Reza Akbari Moghaddam Kakhki Position/Title: Ph.D. email: rakbarim@uoguelph.ca Phone: Office: Google Scholar Research Gate LinkedIn

My Ph.D. research was to evaluate nutritional approaches for enhancing the skeletal functioning and immune system of laying hen, under the supervision of Dr. Elijah Kiarie. I  studied various responses to feeding ω-3 fatty acids to layer breeders, and also be feeding their progenies during the rearing period. Epigenetic effects are heritable changes in gene expression (i.e. active versus inactive genes) that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence. These kinds of changes thus influence phenotype without a change in genotype. Why did I study skeletal and immune systems? Because skeletal disorders such as osteoporosis and weaknesses of the immune system, persist in commercial poultry production, and the associated mortality and morbidity exert huge economic losses on producers. My long-term objective was thus to find nutritional approaches that will improve the skeletal integrity and immune function in egg-laying hens.

Education

Ph.D. Poultry Nutrition, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Canada (2017-2021)

M.Sc. Poultry Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran (2014-2016)

B.Sc. Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran (2010-2014)

Work

Poultry Scientist - Layer hen, Trouw Nutrition, Canada (March 2021 - Present)

Production Manager, Ghaem Poultry Feed Production. Co, Mashhad, Iran (March 2017- August 2017)

Research and Development Unit, Ghaem Poultry Feed Production. Co, Mashhad, Iran (April 2016 - March 2017)

Awards & achievements

Ontario Trillium Scholarship (2017-2021)

Mary Edmunds Williams Scholarship (2017-2018)

GGSF (NSERC) Travel Scholarship (Summer, 2018)

King Cole Ducks Ltd. Graduate Award in Poultry (Fall, 2018)

Robb Graduate Research Travel Grant (Fall, 2018)

Awarded Poster Presentation (2nd place), Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada 2019, Niagara Falls (May 2019)

Craig Hunter Poultry Science Graduate Scholarship (Fall, 2019)

James A. McGrath Memorial Scholarship (Fall, 2020)

Frank and Gertraude Hurnik Scholarship (Fall, 2020)

Deborah Whale/Poultry Industry Council Graduate Scholarship (Fall, 2020)