Dr. Robert Rhoads, Jr.
Assistant Professor
Agricultural Research Center
4101 North Campbell Ave
Tucson, AZ 85719
Office: (520) 319-5704
Fax: (520) 795-1592
Email: rhoadsr@email.arizona.edu
Degrees
- Ph.D., Cornell University, Animal Science
- M.S., Cornell University, Animal Science
- B.S., Cornell University, Animal Science
- A.S., Cayuga Community College, Math and Science
The Department of Animal Sciences was pleased to welcome Dr. Robert Rhoads Jr. to the position of Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology in October 2006. Dr. Rhoads is a native of Fairfax County, Virginia who attended Cornell University. Dr. Rhoads came to the University of Arizona Department of Animal Sciences to work as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in muscle biology under Dr. Ron Allen. He held that position until October 2006, when he was hired into his new position as Assistant Professor.
Dr. Rhoads will potentially develop and teach two new Animal Science courses: Growth and development; and Molecular techniques for animal biologists.
Research Interests
Research focus falls under the overarching theme of improving animal health and the efficiency of animal production in agriculturally important animals through the investigation into muscle biology. Areas of interest include: 1) muscle growth and development with a focus on the contribution of the satellite cell and myonuclei towards muscle hypertrophy 2) the role of muscle in metabolism and support of lactation 3) the ability of the satellite cell to coordinate communication between myogenic, angiogenic and immune cells during muscle repair. To better understand optimal muscle growth and metabolism, dietary manipulation, thermal and immune stressors are employed and mechanistic detail underlying the interaction between genetic and environmental factors is identified using a combination of physiological, biochemical and molecular approaches.
Grants
CURRENT- USDA NRI Competitive Grants Program, Reevaluating the Temperature Humidity Index for Lactating Dairy Cattle, Co-PI.
- Muscular Dystrophy Association, Satellite Cells Stimulate Angiogenesis in Skeletal Muscle, Co-PI.
- NIH/NIA, Satellite Cell Roles in Skeletal Muscle Repair During Aging, Co-PI.
Selected Publications
- Rhoads RP, X Liu, T Cardinal, C Temm-Grove, SM Sheehan, M Morales, JB Hoying and RE Allen. 2006. Satellite cells promote angiogenesis: A capacity diminished with aging. (Manuscript in preparation).
- Rhoads RP, JW Kim, LH Baumgard, ME Van Amburgh and YR Boisclair. 2006. Nutritional modulation of rbST responsiveness in liver and adipose tissue of late-lactating dairy cows. (Manuscript in preparation).
- MJ Meyer, RP Rhoads, AV Capuco, EE Connor, YR Boisclair, and ME Van Amburgh. 2006. Ontogenic and nutritional regulation of steroid receptor and IGF-I transcript abundance in the prepubertal bovine mammary gland. (submitted).
- Kim JW, RP Rhoads, N Segoale, NB Kristensen, DE Bauman and YR Boisclair. 2006. Isolation of the cDNA encoding the acid-labile subunit (ALS) of the 150 kDa IGF-binding protein complex in cattle and ALS regulation during the transition from preganacy to lactation. J. Endocrinol. 189(3):583-593.
- Rhoads ML, RP Rhoads, RO Gilbert, R Toole and WR Butler. 2006. Detrimental effects of high plasma urea nitrogen levels on viability of embryos from lactating dairy cows. Anim Reprod Sci 91:1-10.
- Baumgard LH, JK Kay, CE Moore, MJ VanBaale and RP Rhoads. 2005. Mechanisms regulating milk fat synthesis: potential on-farm applications of basic science. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 65: 33-39.
- Spiers DE, JN Spain, JD Sampson and RP Rhoads. 2004. Use of physiological parameters to predict milk yield and feed intake in heat-stressed dairy cows. J Therm Biol. 29:759-764.
- Rhoads RP, JW Kim, BJ Leury, LH Baumgard, N Segoale, SJ Frank, DE Bauman and YR Boisclair. 2004. Insulin increases the abundance of the growth hormone receptor in liver and adipose of periparturient dairy cows. J Nutr. 134:1020-1027.
- Kim JW, RP Rhoads, SS Block, TR Overton, SJ Frank and YR Boisclair. 2004. Dairy cows experience selective reduction of the hepatic growth hormone receptor during the periparturient period. J. Endocrinol. 181(2):281-290.
Animal Research Center
4101 N. Campbell Ave.
Phone 520-795-1592
