From the West Coast to West Virginia, Taryn Chima, a graduate student at West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is advancing research through the American Lamb Board Fellowship.
The American Lamb Board Fellowship is funded by the research and promotion arm of the U.S. sheep industry. This funding supports Chima’s graduate research at WVU, allowing her to focus on large-scale sheep health data analysis.
“The American Lamb Board Fellowship has been a truly transformative part of my educational journey,” Chima said. “I grew up in Yuba City, a small agricultural town in Northern California, where my family has lived since the 1920s. With generations of farming peaches, walnuts, and almonds, I was raised firmly as a crops kid but came to realize that animal science was where I belonged.”
Chima earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from California State University, Chico, where an introductory course with her professor, Celina Phillips, led her to the Patton Family Sheep Unit and her first hands-on experience with sheep.
Through a connection with Wes Patton, emeritus faculty at California State University, she met Scott Bowdridge, program coordinator of Animal and Nutritional Sciences and professor of Food and Animal Production at WVU Davis College, who introduced her to impactful sheep research and a graduate opportunity at WVU.
Initially hesitating, Chima reconnected with Bowdridge at the American Sheep Industry Conference, where he told her about the American Lamb Board Graduate Fellowship. This fellowship inspired her to pursue graduate studies at WVU under Bowdridge.
Since arriving at WVU, Chima has taken on a significant role in sheep health research, processing more than 1,000 blood samples in just two semesters.
Chima’s research focuses on host-parasite interactions and immune responses in sheep, with the goal of improving disease resistance through innovative genetic selection. Specifically, she evaluates antibody response to CD&T vaccination as a practical and reliable indicator of immune competence.
Bowdridge explained that this vaccine is nothing new; it’s simply used to measure how well the lambs respond to a routine booster by looking at antibody levels in the blood one week later.
“That response gives us a simple way to start finding sheep that may be naturally healthier,” Bowdridge said.
Through identifying sheep with stronger natural immune responses, the research aims to reduce the need for medical interventions, including antibiotics, while improving overall sheep health.
“This work has the potential to contribute to the development of a health index that incorporates immune responsiveness into genetic selection programs,” Chima said.
Chima’s research has already resulted in three peer-reviewed publications and two articles, in the Journal of Animal Science.
“Reflecting on this journey from someone who had never seen a sheep before attending Chico State to conducting impactful research within the industry at WVU, it has been incredibly rewarding,” Chima said. “Receiving the American Lamb Board Graduate Fellowship has truly brought my experience full circle.”
The American Lamb Board Fellowship that funds Chima’s graduate education was awarded through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
To continue building off Chima’s success, the American Lamb Board is providing additional funding through the WVU Research Corporation. This additional funding includes $129,000 to continue research on approximately 10,000 sheep across the United States over the next two years and support another graduate student’s research success like Chima’s.
The Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources envisions a West Virginia with healthy food, resilient natural resources, and thriving communities. To learn more about the Davis College, visit davis.wvu.edu. Keep up with the latest updates and news on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube by following @WVUDavis.
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an/05/18/2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Aden Nickerson
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