New Moves Strengthen Cobb Research and Development Team
US - Two senior appointments have been made by Cobb-Vantress to strengthen its research and development team.
19 March 2015
3 minute read
By: Dr Anu Frank-Lawale, who has wide experience across a range of species, joins the team as pedigree geneticist, while Dr Frank Siewerdt moves from this role to become director of genetics responsible for the Cobb genetic programme.
Dr Mitch Abrahamsen, Cobb vice president of R&D, said: “As Cobb continues to grow and invest in our research and development programme, we are excited to have Dr Anu Frank-Lawale join our team. Anu’s demonstrated professional successes and wide variety of experiences make him a key addition to our genetics team as we expand our efforts to meet the needs of an ever-changing market place.
“I am pleased that Dr Frank Siewerdt has accepted promotion to director of genetics. His demonstrated leadership skills, and vision for the future of the Cobb breeding program provide the foundation for translating our significant investments in infrastructure and research programs into meaningful genetic progress for our current and future products,” Dr Abrahamsen added.
Dr Anu Frank-Lawale is based at the Three Springs pedigree farm in Oklahoma, where he will be responsible for the selection program in several commercial and experimental lines. He studied animal breeding at the universities of Nottingham and Edinburgh in the UK, and went on to gain a PhD for work on aquaculture genetics at Stirling University.
He worked as a biometrician at the Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, and then in 2007 moved to the United States as breeding research manager for the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center at Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Dr Frank Siewerdt now has a team of seven PhD geneticists and a business engineer working with other areas of R&D and the business units to continue genetic progress on existing Cobb products and developing new ones to meet market needs.
He joined Cobb three years ago as the inaugural geneticist at the new Dry Creek complex in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, and became responsible for the genetic programme in two of the pedigree farms. Originally qualifying from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, Dr Siewerdt obtained his PhD from North Carolina State University in the USA and has worked for more than 20 years in academic and industry positions including four years with Heritage Breeders / Perdue Farms.
