2019-2020 College of Agriculture and
Applied Sciences Award Honorees Distinguished Professor of the Year Gary Straquadine, ASTE/AVTE
Graduate Research Mentor of the Year Kynda Curtis, APEC
International Professor of the Year Scott Jones, PSC
Doctoral Student Researcher of the Year Paul Kusuma, PSC
Researcher of the Year Irina Polejaeva, ADVS
Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Tyson Sorensen, ASTE
Scholar of the Year Nicolle Ritchie, PSC
Master’s Student Researcher of the Year Ji-Jhong Chen, PSC
Teacher of the Year Heloisa Rutigliano, ADVS
Faculty University Service Denise Stewardson, ASTE
Graduate Student Teacher of the Year Michael Clayton, ADVS
Undergraduate Student Researcher of the Year Osvaldo Gonzalez, ADVS
Undergraduate Mentor of the Year Andreas Wesemann, AVTE
See videos noting each award recipient’s accomplishments on the USU College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ YouTube channel.
under the direction of Professor Irina Polejaeva, and began work on in vitro research. “I was working at a clinic in Sandy after graduating, and I actually had a co-worker who got his Ph.D. from USU and worked with Dean (Ken) White,” said Keim. “That’s what sparked my interest and led to me pursuing my Ph.D. here.” Coincidently, White won the same competition when he was a student at the University of California, Davis, and the plaque he received hangs in the CAAS dean’s office. In 2018, Keim began research on embryo transfer, seeking to find ways to improve the efficiency of the process which needs improvement. Keim’s research focuses on using cytokines—small proteins or signaling molecules that are important in controlling the activity of other cells—during oocyte maturation. Adding specific cytokines to the oocyte’s in vitro environment allows it to match the natural in vivo environment, giving the success rate of embryo implantation a boost. “This research is not only applicable to agriculture, but to humans as well,” said Polejaeva, professor of developmental biology. “If we can figure it out on the animal side of things, some day we can produce better quality eggs for humans who are using in vitro fertilization as well.” �
Cultivate | Spring/Summer 2021
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