Charlene Hanlon Position/Title: Post-doctoral Fellow email: chanlon@uoguelph.ca Phone: (519) 824-4120 ext.58353 Office: ANNU 128 Research Gate

Advisor: Dr. Grégoy Bédécarrats 

My Ph.D. focuses on determining the molecular and endocrinological basis underlying the continuous increase in laying persistency observed in the commercial strains. More specifically, by comparing unselected and selected lines for egg production, I am able to investigate and compare the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis on egg production, along with associated hormones. During my undergraduate research project, I was able to identify a second peak in estradiol occurring late in the laying cycle, at a time when production should normally decline. Identifying the reasons behind this second surge in estradiol will be a major focus. As we suspect this event comes from the ovary, I will also conduct research on understanding the organization and dynamics of the ovarian follicle hierarchy in order to understand the significant increase in cumulative egg numbers observed over the last few decades.

Outside of my research, I am a co-chair of the Animal Biosciences Graduate Student Council (ABSc GSC) and a graduate student representative on the Animal Biosciences Graduate Committee.