Kristine Urschel serves as Assistant Dean for Instruction and Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Science at the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Since joining the faculty in 2008 with a 60% research and 40% teaching appointment, she has established a prominent research program focused on equine nutrition and physiology, particularly protein and amino acid metabolism across the equine lifespan. Her educational background includes a Post-doctoral Fellowship at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2008), a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Alberta (2007) with thesis research on arginine metabolism in neonatal piglets, and a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Alberta (2002) where she received the Dean's Medal in Agriculture as the top graduate in the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics. Dr. Urschel's research investigates protein and amino acid requirements in horses of all ages, with particular emphasis on muscle protein synthesis regulation and aging effects. She employs advanced methodologies including isotopic tracer techniques, HPLC, Western blot, ELISA, RT-PCR, and physiological assays such as hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps to study metabolic responses to diet, disease, and physiological states. Her work bridges comparative animal nutrition with clinical equine applications. Analysis of her publication record (2005-2014) reveals consistent focus on metabolic regulation in equines and comparative models, with recent work examining insulin dynamics, amino acid utilization, and aging impacts on protein synthesis. Key thematic areas include metabolic disorders like equine Cushing's disease, dietary protein optimization across life stages, and interspecies differences in amino acid metabolism. Her significant scientific recognition includes: Multiple American Society of Nutrition awards (2005-2007) including Procter & Gamble Graduate Student Competition wins Banff Pork Seminar Graduate Student Competition victory (2007) Canadian Society of Animal Science Graduate Student Oral Presentation First Place (2005) Dean's Medal in Agriculture as undergraduate top student While specific grant details aren't provided, her research program involves extensive collaboration with veterinary scientists and nutrition researchers. She mentors graduate students through research projects and teaches core courses including Animal Physiology, Equine Science, and Macronutrient Metabolism, integrating her laboratory findings into pedagogy. Her research environment features specialized capabilities for conducting metabolic studies including isotopic tracer techniques, physiological clamp procedures, and advanced biochemical analyses on equine subjects, supporting investigations into nutrient requirements throughout the horse's lifespan from weanlings to geriatric animals.
