Christina is a postdoctoral research associate studying the use of the gut microbiota as a tool to improve health.
Her research focuses on the bi-directional communication between the gut microbiota and different organ systems in the body, and how the gut microbiota can improve host health through the differing microbiome-gut-organ axes. Currently, she is exploring the effects probiotics and genetics have on the gut microbiota in humans. Previously, she conducted collaborative research to determine the efficacy of fecal matter transplantation on improving neural damage and functional deficits following a pediatric traumatic brain injury using a pig model. Additionally, she studied the effects preweaning vaccination and creep-feeding have on stabilizing the gut microbiota and supporting the immune system’s response to prevent bovine respiratory disease in beef calves post weaning.
Christina graduated in 2018 with her BS in Animal Science with minors in Biological Science and Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. She graduated in 2020 with her MS and in 2023 with her PhD in Animal and Dairy Science with a concentration in Microbiology from the University of Georgia.
When she is not in the laboratory, Christina enjoys going on walks with her dog, Bowie.
