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- Name: Jennifer Marie Young
- Currently in year 2 in my Ph.D. program in Interdepartmental Genetics, housed within the Animal Science Department, specifically
in the Animal Breeding and Genetics group.
- Hometown: Graham, North Carolina
- Undergrad: North Carolina State University, BS in Animal Science with a science concentration and BA in Religious Studies
- Extracurricular Activities: I am active in my church here in Ames through various ministries. I enjoy reading especially books by
Nicholas Sparks or William Johnstone. I enjoy hiking/walking with my dog.
- I applied to Iowa State University because they have one of the strongest programs for animal breeding and genetics. I chose to come here
because I felt connected to the university during my interviews. The faculty that I spoke with prior to accepting my position as a Ph.D. candidate
at ISU were all very cordial and welcoming. They all seemed to care about each individual that they interacted with and made me feel like I
would be an important addition to the program. The opportunities here at ISU are widespread and if you want to work with a specific organism,
you can most likely find someone who is already doing research with that organism. Collaboration between departments is very big here at ISU
which results in having a larger pool of people to choose from in helping you to resolve research issues.
- My research pertains to a residual feed intake selection project in
purebred Yorkshire pigs. Residual feed intake is a measurement of feed
efficiency in which you measure a pig's actual feed intake using electronic
feeders and subtract the estimated feed intake based on a curve that
accounts for growth and backfat depth. I specifically am looking at the
correlated response to selection on feeding behavior traits, lactation
efficiency, and sow performance. I will also look at the relationship of
feeding behavior, lactation efficiency, and sow performance with residual
feed intake. I will also be looking at competition effects and high density
SNP genotyping. I also did some work on scale behavior that will be analyzed
by another graduate student. I am also in charge of making selection
decisions and managing the selection project.
- After I complete my Ph.D. program, I am hoping to do a post-doc and then find a position in industry.
