TEAGASC - Agriculture and Food Development Authority

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Curriculum Vitae Stephen T. Butler Contact details:  Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research & Innovation Centre                               Moorepark, Fermoy                               Co. Cork                                Phone: +353-25-42252                                Email: stephen.butler@teagasc.ie Career Summary Seventeen years experience in dairy cattle research, including pasture-based systems in Ireland and high-input systems in the USA. Currently leads the Teagasc research programme on dairy cow reproduction. Comprehensive knowledge of dairy cattle reproduction and nutrition, and has conducted research to focus on the interaction between animal nutritional status and animal reproduction. Has conducted novel research to identify the specific defects that contribute to sub-fertility in lactating dairy cows by generating a unique genetic model of good and poor fertility. Scientific lead and co-ordinator of Teagasc involvement in 2013 sexed semen field trial. Has forged strong collaborative links with scientists in Ireland, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Major Achievements Currently has 47 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Principal organizer the Moorepark Fertility Conference for the Irish dairy industry and the Dairy Cow Fertility Workshop for veterinarians in April 2012. Invited/keynote speaker at international conferences in Europe, USA, Asia and Australia. Work package leader on the FP7 project PROLIFIC awarded in 2012 Principal supervisor to completion of one post-doctoral researcher, five Ph.D. students and two Masters students working on diverse areas of dairy cattle reproduction and nutrition. Reproductive Physiology Section Editor at Livestock Science. Recipient of the Cornell University Maynard Award in 2003 in recognition of his outstanding graduate student achievements.   Educational Background 2011   M.Sc. in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National University of Ireland, Cork (1st hons) 2004   Ph.D. in Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Major: Physiology of Reproduction; Minors: Nutritional Biochemistry and Animal Nutrition. 1999   M.Agr.Sc. in Animal Science and Production, National University of Ireland, Dublin. 1997   B.Agr.Sc. in Animal and Crop Production, National University of Ireland, Dublin (2.1 hons)   Work History Employer:   Teagasc                            Location:         Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork. Job Title:     Principal Research Officer (Jul 2014 to date)                      Research Officer (Nov 2004 to Jun 2014) Responsibilities:  Devising and implementing research projects, mentoring postgraduate students (masters and PhD) and postdoctoral researchers, supervising technical support staff, securing competitive funding grants, submitting manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, lecturing to undergraduate students, contributing to Teagasc activities across a diverse range of areas.   Employer:   Cornell University       Location:         Ithaca, NY, USA. Job Title:     Teaching and Research Assistant Duration:     August 1999 – Aug 2004 Responsibilities:   Devising and implementing research projects, lecturing to undergraduate students and running laboratory practicals, submitting manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.   Summary of relevant skills Animal Experience Completed numerous experiments on dairy cattle in pursuit of M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees, and subsequently as a researcher in Teagasc. Acquired expertise in the areas of ovarian ultrasonography, follicular aspiration and oocyte pick-up, jugular catheterization and blood collection, carrying out long term infusion studies, performing liver, muscle, adipose, endometrial and luteal biopsies. Laboratory Experience Comprehensive knowledge of a broad range of laboratory research and diagnostic procedures. These include RIA, protein iodination, ELISA, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, gel staining, western blotting, RNA extraction and purification, analysis of gene expression by real time RT-PCR and northern blotting, library preparation for RNA-Seq analysis. Statistical and Bioinformatic Analysis Comprehensive knowledge of SAS, R, NCSS and Minitab software packages.  Completed courses on experimental design and data analysis (UCC and Wageningen University, Netherlands) in addition to postgraduate classes on statistical methods (Cornell University and UCC). Proficient in the use of R for a range of bioinformatic analyses, including microarray and RNA-Seq studies. Management Completed courses on project management and time management while working with Teagasc. Managed the daily activities and workload of one post-doctoral researcher, four Ph.D. students and two Masters students to completion. Currently principal supervisor to three Ph.D. students, and co-supervising an additional three Ph.D. students. References available upon request.