DR. PATRICIA GAUNT PRESENTED PFIZER ANIMAL HEALTH AWARD
FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Dr. Patricia S. Gaunt, Associate Professor of Aquatic Animal Health at MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, received the 2007 Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence. This is a peer-selection award recognizing an outstanding researcher in the field of veterinary medicine.  Dr. Gaunt specializes in the area of aquatic pharmacology and toxicology at the Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory, National Warmwater Aquaculture Center.  The award was presented by Dr. Jerald Ainsworth, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.

Dr. BRIAN SMALL RECIPIENT OF THE 2007 U.S. AQUACULTURE SOCIETY
EARLY CAREER AWARD

Dr. Brian Small from the USDA Catfish Genetics Research Unit at Stoneville, Mississippi was the 2007 recipient of the U.S. Aquaculture Society Early Career Award. In a career that spanned only 9 years at the time, Dr. Small had 35 peer-reviewed papers, 50 published abstracts, and 12 additional papers in symposium papers and popular publications. His work has had an impact on catfish production practices in the area of egg and embryo survival, and on catfish genetic improvement through the identification of genes regulating economically important traits. In 2006, he was named USDA ARS Mid-South Area Early Career Research Scientist Award Winner.

DR. MENGHE LI NAMED 2007 OUTSTANDING MAFES WORKER

Dr. Menghe H. Li, Research Professor at the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center in Stoneville, was honored with the Outstanding MAFES Worker Award presented by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station during the organizations' Nov. 5-7 joint annual conference. The awards are sponsored by the Farm Credit System in Mississippi.  Participants in the award ceremony include (from left) Land Bank of North Mississippi loan officer Matthew Raff; Jane Parish; Menghe H. Li; Land Bank South Senior Vice President Gary Blair; and MSU Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Vance Watson.

DR. CRAIG TUCKER RECEIVES 2007 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Dr. Craig Tucker, Research Professor and Director of the National Warmwater Aquaculture Center was among three College of Forest Resources faculty members honored recently with outstanding achievement awards. Receiving the 2007 awards are (l-r) Wildlife and Fisheries Professor and Interim Associate Dean Richard M. Kaminski for service, Wildlife and Fisheries Professor Craig Tucker for research, and Forestry Professor Robert Parker for teaching. The awards were presented at the college's annual advisory banquet.  (Nov 29, 2007)

DR. ED ROBINSON AND DR. MENGHE LI
RECOGNIZED FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS AND
FOR "MOST RELEVANT PUBLICATION TO MISSISSIPPI"

STONEVILLE -- The research of two Delta professors has the potential to save Mississippi catfish producers an estimated $5 million to $8 million annually.  Now the researchers are being awarded for their contributions.   Ed Robinson and Menghe Li are research professors in catfish nutrition at the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center's National Warmwater Aquaculture Center in Stoneville.

They recently received the “most relevant publication to Mississippi” award from the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station.  Their publication, “A Summary of Catfish Nutrition Research Conducted under a Cooperative Agreement between MAFES and Delta Western Research Center,” documents ways to reduce catfish feed costs.  The research was a collaborative effort between MSU and Delta Western.

Robinson and Li also have been named researchers of the year in additional awards. Robinson received the award of researcher of the year from MAFES, and Li received a researcher of the year award from MSU's College of Forest Resources.  “It's nice to be recognized, and the awards provide encouragement to continue to work hard,” Robinson said. “It's also good for the research group. All the data are the work of a lot of people.”  Li also noted the contribution of his research group in earning the recognitions.  “I was honored to receive the awards,” Li said. “They recognized not just me, but the hard work of the researchers, support staff and pond crew in the catfish nutrition program.”  Tucker said that as a result of Robinson and Li's contributions to catfish nutrition research, dietary protein levels have been reduced and vitamin and mineral requirements have been refined.

Released: Dec. 8, 2005
Writer: Robert H. Wells, Delta Research and Extension Center

DR. DAVID WISE NAMED
2004 OUTSTANDING MAFES WORKER

Dr. David Wise, a research scientist at NWAC, has been named the 2004 Outstanding Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Worker. 

Dr. Wise leads a team at NWAC which researches the causes and treatment of fish diseases and assesses and develops treatments for new diseases potentially threatening to the catfish industry. 

Wise, a native of Austin, Texas, earned his bachelor's degree in aquatic biology at Southwest Texas State University and a doctorate and master's in microbiology and aquaculture, fisheries and wildlife, respectively, at Clemson University.

DR. JIMMY AVERY RECEIVES
MSU ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

Dr. Jimmy Avery was honored during the 40th annual faculty recognition program sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association with presentation of the Service Award.

Dr. Avery is Extension Aquaculture Leader at NWAC and is responsible for education and technology transfer to commercial producers and infrastructure personnel.  Dr. Avery develops educational publications and conducts workshops as well as assists aquaculture commodity associations and individual producers through the Delta.