Rate My Professor Heather White

White's research program centers on hepatic and whole-animal nutrient partitioning, metabolism, and health in dairy cattle during the transition to lactation. Her work elucidates mechanisms underlying glucose and energy metabolism, gluconeogenesis, TCA cycle function, feed efficiency via residual feed intake, and metabolic disorders such as ketosis and fatty liver, with translational implications for human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. She employs hepatocyte cell culture models and examines interventions like rumen-protected choline. White has garnered major awards including the ADSA Foundation Scholar Award (2019), Cargill Animal Nutrition Young Scientist Award (2017), AgSource Friend of the Cooperative Award (2017), American Dairy Science Association Midwest Branch Young Dairy Scholar (2011), and multiple teaching and research competition honors from Purdue University and ADSA. Notable publications encompass 'The role of TCA cycle anaplerosis in ketosis and fatty liver in periparturient dairy cows' (Animals, 2015), 'Symposium review: One-carbon metabolism and methyl donor nutrition in the dairy cow' (Journal of Dairy Science, 2020), 'Feeding value of glycerol as a replacement for corn grain in rations fed to lactating dairy cows' (Journal of Dairy Science, 2009), 'Relationships between body condition score change, prior mid-lactation phenotypic residual feed intake, and hyperketonemia onset in transition dairy cows' (Journal of Dairy Science, 2017), and 'Choline and methionine differentially alter methyl carbon metabolism in bovine neonatal hepatocytes' (PLoS One, 2017). Her contributions inform science-based feeding strategies and metabolic interventions enhancing dairy productivity and sustainability.