Young broiler chicks have a lot to do when they first hatch. Vaccinations, then a truck ride to their new home just to face disease challenges such as Escherichia coli and other bacterial infections. Bacterial infections can be devastating to both the birds and the producers that raise them. We have previously studied an immune simulant (CpG-ODN) works like antibiotics, protecting chicks against E. coli. This protection was only good for about 6 days unfortunately. Recently, we discovered a new and exciting concept, called “trained immunity”. By administering CpG-ODN in ovo followed by intrapulmonary administration induced trained immunity and protected chickens throughout their whole life. We also found that intrapulmonary delivery allows for a “crosstalk” between the lungs and gut, known as the gut-lung axis (GLA). We are currently evaluating intrapulmonary delivery of CpG-ODN along with other vaccines to further protect birds and improve animal welfare and food safety and will be further studying both trained immunity and the GLA.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Poultry pathology, immunology, bacteriology, virology
Student roles: Cell culture, virus attenuation, animal experiments, flow cytometry, seahorse analysis, data collection and analysis
Skills required: A 3rd to 4th year veterinary undergraduate student.
Lameness is a severe economic, animal health and welfare problem in dairy cattle throughout North America and identified as a top priority in the recently updated Canadian Dairy Code of Practice. Visual locomotion scoring is a common method to identify lame cows; however, early detection of lameness using this approach remains challenging. Producers often overlook subtle gait changes leading to underestimation of lameness prevalence. In addition, not all gait changes are linked with lameness; for example, full udder or body size can also alter gait patterns. In recent years, technology has been evolved and being adopted by commercial farms to monitor animal behavior. This project is based on using multiple technologies (markerless camera system, sensors, accelerometers) together with visual scoring to detect early and subtle changes in cattle gait over time. The first objective is to validate the camera-system for accurate detection of lameness. We will compare the camera system with sensors and visual scoring. Another objective is to find the association between hoof lesions that benefit from intervention and lameness. Furthermore, the use of locomotion scoring and automated systems after hoof trimming is not quantified. Consequently, the final objective will be to use multiple technologies with longitudinal data collection to detect lameness and study the impact of hoof trimming on cattle motion as captured by various automated technologies. Ultimately, this will support the producers in early identification of cows that need to be selected for treatment and evaluate the treatment effectiveness to achieve a full recovery.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: As a veterinary epidemiologist, my main interest is in studying disease transmission and identifying risk factors for multi-factorial diseases. My research focuses on both beef and dairy cattle, especially, infectious diseases, lameness and painful procedures.
Student roles: The student will assist the graduate student already recruited on this project in executing data collection focused on dairy cattle lameness detection using multiple technologies available to producers. Responsibilities may include helping with on-farm data collection, organizing the datasets, and assisting with basic data cleaning and analysis. The student will be expected to be part of the lab-group and participate in meetings, and other learning opportunities.
Skills required: 1) Experience working with dairy cattle. 2) Exposure to modern technologies used by dairy producers to monitor animal health and behavior, such as camera-based systems, activity sensors, accelerometers, or other automated monitoring tools. 3) Experience working with datasets and statistical analysis using software such as R, STATA. 4) Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with graduate students, faculty, farm staff, and industry partners. A valid driving license is preferred.
3. Deep Skin Trouble: The cellulitis story
Supervisor: Susantha Gomis
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
Ouch! A cut on your skin can hurt, especially if it gets infected! Now imagine if that infection was full of Escherichia coli and around your belly. Cellulitis in broiler chickens is the number one reason for broiler carcass condemnation in Canada, which is economically devastating, and a waste of chicken meat. To understand how cellulitis progresses, and to find a way to control it, we have developed an animal model to induce cellulitis in broiler chickens. We will be studying the disease process along with the role of the immune system to develop a control strategy.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Poultry pathology, immunology, bacteriology, virology
Student roles: Cell culture, virus attenuation, animal experiments, flow cytometry, seahorse analysis, data collection and analysis
Skills required: A 3rd to 4th year veterinary undergraduate student.
4. Development of Climate Resilient Cattle
Supervisor: John Church
University: Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops campus)
We have created 10 beef calves with the SLICK gene by breeding red angus with Senepol along with either Galloway or Highland through artificial insemination as well as through genetic engineering techniques in Angus cattle using CRISPR cas-9, with more claves expected in the spring of 2026 and 2027. SLICK follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern enabling a high success rate for passing this trait onto offspring. The rs517047387 deletion was consistently found in all Senepol Angus Composite cattle in our study exhibiting the SLICK phenotype and therefore rs517047387 appears to be a reliable predictor of the SLICK phenotype in Highland cattle and we assume in gene edited animals as well. When the calves are born, a sample of ear tissue will be collected during ear tagging to preserve high quality genetic material for later genetic sequencing for genetic sequencing verification. Once the presence of the genetic deletion is confirmed in the offspring (along with an equivalent number on non-SLICK control animals i.e. n=5), animals will undergo respiration rate testing, bolus internal temperature monitoring and HSP70 expression to enable characterization of the heat stress phenotype. All animals will be tagged with a unique Penning Tag glued to their backs for aerial identification using a drone to collect data on the respiration rate and to take infrared photos to measure surface temperature to characterize the heat stress phenotype. Ambient temperature and relative humidity will be recorded using a Portable Weather Station to calculate the temperature humidity index (THI). A Moonsyst rumen bolus will be inserted down their esophagus to regularly record cattle internal rumen temperatures (TR) and the movements of each animal using an accelerometer. Hair samples will be collected from the calves at different time points throughout the summer for Heat Shock Protein 70 Analysis and Gene Expression.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Cattle heat stress is becoming a significant issue for the global cattle industry due to trends in climate change, leading to heightened economical losses. Adaptation by the beef industry will be required globally to mitigate the effects of heat stress. SLICK, a short and sleek hair coat genetic trait, naturally found within the tropical breed called Senepol, has recently been recreated through both conventional breeding in Canada using the Senepol breed, and gene editing in the Angus breed in animals in Brazil, and might be the key to mitigating these effects and improve animal welfare during increased ambient temperatures.
Student roles: After the students collect the ear tissue samples from the calves in the field, DNA will be extracted from the samples by the students, primers will be designed and optimized, and after successful PCR amplification of each locus of interest across all samples, the nucleotide sequence of the amplicons will be determined using Sanger Sequencing. Respiration rate will be collected by the students for all animals using a novel technique developed by Thompson Rivers University involving drones to minimize the observer effects on animal measurements. A DJI Mavic quadcopter will be used by the students to record video of the individual cattle at an altitude of 3-5 meters above ground. Respiration rates will be calculated by counting flank movements over an approximately 2-3 minute sampling period. Captured videos from the UAVs will be processed and analyzed by the students using Observer XT behavour observation software. Other behavioural events that will be recorded by the students include animals changing positions, skin twitching, grooming, and regurgitating as well as the positional state of the animal which includes standing, lying, and walking. Students will be involved in collecting plasma and hair samples from the calves for physiological measurements. In addition, the students will help collect and analyze the internal temperature and accelerometer data provided by the rumen boluses. Plasma HSP70 concentrations will be quantified by the students using the Invitrogen HSP70 Human ELISA Kit. All statistical analysis and plotting will be completed using R Statistical Software by the students and graphical representations of the data will be generated by the students using the ggplot2.
Skills required: The students ideally will be senior undergraduate veterinary students that have practical field experience collecting blood, tissue and hair samples from cattle, along with clinical skills and experience in behavioural observation and data collection of live animals, as well as practical familiarity in microbiology, PCR and Elisa, as well as knowledge and experience in insemination and possibly embryo collection.
5. Gut feeling: Why probiotics know best
Supervisor: Susantha Gomis
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
Everyone can understand what a bad “stomach-ache” feels like. Unfortunately, chickens have it the worst! Bacteria called Clostridium perfringens cause necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens. These bacteria normally lives in the intestines but can sometimes also produce toxins. These toxins kill the tissue of the intestine resulting in the bird dying as well. So many factors determine this such as feed, stress and immune status. Normally this disease was prevented by using antibiotics in the feed. However, in Canada these antibiotics have been banned. Additionally, probiotics in the feed were also a tool to reduce the incidence of NE. We have found that probiotics sprayed onto incubating eggs allow for the “good bacteria” in probiotics to colonize the intestine of embryos before they even hatch. This allows for a head start once they hatch and maturing their gut microbiome early. We will be continuing our study of probiotic delivery during the incubation period and changes in gut microbiome.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Poultry pathology, immunology, bacteriology, virology
Student roles: Cell culture, virus attenuation, animal experiments, flow cytometry, seahorse analysis, data collection and analysis
Skills required: A 3rd to 4th year veterinary undergraduate student.
6. Host-parasite interactions in the small intestine
Supervisor: Constance Finney
University: University of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Veterinary Science and Medicine, Immunology, Parasitology, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences
The Finney lab focuses on host parasite interactions in the small intestine.
HOST RESPONSES TO HELMINTHS (parasitic worms)
Immune Responses to Heligmosomoides bakeri
Early host responses to larval intestinal worms are not fully understood. Understanding how the immune system fails to control these parasites may help identify new targets for anthelmintic therapy for veterinary infections.
Project goal: Determine the mechanisms that control granuloma formation in response to H. bakeri larvae.
HELMINTH IMMUNOMODULATION
Secreted molecules made by H. bakeri
H. bakeri survives for weeks in its host thanks to a number of secreted immunomodulators. Only a limited number of these molecules have been characterized. Understanding how the parasite manipulates the immune system will yield new vaccines/drug targets.
Project goal: Identify new immunomodulators excreted by the worm and their functions in the host.
TRANSLATABLE INFECTION MODELS
Toxoplasma gondii/Heligmosomoides bakeri
The intestinal ecosystem is complex and usually harbours multiple different types of organisms (commensals and different types of pathogens). Infection dynamics differ in these contexts compared to our simplified lab based models.
Project goal: Determine how the immune environment created by multiple infections impacts host responses to H. bakeri. .
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am an immunologist who uses parasite infections to understand immune mechanisms. I work in multiple infectious disease contexts (intestinal worms, single-celled parasites) focusing on host parasite interactions in the gut and the surrounding immune tissue.
Student roles: The exact project for the student is hard to define at this early stage, but the student will be given a personal project to work on during their time in the lab, working closely with other lab members to ensure they receive appropriate training (you can see previous projects on my website: https://constancefinney.wixsite.com/finneylab). Techniques the student can expect to learn include: - Performing immunoassays, including flow cytometry and ELISAs. - Maintaining parasite lifecycles (nematode worms and Toxoplasma). - Sterile tissue culture. - Microscopy (fluorescent and light). - Working with animal models of disease. - Omics techniques. How much the student gets involved with the individual techniques will depend on their preference and their ability to learn the techniques
Skills required: The student needs to be able to display patience and precision to work in an immunology laboratory. Techniques are complex and can take time to master. Although they will be trained by me and other members of the lab, they also need to display some independence relating to the tasks that need to be performed, once these have been taught/mastered. Sterile techniques will be used throughout the project, so again, previous experience would allow the student to get further into the project. Any experience in immunological techniques, animal handling or general lab practices are considered a plus.
7. Prairie Protection: Developing a vaccine to combat immunosuppressive disease
Supervisor: Susantha Gomis
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
Over the past 10 years, we have worked heavily on researching infectious bursal disease, also known as IBD, in western Canada. We found that these viruses circulating in western Canada are variants of the previously reported virus. This variant infectious bursal disease virus (varIBDV) mutates at a very high rate and causes immune suppression in young chickens. Then, birds are more prone to other viral and bacterial infections causing severe production losses, condemnations and mortality. Normally, a quick vaccination can fix this problem, however this virus is so different from what we vaccinate against, it doesn’t work. So, we have set out to develop a vaccine that does work in protecting chickens against these varIBDV infections. Our current project has been using one specific varIBDV called SK09 as a vaccine candidate. To do this, we vaccinate broiler breeders (the parents of the broiler chickens) to pass on maternal immunity. Now we are in the process of attenuating (making the virus lose its disease-causing capabilities) varIBDV using cell culture techniques for use in a novel vaccine.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Poultry pathology, immunology, bacteriology, virology
Student roles: Cell culture, virus attenuation, animal experiments, flow cytometry, seahorse analysis, data collection and analysis
Skills required: A 3rd to 4th year veterinary undergraduate student.
8. Trace Mineral Nutrition and Reproductive Success in Beef Cattle
Supervisor: Dinesh Dadarwal
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
Have you ever wondered why some heifers fail to get pregnant, even when nutrition and management appear adequate? The answer may lie in their trace minerals.
Replacement heifers represent one of the most significant investments in a cow-calf operation, yet they remain one of the least studied populations in Canadian beef nutrition research. Unlike mature cows, growing heifers must simultaneously support their own development, reach reproductive maturity, and once pregnant, meet the escalating mineral demands of a developing calf. Despite these compounding physiological demands, they are routinely managed under the same mineral supplementation protocols as adult animals, a critical gap this project directly addresses.
In Year 1, the focus will be on establishing the foundational dataset that underpins the entire study. Working across an initial cohort of commercial beef herds in Saskatchewan, the intern will assist in enrolling replacement heifers, collecting blood and liver biopsy samples at two key production stages, pre-breeding and pre-calving, and gathering seasonal water samples to assess sulphate and mineral antagonist levels. These samples will be processed and analyzed for copper, selenium, and molybdenum concentrations, providing the first snapshots of regional mineral status in this critically underserved population.
Alongside sample collection, detailed herd metadata, including body condition scores, breed, supplementation records, and management practices, will be systematically recorded to ensure findings can be meaningfully interpreted across different production environments.
This foundational year is where the science begins. The data collected will directly shape supplementation strategies, inform regional comparisons, and ultimately contribute to the first evidence-based micronutrient guidelines specifically designed for replacement heifers across the Canadian prairies, with real, measurable impacts on herd productivity and producer profitability.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Trace minerals, including copper, selenium, and molybdenum, are essential nutrients that directly influence reproductive efficiency, calf health, and overall productivity in beef cattle. Despite their importance, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding how mineral status varies across Canada's diverse prairie production environments and what that means for replacement heifer performance. Our lab is investigating how trace mineral deficiencies, driven by regional soil composition, water quality, and management practices, affect pregnancy rates, and re-breeding success in first-calving heifers. This research will generate the first regionally specific, evidence-based micronutrient guidelines tailored specifically to replacement heifers across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.
Student roles: This internship offers something genuinely rare, the chance to step outside the classroom and contribute to field-based research that directly impacts the livelihoods of beef producers across the Canadian prairies. As a Mitacs Globalink intern, you will be a valued team member, not a passive observer. You will be paired with a graduate student who will work alongside you every day, sharing knowledge, troubleshooting challenges, and helping you connect the science to the reality of commercial cattle production. This peer-level mentorship, backed by the expertise of Dr. Dinesh Dadarwal, creates a uniquely supportive environment where learning happens naturally, at the chute, in the field, and around the data. What your days will actually look like: On the Farm: You will travel to commercial beef herds across Saskatchewan, working directly with producers in real production environments. Expect early mornings, prairie landscapes, and the satisfaction of doing work that matters. You will perform reproductive tract assessments, assist with rectal palpation and transrectal ultrasound examinations, and where applicable, participate in artificial insemination procedures, putting your veterinary training to immediate practical use. At the Chute: You will collect blood samples and assist with liver biopsies from replacement heifers at key production time points, as well as gather water samples from herd water sources for mineral antagonist analysis. Attention to detail in sample handling and cold-chain management will be essential. Back at the University: You and your graduate student partner will process collected samples together, prepare them for mineral analysis, and maintain meticulous laboratory and field records that feed directly into the project's growing dataset. Around the Table:You will participate in team meetings, contribute observations from the field, and engage with a multidisciplinary group of researchers, veterinarians, and industry partners who are all working toward the same
Skills required: Applicants should be enrolled in a DVM program (2nd or 3rd year preferred) with a strong interest in beef cattle medicine, reproduction, or production animal practice. A basic understanding of ruminant nutrition, physiology, and reproductive biology is expected. Hands-on clinical skills in rectal palpation, reproductive tract ultrasonography, and artificial insemination are a significant asset and will be actively utilized during field work. Prior experience with farm animal handling and restraint is beneficial. Students should be comfortable working outdoors in variable prairie weather conditions, able to work both independently and as part of a team, and genuinely passionate about applied beef
9. Validation of the Ruminant ReproSeq Panel for Diagnosing Infectious Causes of Pregnancy Loss in Small Ruminants
Supervisor: Dinesh Dadarwal
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
Have you ever wondered why so many abortion cases in sheep and goats go unsolved, even after multiple tests? That is the exact problem this project is tackling.
Reproductive losses are one of the most frustrating and costly challenges in small ruminant practice. In Saskatchewan, abortion outbreaks can devastate 20–50% of a pregnant flock in a single season. Yet despite submitting samples and running multiple conventional tests, nearly half of cases come back without a definitive diagnosis. Without answers, veterinarians cannot advise producers on treatment, prevention, or disease control, and losses continue.
This project is developing the Ruminant ReproSeq panel, a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based diagnostic tool capable of detecting 22 reproductive pathogens simultaneously from a single sample. Think of it as a comprehensive one-stop test that replaces a lengthy sequence of individual diagnostics, faster, more accurate, and more informative.
As a Mitacs Globalink intern, you will be at the bench making this happen. During your 12-week placement, you will be involved in two exciting areas:
Panel expansion, designing and validating primers and controls for six pathogens critically important to sheep and goat health, including Brucella ovis, Cache Valley Virus, and Maedi-Visna Virus
Laboratory optimization, running multiplex PCR assays and evaluating panel performance against conventional diagnostic gold standards
You will work hands-on with Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology and be introduced to bioinformatics pipelines — tools that are rapidly reshaping veterinary diagnostics worldwide. You will be embedded in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Prairie Diagnostic Services, gaining real-world research experience directly relevant to your future veterinary career.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Reproductive losses in small ruminants, including abortions, stillbirths, and weak offspring, cause major economic hardship for producers. Identifying the cause is challenging because current diagnostic tests are slow, costly, and often inconclusive. Our lab is developing the Ruminant ReproSeq panel, a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based tool that can simultaneously detect up to 22 reproductive pathogens from a single sample. Built on a proven cattle diagnostic platform, this expanded panel adds six pathogens specific to small ruminants, including Brucella ovis, Cache Valley Virus, and Maedi-Visna Virus, delivering fast, accurate answers to guide treatment and protect herd health.
Student roles: As a Mitacs Globalink intern, you will not just be observing research, you will be doing it. From day one, you will be an active contributor to the development of the Ruminant ReproSeq panel, a diagnostic tool that has the potential to transform how veterinarians investigate reproductive losses in sheep and goats across Canada and beyond. You will work directly alongside a PhD student who will serve as your day-to-day mentor, guiding you through cutting-edge techniques in a supportive, collaborative environment. Together, you will tackle real scientific challenges under the supervision of Dr. Dinesh Dadarwal and in partnership with the expert molecular diagnostics team at Prairie Diagnostic Services (PDS). Your work will include: Primer Design and Validation: You will help design and validate primers targeting six pathogens critical to small ruminant reproductive health, including Brucella ovis, Cache Valley Virus, and Maedi-Visna Virus. You will prepare controls, run PCR assays, and confirm detection of each target, skills directly transferable to diagnostic practice. Next-Generation Sequencing: You will get hands-on experience with Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology, one of the most exciting platforms currently reshaping veterinary and human diagnostics worldwide. You will help generate and interpret real sequencing data from an actively developing diagnostic panel. Data Analysis and Bioinformatics: Guided by a team of experts, you will be introduced to custom bioinformatics pipelines and learn how raw sequencing data becomes a clear, clinically actionable diagnostic report. Real-World Clinical Exposure: You will attend team meetings, interact with veterinary clinicians and diagnostic pathologists, and observe actual abortion case investigations, connecting your bench work directly to the animals and producers depending on it. By the end of your internship, you will leave with advanced laboratory skills, genuine research experience, and a deeper appreciation
Skills required: Applicants should be enrolled in a DVM program (2nd or 3rd year preferred) with a strong interest in veterinary diagnostics, infectious disease, or small ruminant medicine. A basic understanding of microbiology and molecular biology concepts, such as PCR and DNA, is expected. Prior hands-on laboratory experience, even at an undergraduate level, is an asset. Students should be detail-oriented, comfortable working in a laboratory setting, and able to work both independently and as part of a team. Enthusiasm for learning new techniques, including next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics, is valued more than prior expertise in these areas.
10. What if you could see into the future?
Supervisor: Susantha Gomis
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
The early detection of infections is critical in controlling disease outbreaks and reducing antimicrobial use. The Canadian chicken industry lacks the ability to detect pathogens within 1-2 days post-infection. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS) is being applied in humans to identify metabolites (the end products of biological responses) in biofluids as biomarkers for disease and health. We are currently looking at metabolites as biomarkers to early disease diagnosis and hope to identify pathogen-specific metabolites using metabolomics approach. Some of the most common and economically important diseases in poultry we are testing include: fowl adenovirus (hepatitis), avian reovirus (lameness), E. coli and Salmonella Typhimurium (high mortality, food safety concerns), and Clostridium perfringens (enteritis).
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Poultry pathology, immunology, bacteriology, virology
Student roles: Cell culture, virus attenuation, animal experiments, flow cytometry, seahorse analysis, data collection and analysis
Skills required: A 3rd to 4th year veterinary undergraduate student.