معرفی
Ronald Trotta serves as an Assistant Professor of Ruminant Nutritional Physiology/Molecular Biology in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. His research focuses on understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying nutrient utilization in ruminants, with particular emphasis on starch digestion, vascular function, and responses to feed contaminants.
Dr. Trotta earned his B.S. in Animal Sciences from the University of Kentucky (2017), followed by an M.S. in Animal Science from North Dakota State University (2019), and completed his Ph.D. in Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky (2023).
His research program centers on ruminant nutrition with specific expertise in starch digestion mechanisms, vascular physiology related to fescue toxicosis, and maternal-fetal nutrient partitioning. Dr. Trotta has made significant contributions to understanding how corn processing techniques affect starch availability, how ergot alkaloids impact vascular function through serotonin receptor pathways, and how maternal nutrition influences fetal development. His work bridges molecular biology with practical livestock production challenges, particularly in beef cattle systems.
Dr. Trotta has authored or co-authored 26 peer-reviewed journal articles, 7 conference proceedings papers, and 16 abstracts, securing over $1.4 million in research funding as principal or co-investigator. His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on improving feed efficiency, understanding nutrient metabolism limitations, and addressing production challenges related to forage quality.
Scientific Awards and Honors:
- 2023 ASAS Wettemann Graduate Scholar in Physiology Award
- 2023 UK Animal and Food Science Graduate Poster Symposium – 2nd Place
- 2022 ASAS National Young Scholar Award
- 2022 ASAS Wilson G. Pond International Travel Award
- 2022 UK Animal and Food Science Outstanding PhD Student Award
- Multiple Plains Nutrition Conference awards (2020-2022)
- Certified Angus Beef Graduate Colvin Scholarship (2021)
- North Dakota Soybean Council and Livestock Endowment Foundation Scholarships (2019)
Dr. Trotta currently supervises 1 postdoctoral scholar, 2 visiting scholars, 1 M.S. student, and 5 undergraduate students. He teaches ASC 683: Protein Metabolism and ASC 689: Physiology of Nutrient Digestion and Absorption. His grant portfolio focuses on ruminant nutrition and physiology, with particular emphasis on improving starch digestion efficiency and understanding vascular responses to feed contaminants.
