Lab members

	Barry Bradford, PhD After growing up in the beef industry, I fell for dairy cows through research experiences at Iowa State and Michigan State. Since joining the faculty at K-State in 2006, I've worked with outstanding collaborators and students to try to understand the complex biology of the cow from an integrative physiology standpoint. At this point, though, my most pressing goal is to not let my science-crazy kids stump me with biology trivia.
Laman Mamedova, PhD Originally from Azerbaijan, I earned a PhD in Biochemistry and continue to use molecular biology tools to study metabolic physiology. I conducted research in several countries and worked at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases before joining the group in 2007. In my role as a research assistant professor, I help develop and validate new assays, conduct cell culture experiments, and mentor students in the lab. When my trusty tie-dye lab coat fails to work its magic and an experiment turns south, I work out my frustrations at the fitness center.
	Eyup Eren Gultepe, PhD Born and raised in a pretty sweet and sunny Middle Anatolia city of Turkey, I got my B.S. (as a veterinarian) from Afyon Kocatepe University, Turkey in 2010. Then, I obtained a Ph.D. degree in animal nutrition from the same university in 2016. I am interested in immunonutrition and mineral nutrition of dairy cows. In August 2018, just before the big student rush to Manhattan, I joined the Dairy Metabolism Group as a postdoctoral researcher. Besides completing research in the lab and becoming more familiar with inflammation markers in dairy cows, I also hope to play some Bob Dylan with my bass guitar in the lab band - to be established in the future (Dairy Met Band –“dMb”).
Turner Swartz, PhD I was born and raised on a dairy farm in central Pennsylvania. As a young, naïve boy, I thought becoming a veterinarian would be the perfect career for me. So, I attended Penn State (WE ARE!) for my BS degree in Animal Sciences, but during undergraduate education I decided vet school wasn’t for me. So, I worked as a herdsperson for 5 years after graduation. I then decided to come back to academia to pursue a PhD at Virginia Tech in the Mastitis and Mammary Immunology lab. This time I had the intention of becoming extension specialist. However, yet again, I realized that maybe that career path wasn’t for me, and thought research was really cool. So now that I’ve got life figured out (ha!), I am working as a postdoctoral researcher examining the intersection of mammary immunity and metabolism.
	Caroline Ylioja, BS I completed my B.S. in Animal Science at Michigan State University and joined the group in August 2013. I'm currently studying the effects of anti-inflammatory treatment on the mechanisms of milk synthesis in early lactation dairy cows. Off the record, I'm also studying the effects of weekly volleyball pickup games on graduate student morale; results are promising but for greater statistical power, additional experimental units are always welcome!
Caio Takiya, MS I'm from Sao Paulo, the biggest city in Brazil, where there are no livestock or agriculture. After graduating in Veterinary Medicine (B.S. - yeah, I know that is uncommon in US), I proceeded to the graduate program at the University of Sao Paulo to learn more about dairy cattle nutrition. During my masters (2015), I did an internship with the Dairy Metabolism Group and got impressed with how people are smart here. After I got the Master's degree in Animal Science, and I joined the group in January 2017. Besides learning a lot about dairy cattle physiology/immunology and completing my Ph.D., I hope to enjoy the rec and learn the rules of football during my time in US.
	Katie Olagaray, MS Born and raised in sunny California, I completed my B.S. in Animal Science at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo in Animal Sciences. While many others learned to surf, I developed a passion for animal agriculture first on my family's sheep ranch and now with dairy cows as I joined to group in August 2014. While anxiously awaiting my project I have taken to discovering Manhattan.
Billy Brown, MS I developed a love for dairy cattle in 4th grade when my dad would let me milk cows with the college student workers on summer afternoons at the university dairy he oversaw. This led to many years of judging and showing dairy cattle as a youth. I finished a BS at Kansas State ('10), followed by a MS at Michigan State ('12) in dairy nutrition looking at feed intake regulation of post-partum cows. After a 5-year stint at the Kansas Department of Agriculture growing the state's dairy industry and traveling Latin America to promote U.S. beef genetics, I came back for a PhD. I enjoy my free time by competing for best yard on the block, sailing, kayaking, running, helping on my parent's farm, and cheering on the 'Cats.
	Holly Fujan, BS I grew up on farm in Nebraska where my family raised pigs and beef cattle, as well as row crops. A combination of being free labor on our family farm and showing pigs in 4-H all throughout my youth fueled my passion for animal agriculture, which lead me to attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln receiving a B.S. in Animal Science. I started with Cargill Animal Nutrition soon after graduation as a Formulation Specialist on the dairy side of the business. Working closely with nutrition consultants and PhD Tech Support during my time at Cargill quickly grew my interest in dairy nutrition. After a four-year run with Cargill, I decided to continue my education joining the Dairy Metabolism group in August 2018