Three graduate students in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment have received a predoctoral fellowship from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Through the fellowship, Allyssa Kilanowski, Staci McGill and Tim Shull have received funds from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to pursue a research project of their choice.

The predoctoral fellowship program helps to develop new scientists and professionals to enter research, education and/or extension fields in the food and agricultural sciences within the private sector, government or academia.

“The aim of these fellowships is to cultivate future leaders who are able to solve emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st century,” said Robert Houtz, UK associate dean for research and director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. “This is a highly competitive program, and the fact that the college has three recipients is a testimony to the excellent research programs we have.”

A student in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, McGill’s research project will develop ways to improve the air quality of indoor arenas to make the facilities healthier for humans and horses. Under the advisement of UK assistant professor Morgan Hayes, PhD, McGill’s research will explore designs that can aid in reducing the environmental concerns of indoor arenas such as dust, poor ventilation and excessive moisture. It will also explore the best footing materials and management.

“I love being able to go to farms and help them provide the best environments for their horses,” she said. “Ideally, my career after graduate school will continue to focus on how to help the equine industry as an agricultural engineer whether that be in extension, as a consultant or in some way I haven’t discovered yet.”

From her findings, McGill will develop design guidelines and recommendations for engineers, project managers, construction companies and members of the equine industry on how to build better indoor arenas. She also plans to create extension publications, presentations and materials for the equine industry and curriculum focused on indoor arenas. She is originally from Chesapeake, Virginia.

A student in the departments of Entomology and Biology, Kilanowski will study aspects of insect dispersal, which is how insects spread to other crops and areas, as part of her fellowship.

A student in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Shull’s research will explore ways to suppress weeds using allelopathy techniques. Allelopathy is an evolutionary mechanism that allows plants to produce and release chemicals that negatively affect the growth of surrounding plants.

Katie Pratt is an agricultural communications specialist in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Source: edited June 11 news release.