GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES IN ANIMAL INFECTIOUS
DISEASE RESEARCH
Departments of Biology/Microbiology, Dairy
Science, and Veterinary Science
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Brookings, South Dakota
Animal
infectious disease research at South Dakota State University (SDSU) offers
outstanding students the opportunity to conduct basic and/or applied research
at both the M.S. and Ph.D. degree level in animal health and food safety.
Students have the opportunity to conduct research in a variety of disciplines
with SDSU scientists while earning advanced degrees in one of several
departments at SDSU.
This program has a unique mission, with the primary focus of the research
directed to the mechanisms of infectious diseases of food producing animals.
Current emphasis is on host immune response, mucosal interactions of the host
with bacteria, viruses or parasites and food safety. The program uses
multidisciplinary approaches. Cooperating scientists work on biological,
biochemical and immunological components of animal disease systems involving
the host, environment and pathogen in the areas of molecular virology,
molecular biology and recombinant DNA technology, developmental diagnostics,
nutritional and cellular immunology, parasitology,
pathogenesis, epidemiology, genetics and physiology.
Research
Projects currently in progress include analysis of genetic resistance of pigs
to E. coli, the occurrence of O157 E. coli in SD herds and processed beef, the
pathogenesis of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) in
the reproductive tract, the interaction of colostral
and milk components with bacterial and viral pathogens, the effect of postparturient stress on coccidia
and cryptosporidia, and cell signaling following
cell-virus interactions.
Facilities
Laboratory facilities are located in several buildings on the campus of the South Dakota State University.
The recently completed Northern Plains Biostress
Laboratory is a state of the art facility combining individual laboratory space
with many specialty laboratories for common use. This facility contains
microbiology laboratories and the SDSU
Analytical Cell
Biology Center.
The Center has a complete microscopic morphometric, fluorimetry, image analysis, image processing and
fluorescent image analysis system. The Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic
Laboratory research facility contains 4,700 sq ft of general laboratory space
and 5 additional 200 sq ft work modules for tissue culture, virus culture,
bacteriological culture, radioisotopes and cold room. All laboratories are
modern and well-equipped. Equipment available for research includes scanning
and transmission electron microscopes, tissue culture facilities, animal
rearing and gnotobiotic facilities, and animal
necropsy rooms, and state of the art equipment for molecular biology and
recombinant DNA work including protein and DNA electrophoresis, flow cytometry, image analysis equipment, ultracentrifuges and
HPLC. Computer facilities include PC and Macintosh microcomputers and access
via Internet to supercomputer facilities.
University Environment
South Dakota State
University is a land grant
university occupying 228 acres of land and 110 major buildings on its campus.
Student enrollment consists of approximately 10,300 undergraduates and 1,100
graduate students. The faculty numbers approximately 500. The library's
cataloged collections total more than 800,000 volumes and about 3,000
periodical and serial titles. Microcomputer resource centers are available for
use by faculty, students and staff.
Location
The City of Brookings is located in east central
South Dakota.
Brookings is approximately 4 hours by car from Minneapolis-St. Paul and 1 hour
from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Brookings Airport
offers scheduled commuter service to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The population of
Brookings is about 25,000. Outdoor recreational opportunities (bicycling,
hiking, backpacking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing) abound
in the nearby Coteau Des Prairies, a glacial till
formation from the Ice Age. Cross country skiing is found at Oakwood Lakes
State Park plus many
other areas in the Glacial Lakes Region. The Glacial Lakes Region consists of
hundreds of lakes, containing various species of panfish,
walleye and northern pike. Brookings is located along the Central Flyway and
thousands of wild ducks and geese migrate through the area every spring and
fall. Pheasants and partridge are also abundant in the area. The University
provides many cultural offerings including concerts, plays and art exhibitions.
South Dakota State University
is a NCAA Division I athletics and a member of Great West football Conference
& the Mid Content Conference.
Personnel
The animal infectious disease research group is a cluster of 10 scientists and
technical and administrative support personnel. In addition, the program
includes visiting scientists, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. Our
scientists hold faculty appointments in the Department of Biology/Microbiology,
the Department of Dairy Science, and/or the Department of Veterinary Sciences.
Collaborative studies are also conducted with scientists at the University of Texas,
University of Wisconsin,
Penn State,
National Animal
Disease Center,
University of Nebraska, Ohio
State, University of Minnesota, as well as several other laboratories in
the United States
and overseas.
Christopher Chase,
Professor, Department of Veterinary Science
(DVM, Iowa State;
PhD, University
of Wisconsin). Tele. 605-688-5652. Email: Christopher.Chase@sdstate.edu.
Interests in pathogenesis of bovine herpesvirus
and bovine viral diarrhea virus infection, bovine respiratory disease, innate
and mucosal immunity, nutrition and immunity, porcine viral infections,
interactions of virus infections and immune response, vaccinology.
Alan Erickson, Professor, Department
of Veterinary Science (PhD, North
Dakota State University). Tele.
605-688-6544. Email:Alan.Erickson@sdstate.edu . Interests in molecular mechanisms of adhesion of enteric
microorganisms to intestinal epithelial cells and host cell receptors for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
David Francis, Professor,
Department of Veterinary Science (PhD, University of Missouri).
Tele. 605-688-5680. Email:David.Francis@sdstate.edu. Interests in pathogenesis and molecular biology of enteric E.
coli infections of cattle, swine, and analogous infections of human
beings; inheritable resistance of animals to infection; and microbial
adhesion-host cell receptor interactions.
Jane Christopher-Hennings,
Professor,
(DVM, Minnesota, MS, University of Wisconsin-Madison) Phone: (605) 688-5171
E-Mail:Jane.Christopher-Hennings@sdstate.edu.
Interests in porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome
virus (PRRSV). Research involves the identification and transmission of PRRSV
in boar semen and the immunological response to PRRSV.
Michael Hildreth,
Professor, Department of Biology/Microbiology (PhD, Tulane University).
Tele. 605-688-4562.
Email: Michael.Hildreth@sdstate.edu.
Interests in cellular, molecular and immunological aspects of
parasitology, especially the role of parasite glycoproteins in the protection of parasites in the enteric
tract. Emphasis on the epidemiology and diagnosis of
domestic animal parasites.
Eric Nelson, Professor,
Department of Veterinary Science (PhD, South Dakota State
University). Tele. 605-688-5171. Email:Eric.Nelson@sdstate.edu. Major
research areas include studies on the characterization of porcine reproductive
and respiratory syndrome virus, virus/host cell receptor interactions and
development of various diagnostic reagents and serological assay systems.
Alan
Young Professor,
Department of Veterinary Science (PhD, University of Toronto).
Tele. 605-688-5982. Email: Alan.Young@sdstate.edu.
Interests in role of cell migration in health and disease,
and in species-specific aspects of domestic-animal immunology. I have
two general foci-the development of the immune system in fetal and neonatal
life, and the regulation of cell migration through normal and stimulated lymph
nodes.
Ying
Fang Assistant
Professor, Department of Veterinary Science (PhD, South Dakota State
University). Tele. 605-688-6647. Email: Ying.Fang@sdstate.edu.
Interests in molecular characterization of porcine
reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), development and evaluation
of PRRSV vaccines and diagnostic assays.
Philip Hardwidge Assistant Professor, Departments of
Veterinary Science and Biology/Microbiology (PhD, Mayo Clinic). Tele.
605-688-5259. Email: Philip.Hardwidge@sdstate.edu.
Interest in several forms of E.coli
that cause diarrhea and malnutrition in humans and livestock, including ETEC,
EPEC, and EHEC. These strains are transmitted by food or water
contaminated with animal or human feces. Each strain produces special toxin(s)
that stimulate the secretion of excess fluid in the intestine, causing
diarrhea.
Radhey Kaushik Assistant Professor, Departments of
Veterinary Science and Biology/Microbiology (PhD, University of Saskatchewan). Tele.
605-688-5501. Email: Radhey.Kaushik@sdstate.edu.
Interests in host-parasite interactions in disease production and protection,
study of host immune response genes and proteins involved in immunity to
pathogens; mucosal immunology and immunomodulation;
role of innate mechanisms in mucosal immunology and disease protection and
molecular basis of antigen recognition at mucosal surfaces
Weiping
Zhang Assistant
Professor, Department of Veterinary Science (PhD, Iowa State University). Tele.
605-688-4317. Email: Weiping.Zhang@sdstate.edu. Interests
in molecular pathogenesis of enterotoxigenic
E. coli (ETEC); vaccine development for protecting ETEC associated disease; DNA
marker development and implementation; phylogenetics
and evolution
Feng Li Associate Professor, Departments of
Veterinary Science and Biology/Microbiology (PhD, University of Melbourne). Tele. 605-688-6036. Email: feng.li@sdstate.edu. Interests
Xiuqing Wang
Associate
Professor, Department of Biology/Microbiology (PhD, University of Melbourne). Tele. 605-688-6036. Email: xiuqing.wang@sdstate.edu. Interests in viral vector and vaccine development; T cell immunity
to viral infections.
Admission
and Assistantships
Admission to the program involves acceptance in the Graduate School
at SDSU and sponsorship by a faculty member. Faculty members support assistantships
with competitive grant money so the availability of a position in a specific
laboratory will vary from year to year. Teaching assistantships are also
available to qualified students. Typical fees and tuition are $3000 per year.
Off campus housing in Brookings ranges from $150-450 per month for one or two
bedroom apartments.
Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. Fellowship stipends for
Masters level students are $12,000-15,000 per year and $20,000 per year for PhD
level. A two-thirds tuition waiver is also provided. Students interested in the
program are encouraged to contact the program coordinator. Award decisions are
normally made in April for Fall enrollment.
South Dakota State University
provides equal opportunity for the education of all persons without regard to
age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, national origin or
disability.
Applications
Applications for the Graduate School can be obtained from: Graduate School, South Dakota
State University, Administration Building 130, Box 2201, Brookings, SD 57007-1998
Phone (605) 688-4181. Their Web page is at http://www3.sdstate.edu/academics/graduateschool
Additional
information can be obtained by viewing our Web page at http://vetsci.sdstate.edu, writing or
calling graduate education coordinator:
Dr. Christopher Chase
Department of Veterinary Science
P.O. Box 2175
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007
Telephone: 605-688-5652
Email: Christopher.Chase@sdstate.edu
Interested
students are also encouraged to contact individual scientists for more specific
information concerning research expectations and availability of
assistantships.