WCVM-based graduate students celebrate academic milestones at USask Spring Convocation
The University of Saskatchewan’s 2025 Spring Convocation ceremonies on June 4 will include a group of 19 post-secondary students based at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) who have completed their graduate and certificate programs.
By WCVM TodayThe group includes 10 Master of Science (MSc) graduates, two Master of Veterinary Science (MVSc) graduates and six PhD graduates. One veterinarian will also be recognized for completing a small animal rotating veterinary internship certificate program in 2024-25.
The research work completed by this spring’s graduates represents a wide range of studies investigating issues in bovine, equine, poultry and swine health, wildlife health and human health.
The students’ accomplishments will be recognized during the USask spring convocation ceremonies, which begin at 2 p.m. on Wed., June 4, at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon, Sask.
Click here to download the booklet listing of all 2025 USask graduates (Spring Convocation).
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Ronaldo Avella Lavado, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Montgomery
Research focus: developing a pH probe prototype to assess pulmonary pH fluctuations in a swine lung model and in cystic fibrosis patients through bronchoscopy.
Thesis title: “Development and testing of a flexible plastic hydrogen ion-selective electrode for in vivo pH measurements of airway surface liquid.”
Click here to read thesis.
Margot Hayes, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Chris Luby
Research focus: seeking ways to promote communication between veterinarians and producers, with the goal of increasing producer engagement so more producers take the necessary steps to mitigate mastitis.
Thesis topic: “The impact of a risk assessment and management program on adoption of udder health management practices.”
Read WCVM Today story.
Danilo Wadt, MSc program
Supervisors: Drs. Murray Jelinski and Tony Ruzzini
Research focus: developing a media that isolates bacteria in feedlot water bowls and will prevent further spread of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) genes. This study’s results can assist producers in preventing AMR and ensuring that antibiotic therapy options remain effective.
Thesis title: “Development and testing of selective and differential media for the recovery of bacterial bovine respiratory disease isolates from feedlot water bowls.”
Click here to read thesis.
Karolina Steinerova, PhD program
Supervisor: Dr. Yolande Seddon
Research focus: investigating whether play behaviour can be used as a tool by the swine industry to promote positive welfare on conventional farms, delivering benefits for both pigs and producers.
Dissertation title: “The role of play behaviour to enhance pig welfare and resilience and its implications for the swine industry.”
Click here to read dissertation.
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences
Rinta Cherian, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Loewen
Research focus: Investigating the effects of tannins on gut glucose transport in rainbow trout using Ussing chamber (a scientific device) and radioisotopic techniques. The research supports sustainable fisheries by evaluating plant-based protein alternatives such as faba beans to replace fishmeal and fish oil in aquafeeds.
Thesis title: “Impacts of enzymes, tannase, dioxygenase, and their bioengineered mutants, on total phenolic reduction in purified tannic acid and plant extracts and effects of tannins on sodium-glucose co-transporters (SGLTS) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).”
Thesis under embargo.
Dylan Farmer, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Jaswant Singh
Research focus: determining the effects of a GnRH antagonist, cetrorelix, on the follicular dynamics in cattle during different stages of follicular growth and in different endocrine milieus.
Thesis title: “The effects of a GnRH antagonist, cetrorelix, on ovarian function in cattle.”
Click here to read thesis.
Brenna Piecowye, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Karen Machin
Research focus: the effects of environmental stress in water fowl.
Thesis title: “In ovo corticosterone administration in waterfowl: research methodology, and its impacts on offspring development and glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid abundance in the brain.”
Click here to read thesis. | Read WCVM Today story.
Shruti Sasikumar, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Suraj Unniappan
Research focus: impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on glucose metabolism.
Thesis title: “SARS-CoV-2 infection affects glucose homeostasis, glucoregulatory hormones and pancreatic cellular processes in male syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).”
Thesis under embargo.
Brandon Waddell, PhD program
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Wu
Research focus: Using the model organism C. elegans to identify several novel snRNA processing regulators.
Dissertation title: “Identification and characterization of novel snRNA processing regulators in C. elegans.”
Click here to read dissertation.
Department of Veterinary Microbiology
Muhammad Yaasin Dulymamode, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Joe Rubin
Research focus: researchers have been conducting a longitudinal passive surveillance project targeting E. coli causing UTIs in dogs isolated by a regional diagnostic lab. In his work, Yaasin Dulymamode investigated the antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli isolates from Oct 2018-Oct 2022 (n = 576) and the frequency of epidemiologically important resistance genes.
Thesis title: “Antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli causing urinary tract infections in dogs in Saskatchewan, Canada.”
Click here to read thesis.
Dhineshkumar Periyasamy, MSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Janet Hill
Research focus: developing a syndromic amplicon sequencing panel to detect bovine respiratory pathogens using Oxford nanopore sequencing platform.
Thesis title: “Bovine reproductive pathogen sequencing panel.”
Click here to read thesis. | Read WCVM Today story.
Nathan Erickson, PhD program
Supervisor: Dr. John Ellis
Research focus: optimization of vaccination programs and implant strategies
Dissertation title: “Approaches to priming the bovine neonate for the protection against viral respiratory diseases.”
Click here to read dissertation.
Kezia Fourie, PhD program
Supervisor: Dr. Heather Wilson
Research focus: vaccine development in swine.
Dissertation title: “Development of a subunit Lawsonia intracellularis vaccine.”
Dissertation under embargo.
Department of Veterinary Pathology
Shanika Nishadini Kurukulasuriya, MVSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Susantha Gomis
Research focus: Avian immunology and virology
Gwendolyn (Gwen) Roy, MVSc program
Supervisor: Dr. Trent Bollinger
Research focus: veterinary pathology (wildlife)
Roman Koziy, PhD program
Supervisors: Drs. Elemir Simko and George Katselis
Research focus: investigating potential biomarkers of eradication of infection in an experimental model of equine septic arthritis.
Dissertation title: “Biomarkers for the eradication of infection in equine septic arthritis.”
Click here to read dissertation. | Read Horse Health Lines story.
Iresha Subhasinghe, PhD program
Supervisor: Dr. Susantha Gomis
Research focus: Avian immunology.
Dissertation title: “Oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) activated bactericidal mechanisms of heterophils and induced trained immunity in broiler chickens.”
Click here to read dissertation.
Dissertation under embargo.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Jia Qi Tay, clinical intern
Graduate certificate in small animal rotating veterinary internship
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