Kristen Govoni

CAHNR Associate Dean of Academic Programs & Director of the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, Professor

After receiving her PhD in 2003, Dr. Govoni pursued postdoctoral research experience in the Musculoskeletal Disease Center at the Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA. In 2008, Dr. Govoni returned to her home state of CT and is currently a Professor in the Department of Animal Science.

Academics

Classes Taught

In the News

• Investigating the Links Between Maternal Nutrition and Offspring Health – UConn Today, October 2021

Research Interests

• Understanding growth and development at the cellular level to identify methods to improve animal health and efficiency of production
  • Determining the effects of poor maternal nutrition on pre- and post-natal development using a sheep model
  • Using a model of control, restricted, or over-feeding during gestation to identify the impacts on offspring growth (muscle, bone, and adipose tissue), metabolic dysregulation (liver, muscle, and blood)
  • Using omics approaches to identify the mechanisms of action through changes in mRNA expression, protein expression, metabolites, and epigenetic regulation based on the knowledge that poor maternal nutrition impairs offspring, growth, increases adipose deposition, and alters local and systemic metabolism.

Hobbies/Non-Academic Interests

• Horseback riding
• Camping
• Hiking
• Running