PhD
PhD
Animal Science,
The Department of Animal Science offers graduate study emphasizing animal breeding and genetics, meat and poultry products, non-ruminant and ruminant nutrition, and physiology. Analytical laboratories and animal facilities are available for graduate research.
Description
The department's contemporary facilities enhance basic and applied research capabilities for an intensive large animal, poultry, and laboratory animal work. An extensive, federally inspected meat laboratory is available for meat and poultry research. In addition, the department maintains facilities 40 minutes away from Lincoln for research in all disciplines of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and swine. Graduate programs conduct collaborative research at four university district research and extension centers and the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska.
Specializations
Applying for Admission
Standard requirements for all graduate programs
- Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Transcripts (unofficial): Uploaded as part of application form.
If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.
After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.
- If applicant’s native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required.
- If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information.
- Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.
Additional requirements specific to this program
- GRE
- GRE: After you identify the faculty member(s) in this department with whom you wish to work, contact them regarding their preferences on completion and reporting of GRE scores.
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement: Your statement should include the following: 1) Overview of background/experiences; 2) Reasons for pursuing graduate study including personal and/or career ambitions; 3) Proposed major advisor(s) and reason(s) for interests in their program(s).
- Faculty and Research Interest: Indicate up to 3 faculty members you may be interested in working with. Acceptance by a major advisor is required for admission.
- Three recommendation letters
NOTE: When sending GRE or TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed.
Admission Application Deadlines
Rolling review process. Recommended: Apply by March 15 for Fall admission or by October 15 for Spring admission.
Department
Graduate Chair
Support Staff
Campus Address
Program Faculty
Mary Drewnoski (bio)
Cow-calf and Growing Cattle Nutrition, Forage Production, Grazing Management
Lena Luck (bio)
4-H Horse Program, Youth Horse Programs Work Group, Horse Advisory Committee, Adult 4-H Leader Certification Program, Youth 4-H Advancement Level Program, Online Study Courses for Advancement Level Program, NE Equine Webinar Series, Horse Adult and Youth Judges Training
Kacie McCarthy (bio)
Cow-Calf Management Systems, Cattle Reproduction, Ruminant Nutrition
Jessie Morrill (bio)
Beef Cattle, Beef Camera Grading, Beef Quality and Marbling, Heat Stress, Molecular Biology, Nutritional Biochemistry, Nutritional Value of Beef
Jessica Petersen (bio)
Animal Functional Genomics
Sheila Purdum (bio)
Monogastric and Poultry Nutrition
Rick Rasby (bio)
Cattle Reproduction and Management Systems
Bryan Reiling (bio)
Livestock Production, Management, and Evaluation
Ty Schmidt (bio)
Muscle Biology and Physiology
Matthew Spangler (bio)
Quantitative Genetics, Genomic Prediction and Selection
Richard Stowell (bio)
Animal Housing Systems, Odor and Gas Emissions, Heat Stress Abatement
Gary Sullivan (bio)
Value-Added and Processed Meats Quality, Safety and Nutritional Value, Nitrate/Nitric Oxide Chemistry
Brett White (bio)
Embryology, Endocrinology
Ruth Woiwode (bio)
Animal Behavior and Well-being, Animal Care and Handling, Livestock Behavior, Handling, and Welfare, Stockmanship and Handler Skill
Jennifer Wood (bio)
Stress Effects on Oocyte Quality, Embryo and Placenta Development
Tianjing Zhao (bio)
Statistical Genetics and Genomics, Quantitative Genetics, Multi-Omics
UNL Graduate Chairs and staff please complete the program update form to provide edits. Updates to graduate program pages are made on an annual basis in conjunction with the Graduate Application for Admission.