Maheswaran Fellowship

First recipient of Maheswaran Fellowship named

(January 3, 2012) - The inaugural Sam Maheswaran Fellowship in Food Animal Health, which recognizes a Ph.D. student of exceptional potential whose thesis research has made a significant contribution to the beef, dairy, pork, or turkey industry, has been awarded to Dr. Cesar Corzo, a third-year Ph.D. student in the veterinary medicine graduate program.

Co-advised by Drs. Bob Morrison and Marie Gramer, Corzo is an active contributor in the Swine Center whose research focuses on understanding the epidemiology of swine influenza virus at both the herd and regional levels. His research is generating baseline data on the presence of influenza viruses in pig populations throughout the upper Midwest by conducting active surveillance. He is also working to characterize the generation of influenza airborne particles from experimentally and naturally infected pigs. He has co-authored four manuscripts since beginning his Ph.D. studies.

Corzo hails from Bogota, Colombia, where he earned his D.V.M. at the Universidad de La Salle in 2002. Prior to enrolling in the graduate program, he worked for three years at Elanco. He plans to combine applied research with field experience to provide swine veterinarians and public health teams with key information for virus transmission prevention.

Dr. Sam Maheswaran is a CVM alumnus and retired faculty member who remains actively involved in graduate program initiatives. The Sam Maheswaran Fellowship was established with lead gifts from Dr. Randy and Susan Simonson, Newport Laboratories, Drs. Trevor and Kathy Ames, and Dr. Sam Maheswaran.