Melanie Bergman

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Biography

Interest:

I am a recent graduate student from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Animal Science and minors in Chemistry and Leadership Studies. I have worked in the Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory since November 2020. I will begin my Master’s Research at Purdue University starting Fall 2022 and continue in a virtual support role for this lab. My past laboratory research includes a USDA Raptor Leg Project evaluating Illinois Trap and Release procedures. I have also completed a senior research project as an ACES James Scholar titled “Comparison Between Litter Size and Fetal Development for Chronic Wasting Disease in White-Tailed Deer.” This presentation was given at the The Wildlife Society Conference (2nd place undergraduate presenter) and the University of Illinois Undergraduate Research Symposium. Other projects I have assisted with are small mammal trapping research with the University of Illinois Vet School. This project included collecting blood, tissue, and tick samples from Illinois small mammals to assess the microbiome of these animals. I have also assisted research along with the IDNR (Illinois Division of Natural Resources) to collect Canadian Goose fecal samples for a fellow researcher’s master’s project on the gut microbiome of these animals. This lab has taught me collaboration, data organization, and many skills like DNA extraction and PCR.

Email: mmb7@illinois.edu
Department: Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
Major: Animal Sciences: Science, Medical & Pre-Veterinary Concentration
Minor: Chemistry & Leadership Studies