Congratulations to the 2024 ADC Young Dairy Scientist winner Laura Jensen who is currently extending her 
studies and research with Dairy Bio.
Laura is researching how to identify and reduce heat stress in cows at La Trobe University. Past recipients of this award have gone on to forge stellar careers and we wish her all the best.
Finalists in the 2024 ADC Young Dairy Scientist Competition included:
- Komahan Sivanandarajah, Massey University, New Zealand
- Boris Sepulveda, La Trobe Univerity
- Laura Jensen, Dairy Bio
- Hiren Bhadani
- Pia Benedetti Vallenari, University of Tasmania
2024 Winner: Laura Jensen, Dairy Bio
Laura Jensen joined Dairy Bio in January 2023 under the guidance of Prof Jennie Pryce. Laura’s upbringing on a 150-cow registered Guernsey farm in northern Wisconsin fostered an interest in breeding and genetics along with her involvement in shows and dairy judging. Laura pursued her Master of Science in Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Florida. She collaborated with Dr. Pete Hansen and Dr. Jennie Pryce to explore the effectiveness of the Australian breeding value for heat tolerance (ABVHT) in US herds. The study revealed that ABVHT could predict cows that maintain a lower body temperature under heat stress. In Australia, Laura began her PhD with Prof Pryce on heat tolerance research, specifically on developing novel phenotypes from sensor technologies.
A big thank you to Award sponsor Gardiner Foundation who continue to provide opportunity through research, development and extension in the dairy industry.