People
The Boss
Dr. Scott Bowdridge
Scott was raised on a small sheep farm in Southern California where his family raised
Rambouillet sheep. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Science from Cal
State Chico and taught high school agriculture in central California before moving
to Maine. While in Maine he learned about parasite problems in sheep and was introduced
to the Katahdin sheep breed and began a MS program in animal science at the University
of Maine studying parasite resistance in Katahdin Sheep. Dr. Bowdridge earned his
doctorate from Virginia Tech studying immune responses of St. Croix sheep to Haemonchus
contortus and then took a NIH funded postdoc position at the New Jersey Medical School
studying specific immune mechanisms during intestinal parasite infection. Since 2011
Dr. Bowdridge has been a faculty member at WVU and has developed a research program
to investigate immune responses in sheep to gastrointestinal nematode parasites.
Dr. Bowdridge lives in Morgantown with his wife Lizzie and daughter Charlotte.
Postdoc
Dr. Javier Garza
Dr. Garza is a Veterinary Parasitologist with an interest in the immunological mechanisms
that facilitate parasite expulsion as well as parasite-host immunomodulation. Dr.
Garza earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry
from the University of Texas – Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. Dr. Garza received
his Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Medical Sciences from Louisiana State University
under the tutelage of Dr. James Miller in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences
at the LSU-School of Veterinary Medicine. His dissertation focused on characterizing
the differences in immunological responses during gastrointestinal nematode expulsion
in parasite resistant and susceptible sheep. Outside of the lab, Dr. Garza is an
avid cyclist and photographer.
Grad Students
Jesica Jacobs
Jesica Jacobs is a Ph.D. student focused on mechanisms of developing immunity to
parasites. Jesica received a B.S. in Biology from Lincoln University of Missouri
in 2011 and an M.S. in Animal Physiology from WVU in 2013. Jacobs’ current research
involves immune cell activation, recognition, differentiation and communication signals
involved in Th2 immunity. Upon graduation, Jacobs plans to pursue an industry career
in animal and/or human health.
Elizabeth Shepherd
Elizabeth Shepherd is currently a Master’s student in Animal Physiology, working
in Parasite Immunology. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado
in Biology and Astronomy, before moving to West Virginia to pursue her interests
in parasitology. Her current work focuses on immune cell response to Haemonchus contortus
in vitro.
Brynnan Russ
Brynnan Russ is currently a PhD student in the Animal and Nutritional Sciences Department
with a focus in Parasite Immunology. Brynnan grew up in Tallahassee, FL and went
to Mississippi State University for her Bachelors of Science degree in Biochemistry.
Denzel Middleton
Denzel Middleton is a Master’s student pursing a degree in the Department of Animal
Nutritional Sciences with a focus in Parasite Immunology. He is originally from New
York City and obtained his Bachelor’s degree at The Pennsylvania State University.
Taylor Harrison
Taylor Harrison is a master’s student in animal physiology concentrating on beef
cattle nutrition. She hails from Coldwater, MI and received a B.S. from Michigan
State University majoring in animal science. Taylor’s current research focuses on
osmolarity and feed efficiency in beef cattle. She also coaches the livestock judging
team at WVU.
Staff
Crista Crawford
Crista was born and raised on a multi-species farm in Central Michigan. She attended
Michigan State University where she received her bacheor’s degree in Animal Science.
Her connection with the MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Farm lead her to WVU where
she earned her M.S. in Animal Physiology under the tutelage of Dr. Scott Bowdridge.
While working on her master’s project Crista became very active with management of
the WVU sheep flock where she is now the acting shepherd.