorology, and climate change including modeling, and has more than 160 peer-reviewed publications. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society (Certified Consulting Meteorologist [CCM] #660), and the National Weather Association. He was a Fulbright Scholar during summer 2004, AY 2014-2015, and October 2017 to Russia.

Oct. 31, 2017

Allison Meyer

My overall research objective is to improve efficiency and productivity in beef cattle production through strategic nutritional management of the cowherd. I am especially interested in physiological adaptation mechanisms of pregnant females to their nutritional environment that allow for maternal maintenance and fetal growth. An additional major interest is the developmental programming implications of maternal nutrition when this adaptation is not possible and fetal development is impaired. This overall objective includes investigation into applied production implications as well as systemic physiological, tissue-level, and cellular mechanisms.

Oct. 31, 2017

Matthew Lucy

Lucy is known for his work on the reproductive physiology of high-producing dairy cows. His current research program examines the physiological processes regulating fertility in dairy cows and explores practical methods that evolve from this research. Early embryonic loss is one of the most-pressing reproductive problems facing the dairy industry today. His current work, therefore, focuses on early embryonic development and how uterine disease early postpartum leads to early embryonic loss. Studies range from basic (transcriptomics) to applied (whole animal field trials). Educational background…

Oct. 26, 2017

Alba Argerich

My research encompasses the following key areas:   1. Nutrient Dynamics and Biogeochemical Processes in Streams: Excess nutrient loading is a major cause of freshwater ecosystem impairment. My research delves into understanding the factors controlling nutrient transport and transformation in streams throughout the year. We have developed innovative techniques, such as a smart tracer using fluorescent dye, to study water exchange between the stream channel and the hyporheic zone, shedding light on how this exchange influences water quality and ecosystem function.   2. Stream metabolism: Stream metabolism involves the balance between organic matter production and consumption in stream ecosystems, impacting nutrient…

Aug. 23, 2017

Peter V. Cornish

Research in our laboratory is primarily focused on understanding the complexities of ribosome function using a variety of biophysical methods including NMR and single molecule techniques. One of our projects is in understanding translational regulation in particular the mechanism of recoding where the ribosome shifts reading frame due to the presence of specific structures within the mRNA. Recoding has been observed in all forms of life and has been shown to be essential for the viability of many viruses including HIV-1 and SARS coronavirus. We are also contributing to the ongoing effort of developing antiviral small molecules that specifically…

Aug. 23, 2017

Donald H. Burke

Educational background Research areas Ribozyme mechanism and evolution and the origin of life; antiviral nucleic acid aptamers and the molecular basis of drug resistant HIV-1. Research description Whether we are thinking about the Origin of Life, about the Molecular mechanisms of Viral Pathogenesis, or about RNA-based therapeutics, three kinds of questions underly our work: 1) What can nucleic acids do? 2) How do their sequences and structures relate to their ability to do it? and 3) Can we engineer new biologies by expressing artificial RNAs in cells? Most of the RNA and ssDNA molecules we work with…

July 20, 2017

Pei Liu

Liu has extensive experience in applied research, ranging from consumer consumption behaviors to food handlers’ food safety practices, in various food system settings, such as restaurants, schools, faith-based organizations, and private homes. Her research has been funded by federal and state grant agencies, and she has led three USDA NIFA Grants with a total of over $1 million. Her research contributions are evidenced by over 20 publications in prestigious journals, and she has been an active presenter of her research findings at numerous national and international conferences. Educational background Courses taught…