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Wali Sahar (PhD 2023) completed research on behavioural changes associated with the early identification of disease in dairy cattle.
Allison Welk (MSc 2022) studied the effects of intake-based weaning and forage type on feeding behaviour and performance of dairy calves. Allison is now a PhD student in the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph. Thesis
Katelyn Mills (PhD 2021) completed research focusing on understanding the role of different social referents in dairy farm advising, supervised by Weary and von Keyserlingk. Thesis
Thomas Ede (PhD 2021) Assessment of the affective component of pain in dairy calves Thesis
Laura Whalin (PhD 2021) completed research on integrating natural living into calf management practices and investigating its effects on calf behaviour and welfare. Thesis
Benjamin Lecorps (PhD 2021) completed research focusing on the effect of routine farm procedures on dairy cattle affective states (emotions). Thesis
Kathryn McLellan (MSc 2021) completed research investigating the effects of free-choice access to pastures and the recovery of lame dairy cattle. Thesis
Elizabeth Russell (MSc 2021) completed research investigating the perspective of dairy producers on calf rearing. Thesis
Lara Sirovica (MSc 2021) completed research on public perceptions of dairy cattle calf management. Thesis
Maria Chen (MSc 2021) graduated with her MSc in 2021. She is currently working at UBC as a research technician. Thesis
Ruan Daros (PhD 2019) completed his research in identifying risk factors for dairy cattle transition period diseases in grazing and zero-grazing cattle. Ruan is now an assistant professor at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná in Brazil. Thesis Alumni Profile
Devon Wilson (MSc 2019) completed research studying dairy bull calf welfare during their transition from dairy farms to feedlots. Devon is a DVM, first specializing in feedlot medicine, and later venturing into small animal practice. LinkedIn ResearchGate
Hanna Eriksson (PhD 2019) focused her doctoral research on the management practices and cow-level factors related to claw horn disruption lesions in dairy cows. Hanna is now conducting her post-doctoral research at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). ResearchGate Thesis
Jane Stojkov (PhD 2019) completed his research on the management of vulnerable dairy cows in 2019. He then moved into a post-doctoral position with the Animal Welfare Program. LinkedIn ResearchGate Thesis
Anne-Marieke Smid (PhD 2019) conducted her PhD research on the preference of dairy cows for different outdoor areas and its effects on dairy cattle behaviour. Anne-Marieke is now a Post-doctoral scholar in the Department of Production Animal Health at the University of Calgary. LinkedIn ResearchGate Thesis Alumni Profile
Heather Neave (PhD 2019) completed both her research on dairy calf behavior related to painful procedures and weaning, as well as identifying personality differences in dairy calves and goats. She then moved on to a role as a post-doctoral researcher in New Zealand. Heather is now at Aarhus University, Denmark as a postdoctoral researcher. Thesis
Julia Lomb (PhD 2019) completed her research using behaviour to identify sickness and to evaluate treatment in ill transition dairy cows in 2019. She then moved into a post-doctoral position with the Animal Welfare Program. LinkedIn Thesis
Paige McDonald (MSc 2019) studied the effects of heat stress on the competitive behaviour of dairy cattle. After finishing her MSc studies, Paige moved on to working as a Data Science Teaching Assistant at BrainStation. LinkedIn ResearchGate Thesis
Alexi Thompson (MSc 2018) completed his masters on how different management practices at dry off affect behaviour in dairy cows as well as developing objective and automated methods for identifying important behaviours of dairy cows.
Christine Sumner (PhD 2018) Her research focused on engaging farmers and veterinarians as stakeholders in developing and implementing interventions that affect on-farm dairy calf welfare. Christine moved into the role of scientific officer at the SPCA New Zealand. Thesis
Geoffrey Nemeth (MSc 2018) completed research introducing heifers to freestalls using a social model. Thesis
Katherine (Katie) Koralesky (MSc 2017) after completing her MSc studies on the use and perceptions of the emergency slaughter program in BC, Katherine is now focusing her doctoral work in the AWP on shelters for companion animals in BC. Thesis
Liam Polski (MSc 2017) examined associations between vaginal temperature and induced estrus expression and fertility in lactating Holstein dairy cows. After completing his MSc, Liam moved into a position as a Business Analyst, Animal Health. LinkedIn ResearchGate Thesis
Manveen Kaur (MSc 2017) studied the effect of rumen-protected Vitamin B complex on metabolic parameters, milk production and day 14 conceptus and endometrial gene expression in Holstein dairy cows. After completing her MSc, she transitioned into a role as a Dairy Management Consultant for transition cow management for Nutrisource Inc. LinkedIn ResearchGate Thesis
Laura Whalin (MSc 2017) completed her MSc studying pair-housing of dairy calves in modified individual calf hutches. She is currently pursuing a PhD with the Animal Welfare Program. ResearchGate Thesis
Dax Atkinson (MSc 2016) Dax completed his research benchmarking passive transfer of immunity and growth in dairy calves in 2016. ResearchGate Thesis
João Henrique Cardoso Costa (PhD 2016) after his doctoral studies on the development of feeding behaviour and nutrition of dairy calves, João completed his post-doctoral research on high-producing dairy farms in Southern Brazil in 2016 and is currently an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky.Thesis
Gosia Zobel (PhD 2015) examined how the cessation of lactation in dairy cows and goats impacts illness and other welfare concerns. Gosia then moved to AgResearch Ltd. in New Zealand, guiding work aimed at addressing goat welfare concerns through housing and management improvements. ResearchGate Thesis
Beth Ventura (PhD 2015) completed her PhD on researching the attitudes and values of stakeholders in regards to the welfare of dairy cows. Beth has since been working as an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota. LinkedIn Thesis Alumni Profile
Amber Itle (MSc 2014) came to the Animal Welfare Program as a dairy veterinarian and completed her MSc in dairy cattle behaviour and health. Amber is now an Assistant State Veterinarian with an oversight in Animal Health and Animal Disease Traceability programs at the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Thesis
Jane Stojkov (MSc 2014) completed his research on the management of vulnerable dairy cows in 2019. He then moved into a post-doctoral position with the Animal Welfare Program. LinkedIn ResearchGate Thesis
Kalab Tesfa (MSc 2013) studied the effect of regrouping on social behaviour and milk production of mid-lactation dairy cows, and individual variation in aggression. He then went into work as a food technologist. LinkedIn Thesis
Heather Neave (MSc 2013) completed both her research on dairy calf behaviour related to painful procedures and weaning, as well as identifying personality differences in dairy calves and goats. She then moved on to a role as a post-doctoral researcher in New Zealand. Thesis
Katy Proudfoot (PhD 2013) after completing her MSc in 2008, Katy focused her doctoral research on identifying factors that increase the risk of disease in dairy cows. Katy is now an Assistant Professor and Director of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College. Thesis Alumni Profile
Jeffrey Spooner (PhD 2013) His research involved a Canada-wide study of animal producers and the public to look for areas of agreement on animal welfare that could serve as a basis for policy. Jeff then worked as a consultant facilitating multi-stakeholder agreements involving animal welfare-related care and handling practices, in addition to serving as the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Code Secretary for the new Bison Code of Practice. Thesis
Alejandra Barrientos (MSc 2012) completed her Master’s on benchmarking welfare indicators in dairy cattle, and is now working as a Research Technician at Dairylink SpA in Osorno, Chile. LinkedIn Thesis
Lindsay (Collings) Ferlito (MSc 2011) completed her Master’s on dairy cattle feeding behaviour, and then worked in the United States for Novus International helping run the COWS on-farm cow comfort project on dairy farms across the US. She is now a Regional Dairy Specialist with Cornell University Cooperative Extension in Northern NY (since 2016). Thesis
Lori Vickers (MSc 2011) focused her research on the impact of different diets on the health of dairy cows before calving. Lori is currently serving as a Regional Agrologist at the BC Ministry of Agriculture in Fort Worth, BC. LinkedIn Thesis
Aniseh Talebi (MSc 2011), a veterinarian who trained in Tehran, Iran, completed her thesis research on how the welfare of dairy cattle is affected by the common management practice of moving cattle into new social groups. Thesis
Andreia De Paula Vieira (PhD 2011) completed her PhD on the effects of early social environment on dairy calf behaviour. Andreia worked on the project AWIN (Animal Welfare Indicators) centered in Scotland. She also worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Universidade Federal do Parana and an assistant professor at Universidade Positivo. Thesis
Lindsey Reich (MSc 2010) studied the effects of various moisture levels on dairy cows’ lying behaviour during different seasons. She then assisted Agriculture Agri-Food Canada with identifying relevant literature in preparation for an on-farm welfare assessment project. Thesis
Christy Goldhawk (MSc 2009) went on to pursue her PhD in the humane transport of cattle at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Christy then worked as Advisor in Animal Wellbeing, Research & Policy, with Elanco Animal Health Canada. LinkedIn Thesis
Kiyomi Ito (MSc 2009) completed her Master’s in dairy cow comfort, then went on to work with Novus International as the COWS Project Manager to implement an on-farm cow comfort assessment program in the dairy industry across North America. Thesis
Fernando Borderas (PhD 2009) completed a PhD on the care and health of calves and then moved on to teach at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in his native Mexico City. LinkedIn Thesis
Julie Huzzey (MSc 2007) completed her MSc research on behavioural predictions of illness in dairy cows. After her doctoral studies in New York, Julie returned to the AWP for her post-doctoral research which she concluded in 2014. Julie has since been an assistant professor at the California Polytechnic State University. Thesis
Frances Flower (PhD 2006) after focusing her research on gait assessments of dairy cows, Frances moved on to working in Whole Foods as where she initiated and currently manages the Farm Animal Welfare Program. She is also the Senior Advisor for Meat & Poultry at Whole Foods. Thesis
Trevor DeVries (PhD 2006) is a Professor in Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph. He worked from 2007 to 2015 at the Kemptville Campus, centered in the traditional dairy farming area of eastern Ontario, and has been in Guelph since 2015. Thesis
Mitja Sedlbauer (MSc 2005) returned to Ljubljana, Slovenia, as Senior Advisor on animal welfare to the country’s Veterinary Administration. He also chaired the influential Working Group on Animal Welfare of the European Union. LinkedIn Thesis
Laura Paton (MSc 2005) conducted research on the effects of sodium bicarbonate on reducing acidosis in cattle. Thesis
Geoff Urton (MSc 2005) after completing his Msc, Geoff then joined the BC SPCA farm animal welfare team as Manager of Stakeholder Relations, serving as the humane movement’s much-respected national representative on farm animal welfare issues and promoting humane farming and transport standards. Thesis
Sophie Neveux (MSc 2004) focused her MSc research on lameness in dairy cows. Sophie has gone on to become an Animal Welfare and Milk Quality Advisor at Agropur in Saint-Hubert, Québec. LinkedIn Thesis Alumni Profile
Lorna Baird (MSc 2004) moved on to Calgary as Executive Director of Alberta Farm Animal Care, a livestock industry organization with the mandate to provide a coordinated approach to advance and promote responsible animal care. LinkedIn Thesis
Erin Bell (MSc 2004) Thesis
Amanda Grout Zimmerman (MSc 2003) went on to pursue her PhD in the humane transport of cattle at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Christy then worked as Advisor in Animal Wellbeing, Research & Policy, with Elanco Animal Health Canada. LinkedIn Thesis
Gosia Zdanowicz (MSc 2002) researched the transmission of mastitis in dairy cattle. She then held a research position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Agassiz, BC.
Cassandra Tucker (PhD 2002) completed her PhD on how freestall surfaces and geometry affect the behaviour of dairy cattle. Cassandra is now a Professor and Director of the Center for Animal Welfare at the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis. Thesis
Nicole Sillett (MSc 2002) Thesis