Our Team

Meet Our Team

Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner - Principal Investigator

Photo by: Lisa Hippe

Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner is a Professor in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Karen grew up on a small hog farm near Herbert, Saskatchewan. She completed her B.Sc. (thesis – Equine Behaviour), M.Sc. (Alternative Housing Systems for Laying Hens) and her PhD (Impact of Daylength on Broiler Production and Welfare) at the University of Saskatchewan. During the time of and after completing her Ph.D., she managed the University of Saskatchewan Poultry Research and Teaching Centre, giving her considerable experience in the production aspects of poultry production. She is also heavily involved in teaching poultry sciences, including production and management, but also behaviour and welfare of poultry and other livestock species.

Staff

Tory Shynkaruk MSc - Research Assistant

Tory was born and raised in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. She completed her B.Sc at the University of Saskatchewan. Continuing at the U of S, she completed her M.Sc. looking at the impact of darkness on feeding behaviour, production, and GIT segment and content weights of broiler chickens under the supervision of Dr. Schwean-Lardner.

Kailyn Beaulac MSc - Research Assistant
(on Maternity Leave until September 2023)

Kailyn was raised on a farm near Spruce Home, Saskatchewan. She completed her B.Sc. at the University of Saskatchewan as well as her M.Sc. with Dr. Schwean-Lardner examining the effects of stocking density on heavy turkey tom productivity, health, and wellbeing to 16 weeks of age.

Dr. Carolin Adler - POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Carolin was born in Cologne, Germany, and completed her B.Sc. (Agricultural Science), M.Sc. (Animal Science), and PhD (Agricultural Science) at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn. The focus of her PhD was the evaluation of an innovative housing system in broiler production based on two different flooring types. Before starting as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan, she worked as head of the poultry team at the Agricultural Chamber of North Rhine-Westphalia, which serves as an interface between politics, economics, science, and practice in Germany.

Current Students

Sameeha Jhetam - PhD Candidate

Sameeha was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa before moving to Calgary, AB. She completed her BSc in Animal Bioscience and her MSc, "The effects of stocking density on turkey hen production, health, and welfare", at the University of Saskatchewan. Her PhD project focuses on chick well-being at the hatchery and during transport.

Dilshaan Duhra - PhD Candidate

Shaan was born and raised in Surrey, British Columbia. He completed his Animal Bioscience and MSc degrees at the University of Saskatchewan. His MSc was titled "Yellow mealworm larvae (tenebrio molitor)grown on deoxynivalenol-contaminated wheat as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens". His PhD is looking at nutritional mitigation of heat stress in broiler chickens.

Samantha McPhee - MSc Candidate

Samantha was born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia. She completed her BSc in Animal Bioscience at the University of Saskatchewan and worked as a summer student at the Poultry Centre on campus. She is currently working on her MSc looking at the effects of LED light flicker on pullet health and production to 16 weeks of age.

April Hammond - MSc Candidate

April comes to us from Wainwright, Alberta. She received her Animal Bioscience degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Her MSc project is looking at the impact of light flicker on turkey hens reared to 11 weeks of age.

Bailey Munson - MSc Candidate

Bailey Munson is from Churchbridge, Saskatchewan. She received her Animal Bioscience degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Her MSc project focuses on the impact of transportation on turkey hens and toms.

SUMMER STUDENTS

Annette Gaudet (left) is from Bellevue, SK and Keara Leong-Machielse (right) is from Big River, SK. They both recently competed their AnBio undergraduate degrees at the University of Saskatchewan. The girls will be busy helping with the turkey transportation research project this summer.