July 18, 2023

Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award presented to University of Georgia recipient

Alltech is continuing its commitment to supporting the Poultry Science Association (PSA) in the United States and student research with the 23rd anniversary of the Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award.

This year's award recipient was Dr. Milan Sharma of the University of Georgia (US). Dr. Kayla Price, Canadian technical manager for Alltech, presented the award to Dr. Sharma during the PSA's annual meeting.

Alltech has sponsored this award since 2000, recognising young leaders in scientific innovation for their commitment to publishing and sharing their work in the poultry sector. It is given to a student who is the senior author of an outstanding research manuscript published in Poultry Science or the Journal of Applied Poultry Research.

"Innovation is the core of our business at Alltech, and we are proud to support students and the advancements they are making in the poultry industry," Dr. Price said. "We want to encourage students to not only complete the research, but also to share, communicate and amplify messages about their research."

Dr. Sharma's winning paper, entitled "Effects of mixed Eimeria challenge on performance, body composition, intestinal health, and expression of nutrient transporter genes of Hy-Line W-36 pullets (0-6 weeks of age)," was published by Poultry Science in 2022.

He graduated from Tribhuvan University with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2016. In 2020, he obtained a master's degree in Poultry Science from Mississippi State University under the mentorship of Dr. Pratima Adhikari. His master's research focused on the effect of different housing environments and laying hen strains on performance, eggshell and cloacal microbiology, and skeletal health of laying hens.

Dr. Sharma started his PhD in 2020 as well, in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia, under the mentorship of Dr. Woo Kyun Kim. There, he focused on nutritional strategies for improving the gastrointestinal and skeletal health of laying hens.

During his PhD studies, Dr. Sharma served as the university's ambassador to the Poultry Science Association Hatchery for the academic years 2021–22 and 2022–23.

- Alltech