Graduation: Summer 2025

Hometown: Gresham, NE

About: My name is Hannah, I grew up on a row crop farm in Eastern Nebraska. After high school I attended Kansas State University where I studied Animal Science. I gained my first swine experience by working on my neighbor's sow farm over school breaks. Spending my mornings in the farrowing house with the piglets got me hooked and convinced me to pursue a career in the swine industry. After undergrad I moved north and earned my Masters in Swine Nutrition at South Dakota State University. I joined Amy's lab group in 2022 to earn my PhD. My work here at Mizzou focuses on how the growing pig utilizes different corn-based fibers. 

Outside of grad school I enjoy going on hikes with my dog, cooking, and gardening. 

Graduation: Spring 2025

Hometown: Nacogdoches, Texas 

About: My name is Rachel Self, and I was born and raised in Nacogdoches, Texas. I received a Bachelors degree in Animal Science at Texas Tech University in May 2023. In the future, I hope to have a career in commercial nutrition. I enjoy anything DIY and playing with my dogs! I am in charge of administration tasks in the lab and any lab work that needs assistance. I am most interested in applied research that looks at how nutrition relates to physiology and health. One key accomplishment of mine is that I wrote an undergraduate thesis to graduate with highest honors at Texas Tech. 

Graduation: 2025

Hometown: Worthington, MN

About: I attended Iowa State University for my undergraduate studies, and I obtained my Bachelors degree in Animal Science with a minor in Microbiology in the fall of 2023. During my time at Iowa State, I worked in Dr. Laura Greiner's lab where I assisted graduate students with swine nutrition studies. Through my experiences in the swine nutrition lab, as well as my various internships, I found interest in studying gut health, specifically related to the gut microbiome. During my final semester at Iowa State, I completed and presented a Science with Practice project on characterizing the fecal microbiome of suckling piglets with the help of Dr. Greiner's graduate students. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, spending time with friends and family, and growing my plant collection. I look forward to continuing to study swine nutrition in Dr. Petry's lab as I pursue my Masters of Animal Science degree.

Animal Sciences Graduate 2024

Hometown: Nixa, MO 

About: My goals in the lab are to obtain the necessary laboratory skills and increase my knowledge of the feeding practices of swine. My time outside the lab is spent working at my other job as a veterinary assistant and with my two cats at home, Misses and Mavis. 

Graduation: 2028

Hometown: Centennial, Colorado

About: I recently graduated from Mizzou with my degree in Animal Sciences, certificate in Equine Science, and a minor in Spanish, and I'm now a member of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2028. 

I grew up passionate about horses and knew from a young age I wanted to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. My passion for animal production and agriculture was ignited through the completion of the USDA’s AgDiscovery program, and my undergraduate courses in livestock nutrition and reproduction. 

As I pursue a career in large animal medicine, I hope to apply my knowledge of reproduction, nutrition, and physiology to improve food animal health and productivity. I am passionate about the work I do in the lab. I help manage the day-to-day aspects of scheduling, project management, and administrative work, as well as larger data management and literature research projects.

In my free time, I love to hike, ski, and spend time with my family and friends.