What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I completed my Bachelor of Science at McMaster University with a focus on the life sciences. I am currently completing a Ph.D. at the University of Guelph with a focus on the use of genetics to improve disease resistance in dairy cattle, under the supervision of Dr. Bonnie Mallard. My research is focused on genetic environment interactions, a field called epigenetics, which may drive immune response phenotypes in cattle.

Please describe your agricultural background.
I started working in agriculture after high school through summer positions. Throughout my summers I worked with various livestock specialists at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) on a variety of projects. 

What territory will you cover?
All of Ontario. This position is a provincial dairy specialist.

What are your new responsibilities?
My focus in this position is to provide information on current management practices on farm and genetic improvement strategies and to keep dairy producers up-to-date on current industry trends.

What previous positions have you held?
This is my first full time position outside of the university. Previously, I held junior positions working as an assistant with various OMAFRA livestock specialists during the summer.

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
My previous bosses, notably Blair Murray, Anita O'Brien and Christoph Wand, had a big impact on my career by helping me develop my communication skills, independence and agricultural knowledge. This lead me to pursue my research in dairy cattle genetics under Dr. Bonnie Mallard, who has helped me develop my critical thinking skills in animal science and supported me through my Ph.D. program. My parents have been a great influence in my career, always pushing me to strive for my next goal in life, and have taught me to have patience and perseverance. 

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I hope to be the bridge between producers, industry and research – keeping producers in Ontario up-to-date on the latest advancements in genetics, precision management technologies and current industry practices to help increase profitability, sustainability and efficiency on Ontario dairy farms. Through this position I am also hoping to support producers to achieve their production goals through the development of educational material, workshops and training sessions. I also hope to facilitate any government programs that may influence and benefit Ontario dairy producers by keeping them up-to-date and well informed.

Why did you choose this company?
I choose to work with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs because of the direct interaction with Ontario Dairy producers and translating scientific findings. I enjoy reading dairy science research and felt it would be a great challenge to translate these current innovations for use on farm. The real attracting aspect of this job is the diversity in projects, helping dairy producers and developing educational material. 

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
I would like to design workshops that focus on precision management technologies and data for increasing labour efficiencies and productivity of Ontario dairy farms. I am also striving to contribute new and useful information from research to producers and vice versa.  PD