Asian students win 2009 Young Scientist Award

The award was presented to both young scientists during the company’s 25th International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Immune function and disease resistance in pigs

Tung M. Che, a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA submitted a paper examining the effects of mannan oligosaccharide on immune function and disease resistance in pigs is the overall graduate winner of the competition.

He holds a degree in animal science from Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and a masters degree in animal nutrition from Universiti Putra Malaysia in Malaysia.

New biomarker in anti-stress feed additives

Fan Liu, aged 24, of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China submitted a paper on HSP70 as a new biomarker in the development and evaluation of anti-stress feed additives is the overall winner in the undergraduate category.

Scientifically, his interests include reproductive and molecular nutrition. When he graduates, Fan Liu intends to pursue a PhD in animal nutrition.

Close competition

Dr Pearse Lyons, the company’s president and founder, spoke of a ‘very close competition which attracted many high calibre young scientists’. "At a time when we need the brightest young minds in the world to engage in scientific study, I am delighted to present this prestigious award to such talented young students."

Both scientists will be awarded prizes of $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

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From left to right: Paulo Rezende, corporate events manager, Dr Inge Russell, Young Scientist competition chair and professor at Herriot Watt University, Fan Liu, Nanjing Agricultural University, China, undergraduate winner of the Young Scientist Award 2009, Tung M. Che, University of Illinois, USA, graduate winner of the Young Scientist Award 2009, Dr Mark Lyons international projects director.