Animal Sciences (ANSC)

Graduate Degree Program
College: Agriculture and Natural Resources

Abstract

The Graduate Program in the Animal Sciences offers graduate study leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The master’s degree program requires a research-based thesis. A non-thesis M.S. option is not available. Faculty research interests include:

  1. Cell, molecular and developmental biology studies, gene expression of the neuroendocrine system during growth and development, developmental potency and cell fate decisions during mammary gland development, maintenance of pluripotency and cell lineage determination in early embryos and stem cells, regulation of gene expression during embryonic patterning, neuro- and reproductive endocrinology in avian species, and virology, immunology and microbial pathogenesis of significance to animal agriculture;
  2. Nutrition and intermediary metabolism of ruminants and non-ruminants, modeling for nutrient management, nutrient management in avian and other monogastric species, including forage utilization in horses; nutritional immunology, nutrient sensing, and metabolic homeostasis.
  3. Aquaculture related fish physiology and genetics, and;
  4. Application of computational and systems biology to quantitative genetics, genomics, epigenetics, selection theory and breeding for the improvement of domestic animals and conservation genetics.

Financial Assistance

A number of graduate combined research/teaching assistantships are available and awarded to students who present strong academic records and a capability and motivation to perform well in teaching or in research assignments. These assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. Appointments are on an annual basis, with reappointment contingent on demonstration of successful progress towards the degree. Assistantships are available for up to two years for the M.S. degree and four years for the Ph.D. degree. As assistantships are generally awarded for Fall admittance, applications should be completed by the January 8th deadline for best consideration.

Contact 

For specific information on the program, admission procedures, or financial aid, see the ANSC website or contact the ANSC graduate program office as listed below.

Dr. Zhengguo Xiao
Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Animal Sciences
Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
8127 Regents Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.5781
Emailansc-gradprogram@umd.edu

 
Tabitha Koelzer
ANSC Graduate Office

Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
1415A Animal Sciences Center
8127 Regents Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20740
Telephone: 301.405.5781
Emailansc-gradprogram@umd.edu

Website: http://www.ansc.umd.edu

Relationships: Biological Sciences Graduate Program (BISI)Neurosciences and Cognitive Science (NACS), Veterinary Medical Sciences (VMSC)

Courses: ANSC

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

  • Letters of Recommendation (3)
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (optional)
  • CV/Resume
  • Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)

The Program requires applicants to submit an application online, and to submit official academic transcripts, statement of goals and research interests, at least three letters of recommendation, and official Graduate Record Examination scores (optional) to the Enrollment Services Operations Office. Applicants with degrees from non-English speaking countries and who have not received a degree from the list of approved English-speaking universities must also submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). To be considered for an assistantship, submit your application for Fall 2025 by the best consideration deadline (January 8, 2025).

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Type of Applicant Fall Deadline Spring Deadline
Domestic Applicants
US Citizens and Permanent Residents May 7, 2025 (for Fall 2025) December 11, 2024 (for Spring 2025)
International Applicants
F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants February 19, 2025 (for Fall 2025) September 11, 2024 (for Spring 2025)

RESOURCES AND LINKS:

Program Website: ansc.umd.edu
Application Process: https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions

The Department of Animal and Avian Sciences and the nearby Gudelsky Veterinary Center housing the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, have extensive facilities consisting of faculty research laboratories, animal holding areas, a campus farm, aquaculture facility and outlying research farms. Additionally, the department maintains a teaching computer laboratory with 30 computers.

The research laboratories comprise nearly 28,000 square feet for bench work, averaging over 1000 square feet per faculty member. The laboratories are fully equipped with state-of-the-art modern instrumentation and equipment for the entire range of research carried out by the faculty, e.g. research in biochemistry, cell-molecular biology, physiology, nutrition, behavior, virology, immunology, microbial pathogenesis, etc. Individual laboratories are fully self-standing units, yet there is free exchange between laboratories having shared and collaborative interests. All the laboratories and offices are networked to the campus server for direct Internet access.

Nearly 15,000 square feet of space is dedicated for animal holding in the Animal Wing of the Animal Sciences Center. This facility is capable of handling all kinds of animals such as rodents, birds, fish and large animals for research in separate rooms. An aquaculture facility, adjoining the Gudelsky Center, is also available. The Animal Wing is under the care of trained staff and is supervised by a professional veterinarian.

On campus the Central Core Facilities offer advanced technological services to the faculty and students.

Off Campus Research Facilities include:

  1. Central Maryland Research and Education Center, Clarksville, MD
    This 925-acre dairy research center, located ~25 miles from the campus, houses 200 head of Holstein dairy cattle including 110 milking cows and 90 head of young stock. ANSC faculty engaged in nutrition, reproduction, physiology, herd health, behavior and management research, conduct their experiments at this facility.
  2. Applied Poultry Research Laboratory, Upper Marlboro, MD
    This 202-acre facility is located approximately 20 miles from the campus. It is used for conducting research in nutrition, physiology and behavior.
  3. Wye Beef Cattle Research Center
    This 450-acre facility is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore near Queenstown. It has 250 registered Angus beef cows plus young stock and bulls which are direct descendants of the Wye Angus herd. The facility is used to support research associated with beef cow-calf management, pasture management and growth physiology.
Last Name First/Middle Name Graduate Faculty Status Academic Credentials Positions
Angel C. Roselina Full Member B.S., Iowa State University, 1984;M.S., 1987; Ph.D., 1990. Professor, Animal Sciences
Biswas Debabrata Full Member B.S., University of Dhaka, 1994: M.S., University of Tokyo, 1998; Ph.D., University of Tokyo, 2001 n/a, Biological Sciences
Professor, Animal Sciences
Broadbent Andrew J. Full Member M.A., University of Cambridge, UK, 2002; Vet.M.B., University of Cambridge, UK, 2005; M.Sc., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, 2006; Ph.D., Imperial College London, UK, 2010 Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Burk Amy O. Full Member B.S., James Madison University, 1995; M.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1998; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2001. Professor, Animal Sciences
Cardoso Fabiana De Freitas Full Member B.S., Federal University of Lavras, Brazil 2015l; M.S., Federal University of Lavras, Brazil 2018; Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2022. Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Che Sunoh Full Member PhD – Pathobiology, Ontario Vet College, University of Guelph, Canada MSc – Health Management, Atlantic Vet College, University of PEI, Canada MVE – School of Vet Med, Murdoch University, Australia BVM, DVM – College of Vet Med, Chonnam National University, South Korea Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Jin Younggeon Full Member D.V.M., Jeju National University, 2009; Ph.D. North Carolina State University, 2014 Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Keefer Carol L. Full Member B.S., University of South Carolina, 1974; PhD, University of Delaware, 1981 Professor, Animal Sciences
Kim Byung-Eun Full Member B.S., Kangwon National University, Microbiology, 1993; M.S., Kangwon National University, Microbiology, 1996; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, Genetics, 2004 Associate Professor, Animal Sciences
Affiliate Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Kohn Richard A. Full Member B.S., Cornell University, 1985;M.S., University of New Hampshire-Durham, 1987; Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1993. Professor, Animal Sciences
Ma Li Full Member B.S., Fudan University, China, 2002; M.S., University of Minnesota, 2010; Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2010 Professor, Animal Sciences
Porter Tom E. Full Member B.S.,University of Minnesota-Duluth, 1983; Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 1988. Professor, Animal Sciences
Professor, Biological Sciences
Przygrodzka Emilia Full Member Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Rico J. Eduardo Full Member B.Sc., Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 2006; M.Sc., Michigan State University, 2013; Ph.D., West Virginia University, 2016. Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Salem Mohamed Full Member M.S., Zagazig University, 1995; Ph.D., West Virginia University, 2004 Associate Professor, Animal Sciences
Schiffmacher Andrew Full Member B.S., Cornell University, 1998; Ph.D., University of Maryland-College Park, 2010 Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Seo Heewon Full Member Assistant Professor, Animal Sciences
Song Jiuzhou Full Member B.A., Northwestern Agri.U, 1983; MSc.,Northwestern Agri.U, 1986; Ph.D., China Agri. University, 1996. Professor, Animal Sciences
Associate Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Sunny Nishanth Full Member B.V.Sc. & A.H. College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala, India 2001. M.S. University of Maryland 2005. Ph.D. University of Maryland 2008. Associate Professor, Animal Sciences
Taneyhill Lisa Full Member B.A., Western Maryland College McDaniel College 1995; M.S., Princeton University, 1997; Ph.D., Princeton University, 2000. Professor, Animal Sciences
Assistant Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Xiao Zhengguo Full Member D.V.M., Nanjing Agricultural University, 1988; M.S., Nanjing Agricultural University, 1991. Professor, Animal Sciences
Graduate Director, Animal Sciences