Fuenzalida leverages the Mann Valley Farm in her milk quality work. Bottom: In addition to diagnosis, Fuenzalida is working to determine appropriate and effective strategies to prevent and control intramammary infection. Photos by Pat Deninger/UW–River Falls
Maria Jose Fuenzalida
Assistant Professor | Animal and Food Science
UW–River Falls | start date August 2023
What is your hometown?
I am from Arica, Chile.
Where did you grow up?
Arica is Chile’s northernmost city, being located south of the border with Peru. Arica has an extremely dry climate, with almost no rainfall. Even so, the frequent maritime winds from the cold waters nearby renders a moderate desert climate.
What is your educational/professional background, including your previous position?
I enrolled for a veterinary degree at the Universidad Austral of Chile in 2002 and graduated in 2009. I then had the opportunity to come to the United States and work with Dr. O.J. Ginther as a research trainee at his Eutheria Foundation in Cross Plains, Wis.After this experience, I decided to pursue graduate studies and I completed my master’s and PhD programs in the dairy science department at UW–Madison. In 2019, I was fortunate to work as a dairy and livestock extension educator for Dane County where I learned about developing educational programming and translational research. In 2021, my family moved to Minnesota, and I started a new career as a GLP and Non-GLP study director and IACUC liaison for a pre-clinical studies business. In this role, I learned about research performed to obtain basic information about the safety and biological efficacy of a product before testing it in a final target population.
How did you get into your field of research?
I had multiple advisors who inspired me to pursue animal research while in vet school. When I came to the United States and while working with Dr. Ginther, I came to realize the importance of research in animal science, thus it became my objective to pursue graduate studies. Finally, during my master’s and PhD, I became passionate about understanding the pathophysiology of intramammary infections in dairy cows.
What are the main goals of your current research program?
My first goal is to understand the impact of an intramammary infection on fertility, milk production, milk quality, and animal health. My second goal is to determine appropriate and effective strategies to prevent and control an intramammary infection.
What attracted you to UW–River Falls and the Dairy Innovation Hub?
I wanted to come back to academia because I wanted to see the impact that animal research can have on the dairy industry, the public, and graduate and undergraduate students. UW–River Falls is a great educational institution that focuses on student success; thus, it made sense for me to start working on research and teaching here. The Hub provides opportunities for many talented researchers, and I am fortunate that I was chosen to join this excellent group of faculty.
What was your first visit to campus like?
During my first visit to campus, I felt like I was at home. I must thank Dr. Larry Baumann for making me feel like I belonged at UW–River Falls on my first visit to campus.
What’s one thing you hope students who take a class with you will come away with?
The enthusiasm and passion for learning about animal science.
Do you feel your work relates in any way to the Wisconsin Idea?
I do. My research program will enable me to train undergraduate and graduate students, to conduct research studies, obtain data, and create educational programming for the dairy community. Furthermore, I am very interested in educating the public about the importance of dairy and the impact of academic animal research.
What are your hobbies and other interests?
My hobbies are playing volleyball, drawing, and painting.