Faculty

Kevin Harvatine
Associate Professor of Nutritional Physiology

Degrees:
Post-Doctorate, Cornell University
Ph.D., Animal Science, Cornell University
M.S., Animal Science, Michigan State University
B.S., Animal Science, Penn State University

Dr. Harvatine’s research integrates traditional ruminant nutrition and modern molecular biology approaches to investigate the regulation of metabolism and develop dietary intervention strategies to improve dairy production. Research approaches utilize bovine and mouse in vivo experiments and cell culture systems. Specific research objectives include investigation of dietary factors that modify ruminal fatty acid biohydrogenation, regulation of synthesis of milk components, and basic regulation of lipid synthesis with the continual goal of developing feeding strategies to improve the efficiency and performance of dairy cows.

Graduate Students

Cesar Matamoros

Degrees:
Current: Ph.D., Physiology, Penn State University
B.S., Agronomy, Universidad Zamoranao, Honduras

Cesar is interested in the effects of acetate on synthesis of milk fat in dairy cows.

 

Reilly Pierce

Degrees:

Current: M.S., Animal Science, Penn State University
B.S. Animal Science, Cornell University

Reilly has a general interest in dairy nutrition and dairy farms, and is a competent model rocket scientist and an aspiring guitar player.

 

Technicians

Beckie Bomberger

Degrees:
B.S., Animal Science, Penn State University

Beckie’s passions include cows, oxytocin, and turtles.

Elaine Brown

Degrees:
B.S., Animal Science, Penn State University

When Elaine is not helping out in the lab or at the barn, she is taking care of her own herd of Hereford cattle.

Alumni

Isaac Salfer

Current Position:
Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University

Degrees:
Ph.D., Animal Science, Penn State University
M.S., Animal Science, University of Minnesota
B.S., Animal Science, University of Minnesota

Elle Andreen

Current Position:
Support Scientist, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Degrees:
M.S., Animal Science, Penn State University
B.S., Animal Science, Michigan State University

Richard Shepardson II

Current Position:
Technical Specialist, Milk Specialties Global, Inc.

Degrees:
M.S., Animal Science, Penn State University
B.S., Biochemistry, University of New Hampshire

Michel Baldin

Current Position:
Dairy Nutritionist & Animal Scientist, milc Group

Degrees:
Ph.D., Animal Science, Penn State University
M.S., Animal Sciences, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina , Brazil
B.S., Animal Sciences, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil

Natalie Urrutia

Current Position:
Dairy Nutrition Researcher, Intituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Chile

Degrees:
Ph.D., Animal Science, Penn State University
DVM, Universidad de Chile, Chile

Mutian Niu

Degrees:
Current: Ph.D., University of California, Davis
M.S., Animal Science, Penn State University
B.S., China Agricultural University

L. Whitney Rottman

Current Position:
Research Associate at Novozymes

Degrees:
M.S., Animal Science, Penn State University
B.S., Animal Science, University of Maryland

Daniel Rico

Degrees:
Post-doctorate: Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada
Ph.D., Animal Science, Penn State University
M.S., Animal Science, Penn State University
B.S., Universidad Nacional de Colombia

 

Undergraduates