Caroline Gillies Position/Title: M.Sc. by Thesis email: cgilli05@uoguelph.ca Phone: Office: ANNU 032 Research Gate

I am currently a masters by thesis student being supervised by Dr. Lee-Anne Huber in the Department of Animal Biosciences. I completed my Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Bioveterinary Science at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture in 2021. The summer before starting my Masters, I received an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) to assist in Dr. Huber's lab, where I assisted Cierra Kozole, Nicole Gregory, Maddy Watzeck, and Brenda Christensen with their projects. This opportunity provided me with some hand-on experience before starting my own project. 

My project will expand on a previous study looking at the effect of lysine on mammary gland development (Dietary supplementation with lysine (protein) stimulates mammary development in late pregnant gilts | Journal of Animal Science). Lysine was increased by soybean meal, which also increases crude protein of the diet. My project will determine if the increase in mammary gland development in late gestation was due to the soybean meal, the total increase in amino acids or the increase in lysine. An increase in mammary gland development increases the amount of milk the sow is able to produce, which is essential in her ability to support a large litter size. This project will take place at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre in Sherbrooke, Quebec. 

I have always loved animals and knew my career would involve them, which is what led me from Ontario to the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University. After completing my honours thesis project and two review papers, I developed a passion for research. After completing my masters, my goal is to continue my education in animal nutrition.