Graduate Research Assistant
Iowa State University
Spenser Becker is a PhD student at Iowa State University with Dr. Laura Greiner studying swine nutrition. Her dissertation work focuses on dietary essential fatty acids from commonly available fat sources and how they impact growth, lipid metabolism, joint health, and inflammation in grow-finish swine and gilt development. Spenser graduated with a Master of Science degree in Animal Science in 2019 from Iowa State University under the mentorship of Dr. John Patience, where her research investigated the relationship between disease and nutrition in the weaned pigs, as well has how non-antibiotic feed additives function to mitigate disease. Following graduate, Spenser plans to pursue a career in the swine industry and utilize her graduate training to help pork producers confidently face the challenge of feeding the world and contribute to the continued success of the animal agriculture industry.