Hay everyone!
This week, I chatted with some of our graduate alumni from the ESC to see what they’ve been up to after their time at Rutgers. It’s safe to say that they’ve all been doing some pretty cool stuff! You might think that doing research and getting a degree like a Ph.D. or Master’s means that you’ll end up in a lab for your entire career, but these folks here are ready to prove you wrong. There’s so much you can do after becoming an equine science expert!
Dr. Ellen Rankins
What is the title of your current job?
My official title is Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Temple Grandin Equine Center, at Colorado State University.
Could you describe some of your roles and responsibilities?
My primary responsibility is as the project coordinator for a research study investigating the preliminary efficacy of occupational therapy integrating horses on autistic youth. I spend a lot of time talking to parents, screening potential participants, and coordinating schedules and data collections. I also spend time writing proposals for new research projects and manuscripts of completed research.
Dr. Rankins (center) and Dr. Helio Cordeiro Manso Filho (left) placing sensors for data collection at Rutgers.
Dr. Rankins leading a horse for motion capture at Rutgers.
Dr. Ryan Avenatti
What is the title of your current job?
My official title is Sr. Manager of Medical Communications.
Could you describe some of your roles and responsibilities?
At the company I work for, my responsibility is to oversee the creation of scientific publications and medical materials to educate physicians, patients, and caregivers of patients with rare diseases.
Dr. Avenatti
Dr. Helio Cordeiro Manso Filho
What is the title of your current job?
I am currently a full professor in the Department of Animal Science at UFRPE [Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, an institution located in Brazil], teaching classes in the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science courses. I am part of the postgraduate program in Veterinary Medicine as a permanent professor.
Could you describe some of your roles and responsibilities?
My research involves evaluating athletic horses, mainly in regional sports such as four-beat gaited competitions and “vaquejada”. I also conduct research on the impact of these equestrian sports on animal welfare. I currently have 2 doctoral students and 1 master’s degree under my supervision at the UFRPE Equine Research Center. Due to our line of research with athletic horses, nutrition and welfare, I became part of the national animal welfare commission at the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine (CFMV), and I am also a member of the Ibero-American Commission of Equine Veterinarians (FIAVE). As a hobby, I practice sports such as swimming and racing, as well as horseback riding and hiking.
Dr. Manso Filho (left) with Dr. Jennifer Weinert-Nelson (top right) and Dr. Ellen Rankins (bottom right) at Rutgers.
Dr. Manso Filho (left) performing an equine gastroscopy with his graduate students at UFRPE.
Dr. Mary Beth Gordon
What is the title of your current job?
My “formal” title is Senior Director of Equine Technical Innovation for Purina Animal Nutrition, but what does that really mean? It means I lead and direct the teams that do horse nutrition research, develop new products (feeds and supplements) and then support those products all the way from launching them in the market, to training our sales team, to educating horse owners about how the products can help their horses.
Could you describe some of your roles and responsibilities?
I oversee a team of 5 Ph.D. Equine Nutritionists and a team of 8 Research Technicians that help us develop new products, conduct nutritional research in horses, bring those products to market and educate horse owners about those products. Purina Animal Nutrition owns an incredible farm in Gray Summit, MO that houses over 70 horses and conducts 15-20 nutrition research projects each year. We have broodmares and foals, taste-testing facilities, and even a high-speed treadmill and Equi-Ciser, very similar to the ones at the Rutgers Equine Science Center!
Dr. Gordon
Wow! That’s some cool stuff. If you want to learn more about careers in equine science, check out some of my previous blog posts. (Hint: I chatted with Dr. Gordon in 2020!)
Until next time.
Your friend,
Lord Nelson