Melissa Williams Position/Title: Ph.D. Student email: mwilli20@uoguelph.ca Phone: Office: ANNU 132 Research Gate LinkedIn

I completed my undergraduate degree in B.Sc. (Honours) in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph in 2017. During this time, I continued to develop my passion for the agricultural industry and aspire for a career in ruminant nutrition or research. With my love for livestock animals and production, I was intrigued by some of Dr. Katie Wood’s previous research and began my Master's Degree by thesis with her as my advisor in May of 2017.

My project focused on the use of fibrolytic enzyme and yeast feed additives, and their effects on overall digestibility, animal performance and health in beef cattle. The aim was to discover the potential of these additives for improving the diets offered by beef producers to increase profitability and productivity. The information discovered through results could potentially reduce the use of current technologies such as hormone implants and antimicrobials in the interests of society, as well as human health and animal production industries. During my Master's by thesis, completed in January of 2019, I have learned that I truly enjoy planning and executing research trials to find the answers to questions in the field.

I worked as a research assistant in Dr. Wood's lab and plan to begin my Ph.D. with Dr. Wood in September 2019. My Ph.D. focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind yeast as a feed additive in the beef feedlot industry to improve animal health and performance.