Faculty

A. HNFAS Graduate Faculty

Buckley, Brent A. (Ph.D., 1985, University of Nebraska at Lincoln)
Dr. Buckley is an associate professor and extension specialist in animal science leading and coordinating beef cattle extension activities. His expertise and training are in the areas of beef cattle genetics and management. Extension efforts are concentrated in the areas of production and financial records, marketing, reproduction and pasture nutrition. In addition, he is project leader of a beef cattle genetics project to develop and evaluate a composite beef breed suitable for Hawaii and other sub-tropical areas. Additional areas of research interest are in energy metabolism and maintenance requirements of beef cattle.
Telephone: (808) 956-7090 e-mail: buckley@hawaii.edu

Carpenter, James R. (Ph.D., 1976, Cornell University)
Dr. Carpenter’s primary research emphasis areas include basic and applied investigations on ruminant nutrition and physiology. His work focuses on the evaluation of forages and by-products for ruminant feedstuffs, and the optimization of fiber and protein utilization for growth and lactation. Other areas of interest include livestock production technology (including management system, supplementation techniques and computer simulation), and soil-plant-animal interactions under various grazing systems. His current research projects include studies on the effects of stressors (dietary and environmental) on the metabolism, behavior, reproduction and health of dairy and beef cattle, and ways to minimize these adverse effects. He also is conducting trials to determine the impact of plant physical properties and cell wall structure in rate and extent of digestion. Dr. Carpenter is very actively involved in both undergraduate and graduate education through teaching, coordinating the internship program, advising and other academic affairs activities. He recently received the National Association of College Teachers in Agriculture “Teaching Award of Merit” and the University of Hawaii at Manoa “Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching.”
Telephone: (808) 956-8393 e-mail: cjim@hawaii.edu

Kim, Yong-Soo (Ph.D., 1988, University of California at Davis)
Dr. Kim is an assistant animal scientist with major interests in muscle biology and meat science. Dr. Kim’s research interest ranges from manipulation of animal growth and carcass composition to carcass and meat quality evaluation. Current research projects include investigation of factors regulating protein synthesis, degradation, and growth in skeletal muscle and immunological approaches to improve animal production. He has been using techniques such as flooding dose of radioisotope to measure the fractional rate of protein synthesis, and radioligand binding assay and autoradiography to measure the density of ß-adrenoceptors and to localize ß-adrenoceptors. Currently, he is using the Northern blot assays to study the expression of mRNA for ß-adrenoceptors and skeletal muscle proteins.
Telephone: (808) 956-8335 e-mail: ykim@hawaii.edu

Lee, Chin N. (Ph.D., 1984, University of Wisconsin)
Dr. Lee’s major area is dairy research and extension. His interests include dairy reproduction, dairy production and management, the synchronization of estrus, postpartum anestrus, corpus luteum development, and gonadotropin receptors.
Telephone: (808) 956-4882 e-mail: chinl@hawaii.edu

Malecha, Spencer R. (Ph.D., 1973, University of Hawaii)
Dr. Malecha’s interests include aquaculture management systems, breeding, domestication, genetics, and the physiological and behavioral bases of growth.
Telephone: (808) 956-8286 e-mail: smal1113@aol.com

Thorne, Mark S. (Ph.D., 2002, Colorado State University)
Telephone: (808) 887-6183 e-mail: thornem@hawaii.edu

Vincent, Douglas L. (Ph.D., 1983, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Dr. Vincent is currently the Assistant Director for Research in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Dr. Vincent is also an animal scientist with major interests in the reproductive endocrinology of domestic animals. His expertise and research interest ranges from regulation of corpus luteum function during the maternal recognition of pregnancy of domestic ruminants to the impact of the environment on reproductive efficiency. He has two areas of interest: first, the role of progesterone in the regulation of prostaglandin F2a during the sheep estrous cycle and, second, the impact of grazing systems on reproductive efficiency in beef cattle. Specifically, Dr. Vincent is looking at the effect of grazing pastures with high legume content on the onset of puberty as well as the post partum rebreeding performance of beef cattle on these pastures. In the past, Dr. Vincent has used HPLC methodologies to evaluate the concentrations of isoflavonic phytoestrogens in tropical forages. Dr. Vincent was a 1992 recipient of the University of Hawaii Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching and the 1998 Ka Pouhana (mentor) Award in CTAHR. He also serves on the University of Hawaii Animal Care and Use Committee and is particularly interested in animal welfare and animal well being issues. Due to Dr. Vincent’s administrative assignment, he is not taking on any new graduate students. He will serve, however, on graduate student committees.
Telephone: (808) 956-9114 e-mail: vincent@hawaii.edu

Weems, Charles W. (Ph.D., 1975, West Virginia University)
Establishment of pregnancy, maintenance of pregnancy and hormonal regulation of placental function and fetal growth during the last third of pregnancy represent research areas where the greatest improvement in production efficiency can be achieved. Establishment and maintenance of pregnancy involves hormonal, paracrine and cytokine signals of embryonic, fetal or maternal origin to maintain function of the corpus luteum and placenta. In sheep and cattle, this involves at least regulation of steroid secretion (progesterone, estradiol-17ß), prostaglandins, and pregnancy specific protein B secretion and their interaction. These influence implantation, uterine capacity and embryo transfer, and are perturbed by environmental and microbial-induced loss of pregnancy. Dr. Weems’ group has published 10 refereed journal articles in the last three years. In addition, Dr. Weems is Endocrinology Editor for the refereed journal Prostaglandins.
Telephone: (808) 956-8337 e-mail: weems@hawaii.edu

Yang, Jinzeng (Ph.D., 2000, University of Alberta)

Dr. Yang’s research interest is animal molecular biology and biotechnology. Skeletal muscle is an integrative part of animal body and movement. The enhanced double muscling of beef cattle results from myostatin gene mutations. Dr. Yang and his collaborators have demonstrated that expression of myostatin prodomain transgene effectively blocks myostatin activity, resulting in 40% increase carcass muscle mass in transgenic mice (Yang, et al. 2001. Mol Reprod. Dev. 60: 351-361). His research group is currently focusing on myostatin and other key regulatory factors in skeletal muscle to understand molecular regulation of animal growth and metabolism. In addition, he is also interested in development of efficient animal transgenic and cloning technologies for biomedical research and agricultural application.
Telephone: (808) 956-6073 e-mail: jinzeng@hawaii.edu

Zaleski, Halina M. (Ph.D., 1992, University of Guelph)
Dr. Zaleski’s major extension and research area is swine production and management. Areas of major concern to Hawaii’s swine producers and swine industry organizations have been identified in the Swine Industry Analysis. Her primary extension focus is the use of production performance records, both for individual producers and to establish a current database for the swine industry in Hawaii. The PigCHAMP program is used to provide record keeping and analysis for swine producers. Production and financial data from producers are used to develop performance parameters for reproductive, growth and economic efficiency in Hawaii. Extension efforts also address current challenges to the swine industry, including waste management. Dr. Zaleski’s area of current research interest is reproductive efficiency and physiology, particularly those factors, including relaxin and oxygen, affecting the progress of parturition and neonatal viability. New approaches are being developed to understand fetal-maternal interactions during parturition.
Telephone: (808) 956-7594 e-mail: halina@hawaii.edu

B. Associate Faculty

Shannon Atkinson (Ph.D., 1985, Murdoch University, Australia) Marine Mammals
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
Telephone: (800) 224-2525 e-mail: shannon_atkinson@alaskasealife.org

Joannie Dobbs (Ph.D., 1983, University of California – Davis) Domestic Animals, Avian and
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences Wildlife Nutrition
Telephone: (808) 956-3845 e-mail: dobbs@hawaii.edu

E. Gordon Grau (Ph.D., 1978, University of Delaware) Aquaculture Endocrinology
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
Telephone: (808) 956-3014 e-mail: sq-direct@soest.hawaii.edu

Yoshie Weems (Ph.D., 1994, University of Hawaii at Manoa) Reproductive Endocrinology
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
Telephone: (808) 956-7581 e-mail: yweems@hawaii.edu

C. Affiliate Faculty

Brad Argue (Ph.D., 1996, Auburn University) Aquacultural Genetics
Oceanic Institute
Telephone: (808) 259-3122 e-mail: argueb001@hawaii.rr.com

William C. Bergin (D.V.M., 1967, Kansas State University) Veterinary Medicine

James A. Brock (D.V.M., 1977, Washington State University) Aquatic Diseases
Department of Land and Natural Resources
e-mail: brockj001@hawaii.rr.com

Olivier Decamp (Ph.D., 1996, Leicester University, UK) Aquaculture Microbiology
Oceanic Institute
Telephone: (808)259-3122 e-mail: odecamp@yahoo.com

Ian Forster (Ph.D., 1993, University of Washington) Aquaculture Feeds and Nutrition
Oceanic Institute
Telephone: (808) 259-3122 e-mail: iforster@oceanicinstitute.org

Charles Laidley (Ph.D., 1995, University of Texas – Austin) Aquaculture Reproductive
Oceanic Institute Endocrinology
Telephone: (808) 259-3122 e-mail: claidley@oceanicinstitute.org

Bruce W. Mathews (Ph.D., 1992, University of Florida)
CAFNRM, UHH
Telephone: (808) 974-7393 e-mail: bmathews@hawaii.edu

Shaun Moss (Ph.D., 1993, University of Hawaii at Manoa) Aquaculture Production and
Oceanic Institute Shrimp Program
Telephone: (808) 259-3122 e-mail: smoss@oceanicinstitute.org

Ben Okimoto (D.V.M., 1980, Kansas State University) Exotic Animal Husbandry and
Honolulu Zoo Diseases
Telephone: (808) 971-7180 e-mail:

Anthony Ostrewski (Ph.D., 1987, Michigan State University) Aquaculture Feeds and Nutrition
Oceanic Institute
Telephone: (808) 259-3122 e-mail: aostrewski@oceanicinstitute.org

Barbara A. Rasco (Ph.D., 1983, University of Massachusetts)
Food Science and Human Nutrition, WSU
Telephone: (509) 335-1858 e-mail: rasco@wsu.edu

Larry C. Rawson (D.V.M., 1983, Kansas State University)
D.A. Division of Animal Industry, and CTAHR
Telephone: (808) 483-7119 e-mail: lcrawson@gte.net

Albert Tacon (Ph.D., 1978, University College, Cardiff, Wales, UK) Aquaculture Feeds and Nutrition
Oceanic Institute
Telephone: (808) 259-3122 e-mail: agjtacon@aol.com

Lee Ann Woodward ((Ph.D., 1999, University of California – Davis)
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Telephone: (808) 541-1699, ext. 187 e-mail: lee_ann_woodward@rl.fws.gov

Thierry M. Work (D.V.M., 1988, University of California – Davis)
US Geological Survey Nat’l Wildlife Health Center (USGS-NWHC)
Telephone: (808) 541-3445