PhD Student
(fall 2021 – present)
Animal Biology Graduate Group
Office Location: 2418/2424 Meyer Hall
Email: chisasaga@ucdavis.edu
Research Interests:
Cirenio is leveraging his strong background in broiler management and physiology to study the impacts of broiler management on the development of Woody Breast, a breast muscle myopathy, and overall bird welfare. To facilitate commercial-scale research on this topic, he is additionally validating the use of sensor technology for documenting bid activity levels. His first study (ongoing) evaluates the role of exercise and bird strain on the occurrence of Woody Breast, and other production and welfare-related outputs. His second study, carried out concurrently, validates the use of bird- mounted sensors for determining the amount of time that the birds are active. Beyond research, Cirenio is collaborating with the School of Education on developing new outreach programs to help recruit an retain students from traditionally underrepresented groups.
Awards and Honors
Cirenio is the recipient of the competitive National Institutes of Health-Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (NIH-IMSD; 2021) Fellowship and the prestigious NSF Undergraduate Preparation Fellowship (2021). He has received scholarships from the Western Poultry Scholarship and Research Foundation (2021) and the Delmarva Poultry Association (2022).
Fun fact: For over 15 years, Cirenio has helped his family and friends sell fresh produce at farmer’s markets.