Former VERO Team Members
Bigelow, Rebecca
Rebecca Bigelow, MS
MS graduate
rabigelow1@buffs.wtamu.edu
Rebecca received her BS in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University and her MS degree 2023 from the Department of Agricultural Sciences at West Texas A&M and the VERO Partnership. Her research focused on evaluating effects of various antimicrobials on the whole blood transcriptome of commercial feedlot cattle when administered as a metaphylactic treatment for bovine respiratory disease. Rebecca is currently pursuing her PhD at Kansas State University.
Cheshire, Max
Max received his B.S. in Bioenvironmental Sciences in 2022 and MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics in 2024 from Texas A&M University. He has a well-versed background in clinical laboratory research with a focus on child and maternal health epidemiology and molecular biology relating to Fetal Alcoholic Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Additionally, he is a member of the U.S. Army Reserves working in the veterinary medical field. Outside of work he enjoys off-roading and hiking the trails in Colorado.
Chung, Max
Max Chung
-- MS Student, Texas A&M University
-- Advisor: Dr. Robert Valeris-Chacin
Max received his BS in Biology from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay in 2021. He joined Dr. Valeris’s lab in 2022 and is was a Masters - Thesis student in the Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) program. Max’s research focused on identifying virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella isolates from beef cattle in the Texas panhandle. By comparing the distribution of these pathogenicity-relevant genes among isolates, Max will advance the current knowledge on Salmonella ecology in cattle and significantly improve industry understanding of Salmonella capabilities to cause harm.
Green, Mollie
Mollie Green, MS
MS graduate
mmgreen2@buffs.wtamu.edu
Mollie received her Bachelor of Science degree from West Texas A&M University and her MS degree in 2023 from West Texas A&M University and the VERO Partnership. Her graduate research focuses on the overall use of genetic and genomic technologies for beef cattle systems for beef cattle health improvement. As Mollie continues her research in this field, she aims to support industry leaders with information that can be used to improve decision making in areas such as cattle health, production efficiency, and global sustainability.
Lamsal, Kushal (Sal)
Kushal (Sal) Lamsal
-- MS Student, Texas A&M University
-- Advisor: Dr. Robert Valeris-Chacin
-- sal@tamu.edu
Kushal “Sal” Lamsal was born and raised in the Kirtipur Valley in the highlands of Kathmandu, Nepal (GO RHINOS!!). He received his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from West Texas A&M University (GO BUFFS!!) in Canyon, Texas. In September 2022, he joined the VERO lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant and worked in that position until July 2023. In the fall of 2023, he began his Graduate Research Assistantship at VERO (GIG’EM) under Dr. Robert Valeris-Chacin. His MS thesis focuses on the design, optimization, and validation of targeted-enriched metagenomics to obtain strain-level data for Mycoplasma bovis in respiratory samples from cattle. Besides research, he is also involved in the Graduate Student Association as the Travel Award Secretary, where he organizes events to engage other graduate students with fun activities and nutritious lunches. During his free time, he enjoys reading books, learning new things, and working on his ROKR Classic City Tram LK801 model.
McAtee, Taylor
Taylor McAtee, MS
MS graduate
taylormcatee@vet.k-state.edu
Taylor received her MS degree in Animal Science from West Texas A&M University in 2022. She evaluated the impact of different adminstration routes of respiratory vaccinations on the respiratory microbiome of high-risk feedlot cattle. She is currently a PhD student at Kansas State University studying commercial beef production systems to enable science-based management decisions.
McClurg, Molly
Molly McClurg
-- PhD Student, Texas A&M University
-- Advisors: Dr. Paul Morley and Dr. Keri Norman
Molly received her undergraduate and MS degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in Biological Sciences. Her research focus was the microbiome of wild-caught rodents and raccoons, with an interest in GI tract variability, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance. Her doctoral research theme focuses on characterizing the microbiome and resistome of feedlot cattle, beef products, and human consumers of beef products.
Murphy, Maggie
Maggie Murphy
-- PhD Student, West Texas A&M University
-- Advisors: Dr. Paul Morley and Dr. John Pipkin
Maggie grew up in Peyton, Colorado before moving to Canyon, TX to pursue her B.S. in Equine Industry and Business at West Texas A&M University. following this, Maggie also pursued her M.S. in Animal Science at WT working under Dr. Lance Baker and Dr. John Pipkin, researching voluntary dry matter intake of equines being fed a functional feed additive. Currently, Maggie is working under Dr. Paul Morley on her Ph.D. in systems Agriculture through WTAMU. Her research focuses on characterizing the developing microbiomes and resisitomes in young dairy cattle and young horses. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding and spending time with her border collie. ....
Tamm, Stephen
Stephen Tamm, MS
-- MS Student
-- Advisor: Dr. Paul Morley
Stephen completed undergraduate studies in animal science at West Texas A&M University in 2012 and immediately began work in animal nutrition and feedlot services throughout Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma. He later relocated to Idaho to expand his education and received his MS from the University of Idaho in 2018. His research at UI was focused on cell signaling and bovine skeletal muscle satellite cell behavior. Stephen also held a teaching assistantship and advised pre-veterinary undergraduate students while at UI. His current interests include physiological mechanisms in agricultural production systems, microbiome dynamics and anatomical axes, and epidemiological perspectives on sustainable agriculture. He joined #TeamVERO in 2022 and is conducting research focused on pathogen monitoring in beef production systems, microbial predictors of animal health, and antimicrobial resistance dynamics in large animals.
Young, James Daniel
James Daniel Young, MS
-- PhD Student, West Texas A&M University
-- Advisors: Dr. Paul Morley and Dr. John Richeson
Daniel received his MS degree from Texas Tech University in 2022 and his PhD from West Texas A&M University in 2024. Daniel’s doctoral research was focused on gastrointestinal health of feedlot cattle. More specifically his research focused on the interaction between the animal and gut microbiota. Daniel’s work aimed to connect gastrointestinal health to complex diseases like liver abscesses, to better understand the pathogenesis and mitigation strategies of these diseases.