The Animal Science faculty at SIUC are specialists in various disciplines of animal science. In addition to their strong commitments to our teaching and service programs, our faculty are actively involved in research aimed at solving problems in animal agriculture.

A current listing of our Animal Science faculty and their areas of research interest follows:

ABUGHAZALEH, AMER, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., South Dakota State University, 2002.  Dr. AbuGhazaleh is our specialist in dairy science. He received his graduate degree at South Dakota State University in 1999 and his undergraduate degree at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in 1995.

Dr. AbuGhazaleh'sresearch interest is in regulation of lipid metabolism in the rumen and tissues of dairy cows, with special emphasis on trans and omega fatty acids. His research program focuses on understanding of factors that affect trans fatty acids production in the rumen using in vivo and in vitro systems. Another aspect of Dr. AbuGhazalehs’ research pertains to the evaluation and use of byproduct feeds in dairy cow rations.

AJUWON, KOLAPO, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Purdue University, 2004.  Dr. Ajuwon is our specialist in animal growth and development. Dr. Ajuwon was born in Nigeria.  He received his graduate degrees and postdoctoral training at Purdue University

Dr. Ajuwon's research interest is in endocrine and nutritional regulation of adipocyte differentiation and proliferation.  Dr. Ajuwon teaches courses in Nutritional Biochemistry and Nutrition.  He is also very active in the Obesity Research Group on campus.

APGAR, GARY A., Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. Dr. Apgar received degrees from Delaware Valley College and Virginia Tech. He was trained in swine nutrition and acts in that capacity. He has spent three years in the swine industry as a consultant to independent pork producers. Dr. Apgar has ample experience with the nutrition and management of progressive swine operations. He is actively involved with teaching undergraduate courses in swine management, feed formulation, introductory animal agriculture, and graduate courses in nutrition and instrumentation. In addition, he supervises the activities of the 100 sow herd at the SIUC Swine Teaching and Research Center.

Dr. Apgar is actively involved in a number of research projects which are designed to reduce the nutrient content of swine excrement, evaluate the immunologic activity of feed additives, and investigate enzyme addition to swine diets on growth performance. He advises graduate students and supports the presentation of research results in sectional and national venues.

ATKINSON, REBECCA L., Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 2006.  Dr. Atkinson is the beef forage and production specialist here at SIUC.  She grew up on a cattle ranch in Wyoming and received her graduate degrees from the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

 Dr. Atkinson's research interests have concentrated on endogenous nitrogen recycling in the forage-fed ruminant.  In addition to his strong research program in beef cattle nutrition, Dr. Atkinson coordinates the Beef Cattle Center here at SIUC. The beef center maintains herds of purebred Angus and Crossbreds. She is also supervisor of the SIUC Beef Evaluation Station. Each year, seventy-two bulls are performance tested for beef producers and sold at auction in the spring. The test station is widely respected among cattlemen and is considered to be one of the leading test stations in the country. Dr. Atkinson teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Animal Nutrition and Beef Production.

JONES, KAREN L., Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Texas A & M University, 1999. Dr. Jones received her doctorate in veterinary physiology and is a specialist in animal biotechnology. After receiving her bachelor's degree, she worked in private industry for two years in the area of cattle embryo production. She received her graduate degrees from Texas A & M University.

Dr. Jones's research interests are in gamete and early embryo physiology.  She uses micromanipulation, as well as molecular techniques to produce clones and transgenic livestock.  Specifically, Dr. Jones's has studied is in the role DNA methylation plays in cellular differentiation in embryonic cells.  Recently, Dr. Jones has received notoriety for her research on Fescue Toxicosis, especially how it relates to reproductive physiology, performance, and human health.  Dr. Jones teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Genetics, Reproductive Physiology, and Animal Products and Processing.

KING, SHERYL S., Professor, Ph.D., University of California-Davis, 1983. Dr. King received her doctorate in animal physiology and is our resident equine specialist. Dr. King directs the sizeable undergraduate equine science curriculum, as well as supervising the research, instructional, and breeding programs at the SIUC Horse Center. The equine facilities at SIUC encompass several buildings, approximately 40 head of horses of all classes, and advanced research and instructional areas.

Dr. King, along with her graduate students and the faculty in the Physiology Department of the SIUC School of Medicine, is conducting extensive research in reproductive physiology of the mare. Special efforts are being made in the areas of ovarian control of estrous cyclicity, nonendocrine control of seasonal breeding patterns, and the study of intrauterine infection.

WINTERS, TODD A., Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1992. Dr. Winters is our specialist in animal physiology and biotechnology. He grew up on a dairy farm in the State of Washington, received graduate degrees at Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and was a NIH postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Virginia Medical School. Dr. Winters uses molecular and cellular approaches to study reproduction and other biological systems in animals and humans. Dr. Winters also has an adjunct appointment with the Department of Physiology at the SIUC Medical School.

Dr. Winters' research interests are with endocrine factors that effect reproduction and development. His current research emphasizes the effects of soy phytoestrogens and other non-steroidal estrogens on mammalian reproduction, as well as other physiological parameters including cardiovascular health, breast & prostate cancer, and aging. He also is interested in the molecular endocrine control of fetal development of the reproductive system. Dr. Winters teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Animal Physiology and Biotechnology.