Current team members:
Natalia Cernicchiaro, DVM MS PhD (Principal investigator)
Dr. Cernicchiaro's research focus is on the application of epidemiological concepts and methods, including multi-level modeling and knowledge synthesis and translation techniques, to design, implement and interpret observational and experimental studies pertaining to food safety, zoonoses, arthropod-borne diseases and production medicine. She teaches basic and advanced epidemiology courses and mentors students in the MPH, MS, and PhD programs.
Dr. Cernicchiaro's research focus is on the application of epidemiological concepts and methods, including multi-level modeling and knowledge synthesis and translation techniques, to design, implement and interpret observational and experimental studies pertaining to food safety, zoonoses, arthropod-borne diseases and production medicine. She teaches basic and advanced epidemiology courses and mentors students in the MPH, MS, and PhD programs.
Andrea L. Dixon, PhD (Research manager, data analyst)
Dr. Dixon received her PhD from the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University, where she focused on population genetics and the evolutionary mechanisms constraining species distributions. She then went on to work as a post-doctoral researcher at Rothamsted Research, using next generation sequencing data to investigate the population genetic structure of a winter-wheat crop weed with known herbicide resistance. Her research interests include evolutionary genetics and applied research focusing on improving animal health and agriculture.
Dr. Dixon received her PhD from the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University, where she focused on population genetics and the evolutionary mechanisms constraining species distributions. She then went on to work as a post-doctoral researcher at Rothamsted Research, using next generation sequencing data to investigate the population genetic structure of a winter-wheat crop weed with known herbicide resistance. Her research interests include evolutionary genetics and applied research focusing on improving animal health and agriculture.
Vanessa Veloso, DVM MS (PhD student)
Dr. Veloso received her veterinary degree from Brazil in 2017. She completed her MS degree at K-State in 2020, which focused on beef cattle nutrition, in the Dept. of Animal Sciences and Industry. During her MS degree, she held multiple management roles including interim Manager of the KSU Beef Cattle Research Center, and Manager of the ASI Pre-harvest & Food Safety Laboratory. Her current interests include the application of epidemiological concepts and methods to support evidence-based inference related to animal health and production issues. Her doctoral research focuses on various aspects of veterinary epidemiology, food safety, cattle production, and health.
Dr. Veloso received her veterinary degree from Brazil in 2017. She completed her MS degree at K-State in 2020, which focused on beef cattle nutrition, in the Dept. of Animal Sciences and Industry. During her MS degree, she held multiple management roles including interim Manager of the KSU Beef Cattle Research Center, and Manager of the ASI Pre-harvest & Food Safety Laboratory. Her current interests include the application of epidemiological concepts and methods to support evidence-based inference related to animal health and production issues. Her doctoral research focuses on various aspects of veterinary epidemiology, food safety, cattle production, and health.
Steven Edache, DVM (MS student)
Dr. Edache received his DVM from Nigeria in 2021. His MS research is focused on the use of a Yeast fermentation-based probiotic to reduce Salmonella prevalence in the lymph nodes of dairy Cattle. His other research interests are generally focused on one health, Epidemiology and public health. Upon completion of his master’s program here at K-state, he wishes to proceed into a PhD program focusing on Epidemiology and public health. He intends to develop fully in academia, and his passion has always been to transfer theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained to students for the attainment of their academic and professional goals.
Dr. Edache received his DVM from Nigeria in 2021. His MS research is focused on the use of a Yeast fermentation-based probiotic to reduce Salmonella prevalence in the lymph nodes of dairy Cattle. His other research interests are generally focused on one health, Epidemiology and public health. Upon completion of his master’s program here at K-state, he wishes to proceed into a PhD program focusing on Epidemiology and public health. He intends to develop fully in academia, and his passion has always been to transfer theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained to students for the attainment of their academic and professional goals.
David Edache, PhD MSc (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
David received his Animal Science undergraduate degree from the University of Agriculture Makurdi in Nigeria, where he was born and raised. He later moved to the UK to pursue a MSc degree. While there, he continued his study on ruminant nutrition with a particular focus on mineral supplementation for lambs raised on pasture. After completing his MSc degree in 2019, he accepted a PhD position in Italy where his research was on developmental programming in dairy heifers, specifically looking at the impact of maternal dietary challenge during pregnancy on the development of the gastrointestinal system in the offspring. David has a strong interest for research involving animal models, and his long-term goal is to keep pushing the limits of research in both academic settings and R&D-related enterprises. Currently, David is working on evaluating pre-harvest dietary interventions for reduction of foodborne pathogens in cattle.
David received his Animal Science undergraduate degree from the University of Agriculture Makurdi in Nigeria, where he was born and raised. He later moved to the UK to pursue a MSc degree. While there, he continued his study on ruminant nutrition with a particular focus on mineral supplementation for lambs raised on pasture. After completing his MSc degree in 2019, he accepted a PhD position in Italy where his research was on developmental programming in dairy heifers, specifically looking at the impact of maternal dietary challenge during pregnancy on the development of the gastrointestinal system in the offspring. David has a strong interest for research involving animal models, and his long-term goal is to keep pushing the limits of research in both academic settings and R&D-related enterprises. Currently, David is working on evaluating pre-harvest dietary interventions for reduction of foodborne pathogens in cattle.
Past graduate students:
Diana Dewsbury, MS PhD
Dr. Dewsbury received her MS in 2015 and her PhD in epidemiology in 2021, at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University. Her other professional interests include ruminant nutrition, beef production, and feedlot animal health.
Currently, Diana is a Cattle Research and Development Scientist at Bimeda Biologicals, in San Angelo, Texas.
Dr. Dewsbury received her MS in 2015 and her PhD in epidemiology in 2021, at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University. Her other professional interests include ruminant nutrition, beef production, and feedlot animal health.
Currently, Diana is a Cattle Research and Development Scientist at Bimeda Biologicals, in San Angelo, Texas.
Joaquin Baruch, DVM PhD
Dr. Baruch received his DVM from the University of the Republic in Uruguay in 2016, and his PhD from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University in 2020.
Joaquin is an EPIET fellow at the European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Valetta, Malta.
Ana da Silva Oliveira, DVM MS
Dr. Oliveira obtained her DVM degree at the University of Lisbon, Portugal in 2013. From May to October 2014, Ana conducted a trainee-ship (Leonardo da Vinci scholarship) at the Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical sciences, University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ana completed an MS in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences in 2017, under a Fulbright scholarship at the Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Subsequently, Ana worked as a collaborator and medical writer for the Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology at Kansas State University. Later she transitioned into a research fellow position at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her research interests are on scientific writing, veterinary epidemiology, infectious diseases and zoonoses, risk analysis and veterinary public health through a One Health perspective. Currently, Ana is pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.
Dr. Oliveira obtained her DVM degree at the University of Lisbon, Portugal in 2013. From May to October 2014, Ana conducted a trainee-ship (Leonardo da Vinci scholarship) at the Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical sciences, University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ana completed an MS in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences in 2017, under a Fulbright scholarship at the Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Subsequently, Ana worked as a collaborator and medical writer for the Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology at Kansas State University. Later she transitioned into a research fellow position at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her research interests are on scientific writing, veterinary epidemiology, infectious diseases and zoonoses, risk analysis and veterinary public health through a One Health perspective. Currently, Ana is pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.
Other alumni |
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Colleagues:
Dr. Cernicchiaro, as part of the Pre-harvest food safety group at Kansas State University, works closely with Drs. David Renter, Michael Sanderson and T.G. Nagaraja, among other collaborators.
Dr. Cernicchiaro, as part of the Pre-harvest food safety group at Kansas State University, works closely with Drs. David Renter, Michael Sanderson and T.G. Nagaraja, among other collaborators.
Additional team members:
Klaus C. (lab/home security, bouncer)
Klaus is originally from Wamego, Kansas. His primary research interests include the evaluation of house surveillance techniques, sleep deprivation on humans, optimal foraging theory, and dark holes (in blankets). He also likes to hike, and is currently taking singing and swimming lessons.
Klaus is originally from Wamego, Kansas. His primary research interests include the evaluation of house surveillance techniques, sleep deprivation on humans, optimal foraging theory, and dark holes (in blankets). He also likes to hike, and is currently taking singing and swimming lessons.