Graduate Student Directory

Veterinary graduate and masters holder in the field of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology

Vinicius was awarded a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil in 2016. Vinicius’ expertise encompasses broad aspects of avian pathology and microbiology, including diagnostics, disease pathogenesis, and treatment. Current research interests focus upon evaluating the efficacy of live recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines against priority poultry pathogens. Specifically, Vinicius’ aims to control Campylobacter jejuni, avian pathogenic E. coli, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp.

Mentor: Dr Christopher Martyniuk

Mentor: Dr. Tracie Baker

David Kiiza has 15 years of technical and managerial leadership experience in academia, research for development, extension, and program management. He specializes in epidemiology and public health, disease surveillance, one health, infectious disease modeling, health economics, enhancing livestock value chain and nutrition security, and health policy. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. David passed his qualifying exam for his Ph.D. Candidacy in spring 2023 and has a good track record of academic excellence since he joined the University of Florida. David earned his master’s degree from Murdoch University in Australia. David is highly motivated, talented, impact-driven, an excellent listener, a relationship builder, and pragmatic. He is a fast learner with analytical skills, is socially sensitive, and builds networks. He manages complex environments, can work under pressure, and has strong coordination skills with the ability to work with multidisciplinary teams from diverse cultural backgrounds. He has worked in both government institutions and international non-government organizations as a team leader, researcher, development specialist, or lead consultant on several projects and programs in different areas including but not limited to animal health and production, epidemiology, disease surveillance, one health, health economics, disease modeling, disease diagnostics, food safety, and policy formulations funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), African Development Bank, Heifer International, ENABEL, FAO, CDC, USAID and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( former UKAID). David has unmatched skills in the design and delivery of epidemiologic studies of infectious diseases, disease modeling, risk assessment, economic assessment, people management, strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation. David has high enthusiasm and passion for evidence-based research to better inform policymakers to make informed decisions.

Bachelors of Science-University of Florida During my undergraduate career, I worked at the UF Large Animal Hospital as a treatment technician and research assistant for the UF Equine Performance Laboratory.

Masters of Health Science-University of Florida I moved on to complete a masters degree where I focused on One Health, to thoroughly discover the interconnections between animals, people, and the environment. I participated in toxicology research at the UF Honey Bee Laboratory.

Now I am continuing my education as a PhD student at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine where I will be focusing on how over-hydration via IV fluids and jejunal distention affects the absorption and secretion of the small intestine of the horse .

Francesca was born and raised in Marin County, CA. She attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for her undergraduate degree, where she received her B.Sc in Animal Science with a minor in Biology in 2016. After obtaining her degree, Francesca left San Luis Obispo to continue her veterinary education at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated from UC Davis in May 2020 with her DVM. Francesca completed a small animal rotating internship at Iowa State University in June 2021. She is currently a small animal surgery resident at the University of Florida and will finish residency July 2025. During her residency, she obtained a Master of Science degree at the University of Florida in August 2024. Her particular interests include minimally invasive surgery, interventional radiology, and academia.