Andrew Magnuson, Postdoctoral Associate, Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Magnuson received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Cornell University, with a distinction in research focusing on laying hen nutrition. This was followed by a Master of Science in Poultry Nutrition from the University of Arkansas, where he determined novel plasma biomarkers for phosphorus metabolism which translate across breeders to their broiler progeny.
Next, he returned to Cornell University to pursue a PhD in Animal Nutrition, which involved enriching the eggs of laying hens and meat of broilers with various health promoting agents, to improve their value for human nutrition. Enriched compounds included the phytochemical astaxanthin, the long chain omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid, and calcifediol.
Following this work with lipids in animal products during postdoctoral training as a USDA chemist, he published a method to quantify and speciate sphingomyelin in bovine and caprine dairy utilizing lithium adducts with infusion mass spectrometry. Currently, he is continuing his postdoctoral training under Dr. Jana Kraft at the University of Vermont, where he is researching how agricultural practices and food processing influence lipid related bioactive compounds, such as branched-chain fatty acids in dairy.
Jessica Marcela Vieira Pereira, Postdoctoral Associate, Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Pereira is a postdoctoral researcher in ASCI Associate Professor Joao Costas’ Lab. Pereira is from Minas Gerais, Brazil, and completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees at the Federal University of Vicosa. Her PhD research focused on the beef-on-dairy strategy in the United States, particularly regarding trends, economics, calf performance, and health.
Pereira is interested in economic analysis and dairy calf management, nutrition, and strategies that improve calf health. Before joining UVM, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kentucky, where she led a study evaluating different colostrum constituents on the apparent efficiency of absorption of IgG in newborn crossbred calves.
In her time at the UVM, Pereira will be working on studies evaluating dairy calves behavior data, applied dairy calves nutrition, and neonatal health management.