Dr. Laura Hungerford

   Laura Hungerford was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan and wanted to be a 
veterinarian ever since she was about 3 years old. Although all vets are 
scientists, it wasn't until she finished her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine 
degree (DVM) at Michigan State University, that she decided to go on and 
become a research scientist at a university. Although working with animals 
was wonderful, Dr. Hungerford wanted to also find new and better ways to 
take care of them. She had always loved math, biology, reading and physics, 
which helped in becoming a scientist. Her additional training included a 
Masters of Public Health (MPH) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Both of 
these degrees were in epidemiology, which is the study of health in 
populations. She has been a faculty member at the University of Illinois 
and the University of Nebraska. Her specialty areas are health in cattle 
and wild animals, and diseases that can be transmitted between species. 
She does research and teaches. In addition, she is married to a 
veterinarian who studies animal reproduction and genetics and is a mom to 2 
boys (born in 1993 and 1996) who also love science. "Being a scientist is 
like being a detective, only you get to solve mysteries about the world, 
not about crimes. Everyone who asks a question and then observes or 
measures the world around her to find the answer is a scientist. Being a 
veterinarian is the most fun profession in the world; being a scientist too 
is the icing on the cake." 
Laura Hungerford, DVM, MPH, PhD 
University of Nebraska