Awards and Promotions - 2005

T.J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award

(Pictured at Left: Buddy Mitchell, Lannett Edwards, Dr. Whatley, Dr. Klindt)

Award Description

This award, established by Dr. Thomas Whatley, Associate Dean Emeritus, Agricultural Experiment Station, recognizes a young scientist who has less than 12 years of professional experience with a minimum of five years of service on the Institute of Agriculture faculty.

Citation

Dr. Lannett Edward is our 2005 award winner. She has been with the UT Ag Institute since 1998, and serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science. Her work over the years has focused on the development of novel cloning techniques, using Jersey cattle as a model. The birth of Millie in 1999, and numerous other cloned cattle since then has brought unprecedented recognition to UT.

Dr. Edwards and her team deserve tremendous credit not only for their work in bringing these clones to life, but in developing practical uses for their research. Information gained from this on-going project helps producers have a better understanding of animal health, and is critical in the fight against mastitis – a disease that costs the dairy industry billions of dollars a year. Also, as part of her active research programs, Dr. Edwards has served as an advisor to five MS graduate students, and works on a number of MS and PhD graduate committees. She has also been successful in securing more than two million dollars in grants for UT in her time here.