Priyanka Banerjee, Ph.D.

Priyanka Banerjee, Ph.D.

  • Assistant Professor
  • Department of Animal Sciences
(334) 844-1575
pzb0035@auburn.edu
216 Upchurch Hall
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Education

  • Ph.D. in BiotechnologyDepartment of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, India and ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, India 2013

  • M.Sc. in BiotechnologyH.N.B Garhwal University, India2008

  • Bachelor’s in ScienceUniversity of Delhi, India2006

Professional Experience

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA (2024-present)
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA (2022-2024)
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA (2020-2021)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark (2017-2019)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, CSIR – Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi, India (2014-2017)
  • Senior Research Fellow, ICAR – National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, India (2009-2014)

Research

Cattle health and fertility are critical concerns for beef producers. Despite selecting heifers based on morphological parameters, about 10% of replacement heifers still fail to conceive during their first breeding season. A significant factor contributing to reproductive failure is embryonic loss, which predominantly occurs within the first 16 days after breeding. This period is vital because it involves a series of essential events in the maternal body that create a suitable uterine environment for the developing embryo. Understanding the complex processes of embryo attachment and immune modulation is essential for ensuring reproductive success. Disruptions in these processes can lead to placental and embryo failure. Our research program aims to investigate the molecular interactions between maternal hormones, their regulation by trophoblasts, maternal immune responses, and pregnancy establishment in bovines.

Additionally, the US cattle industry faces significant economic losses due to diseases, with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) accounting for approximately 75% of cattle morbidities and 50% of mortalities. Stressors such as weaning, transportation, new feed sources, and environmental changes further compromise cattle’s immune systems, increasing their susceptibility to BRD. Notably, not all cattle are equally vulnerable to BRD, suggesting that there are additional molecular factors influencing disease resistance. So, what are these additional molecular factors regulating BRD?

If you are interested in exploring these questions and contributing to our research, please contact me to learn more about our team’s undergraduate or graduate research opportunities.