People
Yanhong Liu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science
Hometown: Jiaozuo, Henan, China
Degrees:
Biological Science, BS, 2004, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Animal Nutrition, MS, 2007, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Animal Science, PhD, 2011, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
LAB MANAGER
Xiaogu (Tina) Du
Hometown: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Degree:
Medical Science, MD, 1985, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
Working Experience:
SRA, 2004-current, Department of Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, UC Davis
Postgraduate Researcher, 2001-2004, Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis
Visiting scholar, 1998-1999, Medical Pathology, School of Medicine, UC Davis
Researcher/Physician, 1985-1997, Guangdong Province People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China
Email: xdu@ucdavis.edu
GRADUATE STUDENT
Supatirada Wongchanla (Nick name: Jane) (PhD Student)
Hometown: Udon Thani, Thailand
Degrees: Veterinary Medicine, BS, 2019, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
Research Interests: Monogastric nutrition
Email: swongchanla@ucdavis.edu
Shuhan (Cynthia) Sun (PhD Student)
Hometown: Beijing, China
Degrees:
Animal Science, BS, 2022, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
Economics, BA, 2022, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
Research Interests: Monogastric animal nutrition and physiology
Email: wamsun@ucdavis.edu
Yating (David) Zhao (PhD Student)
Hometown: Shenyang, China
Degree: Statistics, BS, 2023, University of California, Davis, CA
Research Interests: Monogastric animal nutrition and physiology
Email: zytzhao@ucdavis.edu
Youngmin Park (PhD Student)
Hometown: Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Degree:
Animal Science & Biotechnology, BS, 2024, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea
Research interest: Monogastric animal nutrition and physiology
Email: ymppark@ucdavis.edu
Alumni
Dr. Sangwoo Park
Hometown:Daejeon, Republic of Korea Degrees: Animal Science & Biotechnology, BS, 2015, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea
Animal Science, MS, 2017, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea
Animal Biology, PhD, 2024, University of California, Davis
Working experience: Postdoctoral Research Scholar, 10/01/2024-8/31/2025
Current position: Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Life Convergence, Gyeongsang National University
Email: swppark@gnu.ac.kr
Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong (Fulbright Visiting Scholar)
Hometown: Cao Bang, Vietnam
Current position: Faculty of Basic Sciences, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF),
Thai Nguyen University, Thai Nguyen City, Vietnam
Degrees:
Biology Teacher, BS, 2009, Hanoi National University of Education, Vietnam
Animal Studies, MS, 2013, University of Queensland, Australia
Sustainable Agricultural Technology and Science, PhD, 2021, University of Miyazaki, Japan
Research Interests: Pathogenic bacteria of human and animals
Email:vsnguyen@ucdavis.edu
Robert Hernandez, Ph.D.
Hometown: Monterey, California
Degrees:
Animal Science, BS, 2018, University of California, Davis, USA
Avian Sciences, MS, 2020, University of California, Davis, USA
Animal Biology, PhD, 2025, University of California, Davis, USA
Research Interests: Avian nutrition and immunology
Email: rahernandez@ucdavis.edu
Lauren Kovanda, Ph.D.
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Degrees:
Animal Science, BS, 2017, California State University, Fresco, CA
Animal Biology, MS, 2020, University of California, Davis
Animal Biology, PhD, 2024, University of California, Davis, USA
Research Interests: Feed alternatives to antibiotics
Email: llkovanda@ucdavis.edu
Kwangwook Kim, Ph.D.
Hometown: Cheonan, Republic of Korea
Degrees:
Animal Science & Biotechnology, BS, 2014, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea
Animal Biology, MS, 2018, University of California, Davis, USA
Animal Biology, PhD, 2021, University of California, Davis, USA
Working experience: Postdoctoral Research Scholar, 10/01/2021-12/31/2022
Current position: Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University
Email: kkim@msu.edu LinkedIN
Cynthia Jinno, Ph.D.
Hometown: West Hollywood, CA
Degrees:
Animal Science, BS, 2017, University of California, Davis, USA
Animal Biology, MS, 2019, University of California, Davis, USA
Animal Biology, PhD, 2022, University of California, Davis, USA
Current position: Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Cedars-Sinai, LA, CA
Email: Cynthia.Jinno@cshs.org
Braden Wong (Master Student)
Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA
Degree:
Animal Science, BS, 2019, University of California, Davis, USA
Animal Biology, MS, 2021, University of California, Davis, USA
Research Interests: Feed alternatives to antibiotics
Email: btwong@ucdavis.edu
Yijie He, Ph.D.
Hometown: Xinjiang, China
Degrees:
Animal Science, BS, 2012, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Animal Science, MS, 2015, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, USA
Animal Biology, PhD, 2020, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
PhD dissertation title: Dietary supplementation of Bacillus spp. on performance and disease resistance of weaned pigs
Email: heyijie@cpgroup.cn
Time at UC Davis: September 2017 to December 2020
Current position: Swine Nutritionist at Charoen Pokphand (CP) China
Monika Hejna, Ph.D.
PhD, Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Milan, Italy
Hometown: Słupca, Poland
Degrees:
Biological Science, BS, 2012, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
Environmental Conservation Science, MS, 2014, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
Research interests: heavy metals in the enrivonment, plant extracts in pig nutrition
Email: monika.hejna@unimi.it; mhejna@ucdavis.edu
Time at UC Davis: September 2019 to July 2021
Sheena Kim, Ph.D.
PhD, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea of Republic
Degrees:
Animal Science & Environment, BS, 2011, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Animal Science, MS, 2016, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Animal Science, PhD, 2019, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Research interests: Non-ruminant Animal nutrition
Email: snakim@ucdavis.edu
Time at UC Davis: September 2018 to August 2019
Nicole Doan (Master Student)
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
Degrees:
Animal Science, BS, 2016, University of California, Davis, USA
Animal Biology, MS, 2019, University of California, Davis, USA
Research Interests: Animal nutrition and brain development
Email: nndoan@ucdavis.edu
Time at UC Davis: April 2017 to June 2019
Xia Xiong, Ph.D.
Associate Researcher
The Chinese Academy of Science, Hunan, China
Hometown: Changsha, Hunan, China
Degrees:
Applied Chemistry, BS, 2002, Hunan Normal University, Hunan, China
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, PhD, 2010, Hunan Normal University, Hunan, China
Research Interests:
Nutrients absorption and metabolism along the crypt-villus axis of small intestine;
Proteomics analysis in small intestine or enterocytes by non-ruminants;
Feed alternatives to antibiotics.
Email: xiaxiong@ucdavis.edu
Time at UC Davis: June 2017 to June 2018
Minho Song, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department Head of Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Chungnam National University
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Degrees:
Applied Animal Science, BS, 2003, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Animal Science, MS, 2007, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN
Animal Science, PhD, 2011, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Research Interests: Non-ruminant animal nutrition
Email: mhsong@cnu.ac.kr
Time at UC Davis: January 2018 to August 2018
Bi'e Tan, Ph.D.
Associate Researcher
The Chinese Academy of Science, Hunan, China
Hometown: Changsha, Hunan, China
Degrees:
Animal Medicine, BS, 2001, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan, China
Animal Nutrition, MS and PhD, 2010, Institute of Subtrophical Agricultural, The Chinese Academy of Science, Hunan, China
Research Interests: The signaling pathway of intestinal development and regeneration of piglets;
Animal acids sensing mechanisms in the intestine of piglets;
The regulation of bioactivators on intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation of piglets
Email: bietan@isa.ac.cn
Time at UC Davis: December 2016 to December 2017