Principal Investigator
Dr. Alex Yitbarek
Assistant Professor
Research interests include avian immunology, microbiome–immune and host–pathogen interactions, and novel poultry vaccines and delivery systems.
Current Students
Sadique Abdallah
PhD Student (2025 – Present)
Focusing on host–microbiome interactions in poultry with implications for gut health and productivity.
Aaliyah Smith
MSc Student (2024 – Present)
Working on nutrient-microbiota-immune relationships in broilers, with an interest in sustainable feed additives.
Donnell Boney Jr.
MSc (Non-Thesis): Project Advising (2025)
Pursuing an MSc in Animal Science with 8 years of experience working with avian species, both wildlife and domestic. Current work includes microbiome–immune interaction studies and feed additive trials in broilers.
Career goal: R&D in animal pharmaceuticals and nutrition.Violet Geary
Summer Student – UD Envision (2025)
The role of iron in Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis.
Lab Alumni
Ayobami Aboderin
MSc Student (2023 – 2025)
McGill University
Dr. Atul Jadhav
MSc Student (2023 – 2025)
McGill University
Makalah Wolfe
Summer Student – UD Envision (2024)
University of Delaware