Project title: “Improving the health and welfare of dairy cows”
Why did you choose UW–River Falls, and then UW–Madison?
After touring multiple schools, I chose UW–River Falls for undergrad because I loved how hands-on the school is and the one-on-one interactions with other students and professors. After River Falls, I made my way to UW–Madison because Dr. Luiz Ferraretto’s research was well-suited to my interests. Both Dr. Ferraretto and his students strive to support each other. Grad school can be scary in the beginning, so it’s important to find a team that will help you through it.
Why did you choose your field?
I chose dairy nutrition after a lot of job shadowing. When I was at River Falls, I did internships with Dr. Matt Waldron at GPS Dairy and RP Nutrients. They all had great guidance and those experiences helped lead me to my decision.
How did you get involved with Sylvia Kehoe’s research at UW–River Falls?
I got involved with Dr. Kehoe’s research by reaching out! I was interested in research because I knew I was going to continue to grad school. She offered very good guidance, and it was nice to get some experience to help prepare for my future.
How did you prioritize your work with classes, homework, and student organizations as an undergraduate?
When we had on-farm days, I would always prioritize going to the farm. That meant working a little harder or staying up a little later to get homework done, but I felt that getting on-farm research experience was important. When it came to analyzing the data or writing, I would work on it whenever I had time. It kept me very busy but it was all worth it.
Does your master’s project relate to your undergrad research?
My master’s project does not relate to my undergrad research. Any undergrad research experience will help broaden your horizons and encourage you to think in a new way, and is one of the most important things to learn from research.
