Graduate team

dr. amy petry

PhD

Graduation: Summer 2025

PhD, Animal Science, Iowa State University

MS, Animal Science, Texas Tech University

BS, Animal Science, Minor in Chemistry, Texas Tech University
Petry is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Animal Science at the University of Missouri, where she leads the MU Monogastric Nutrition Research Lab. Her lab utilizes basic and innovative science to develop, advance, or improve applied nutrition solutions. Her team’s research themes encompass: 1) enhancing fiber utilization and its impact on energy and health benefits in swine diets, 2) exploring the interactions between diet and physiology at a whole-body level, 3) optimizing energy and nutrient supply during homeorhetic states, and 4) developing nutritional biomedical pig models. In 2020, Dr. Petry earned her Ph.D. from Iowa State University. Throughout her young career, Dr. Petry has secured substantial research grants from federal sources and the industry, totaling almost a million dollars, and published over 60 research articles, abstracts, and book chapters. Notably, she has received the Stahly/Peo Outstanding Swine Nutrition and Young Scholar Award from the Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Science.

Hannah miller

PhD Candidate

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.

Mag lopez-soriano

PhD Candidate

Graduation: Summer 2028

Hometown: Choluteca, Honduras

I earned a BS in Agronomy with a major in Animal Science and a Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock. In 2023, I graduated from NC State University with a degree in swine physiology and welfare.

My personal and professional goal is to obtain a doctorate degree in animal science at the University of Missouri, which will allow me to contribute to the swine industry by assisting swine farms in finding the best nutritional strategies to make their production systems more efficient while also contributing to the well-being of the food animals. Another goal is to better serve Missouri pork producers by keeping myself updated and expanding my knowledge in many areas of the swine world.

As a professional, I am interested in providing the best support to the extension clientele in Missouri. After finishing this doctorate program, I picture myself continuing, in addition to collaborating closely with swine growers, with better knowledge in monogastric nutrition, genetics, data analysis, swine reproductive biology, and physiology.

I enjoy reading history, watching documentaries, playing and watching soccer, and spending time traveling with my family.

I am interested in connecting my extension role with my PhD.D. and helping the U.S. industry solve practical problems to improve farm productivity and profitability. Additionally, I would like to link my previous experience in swine physiology, nutrition, and animal welfare.

I was responsible for managing several sow farm sites for Smithfield Hog Production (SHP) in the North Region, which included "New Colony Farm," a 10,000-sow farm. Afterwards, I took charge of "Farm 85351," a 3500-sow farm that was awarded the Best Farm in Production Performance awards in 2018 and 2020, as well as the First Runner-Up title in 2019.

rachel self

Masters' Student

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.

MAGGIE PUTNAM

Masters' Student

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.

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