Graduate Research Assistant
Virginia Tech- Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Suffolk, Virginia
Richard T. Niblett is a Ph.D. student in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He is stationed at the Virgnia Tech- Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Suffolk, Virginia in Dr. Mark J.Estienne's swine reproductive physiology laboratory. He received his B.S. in Agribusiness from Delaware State University, followed by completing his M.S. in Food Safety and Biosecurity at Virginia Tech-Tidewater, also under Dr. Estienne. His M.S. research focused on determining the effects of feeding a dietary immunomodulator on enhancing reproductive performance in gilts. During his M.S. program, he was also tasked with being a herdsman for the swine research facility. Upon completing his M.S., he continued into his current Ph.D. program under Dr. Estienne, conducting research with a newly acquired electronic sow feeder. His current research involves determining the effects of different feeding bases using an electronic sow feeder on growth and sexual development of replacement gilts. He is also a student editor for the U.S. Pork Center for Excellence where he reviews current factsheets and determines gaps in the available literature on the Pork Information Gateway. He hopes to contribute to the development and improvement of the U.S. swine industry through industry research or academic involvement where he can investigate methods to further improve gilt reproduction and longevity.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Monday, March 11, 2024
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM CST