The Global Livestock CRSP is pleased to announce the first round Jim Ellis Mentorship Program for Graduate Students grants have been awarded to three students. Two of the students are affiliated with the ENAM project and one student is working with the Avian Flu School project.

Katherene Osei-Boadi is a graduate student at the University of Ghana, Legon in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science. Her application entitled “Assessment of the nutritional status of vegan and non-vegetarian children” proposes to compare the diets, dietary diversity, dietary habits and other indicators of nutritional status between vegan and non-vegetarian children in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. An important premise of this project is that the predominantly plant-based diets of poor children in developing countries limit bioavailability of key micronutrients leading to deficiencies. The Ghana Ministry of Health’s support for veganism as a healthful diet for all segments of the population, including children, provides the study with timely relevance and important policy implications.

Lynda Larmkie Hagan is a graduate student at the University of Ghana, Legon in the Department of Agricultural Extension. Her application entitled “Identifying the influence of male household members on the expected outcomes of the ENAM project community-based interventions” proposes to assess the effects of the male adult on the key expected outcomes of the ENAM project microcredit and nutrition education interventions. The main aim of the study is to explore the influence of caregivers’ husbands on the loans received, on the incomes from the use of the loans, and on animal source food allocation to children at family mealtime. The study will help assess the impact of the ENAM project on participating families from the perspective of the caregivers’ husbands.

Danielle Knueppel is a graduate student at the University of California, Davis in the International Agricultural Development program. Her application entitled “Impact Assessment of Newcastle Disease Avian Flu Control Project” proposes to assess the impact the vaccination program has had on villagers in rural Tanzania. The study will research the effect the project has had on household wealth, household food security, consumption of eggs and chicken among village children and women, the empowerment of village women and community benefits and support. Due to the similar symptoms of Newcastle and the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), villages that have vaccinated for Newcastle disease may serve as sentinel villages for early detection of HPAI. The Newcastle disease avian flu control project is an important component in a strategy for improving poultry biosecurity at the village level.

The deadline for the next round of competition is March 1, 2008. Graduate students affiliated with GL-CRSP projects are eligible for awards. Up to $7,000 is available per award. The Jim Ellis Mentorship Program for Graduate Students awards are intended to provide supplemental funds to enhance the quality of the student’s research. For more information on the program, please contact the GL-CRSP office at glcrsp@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-1721.