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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Animal Science Department

Serving Animal Industries

Kathy Hanford

Assistant Professor
Departments of Statistics and Animal Science


A218f Animal Science Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0908
Phone: 402-540-9480
Fax: 402-472-6362
Email: khanford2@unl.edu


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Mini CV

EDUCATION

  • B.S., Montana State University, Bozeman; 1979, Animal Science
  • M.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; 1981, Animal Science
  • M.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; 1984, Statistics
  • PhD., University of Nebraska, Lincoln; 2001, Animal Breeding

PREVIOUS POSITIONS HELD

  • 8/04-present - Research Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science and Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
  • 7/01-7/04 - Research Associate, USDA Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE
  • 2/95-10/00 - Senior Biostatistician, Statistical Services Division, MDS Harris, Lincoln, NE
  • 1/91-2/95 - Biostatistician, Statistical Services Division, MDS Harris, Lincoln, NE
  • 1/89-6-90 - Senior Technical Consultant, Cornell Information Technologies, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
  • 7/84-7/88 - Research Associate, Department of Animal Science, Bozeman, MT

AWARDS & HONORS

  • Dinsdale Family Award, Institute of Agriculture and National Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, For outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and outreach (2007)
  • Sigma Xi Scientific Honorary, Full Member (1999)
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honorary (1997)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Research Coordinating Committee on Implementation and Strategies for National Beef Cattle Evaluation (2001-present)
  • Editorial Board, Journal of Animal Science (2006-present)
  • Statistical Subcommittee for National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (2007-present)

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Society of Animal Science
  • American Statistical Association

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Dr. Hanford's current research interests are in the area of statistical genetics, including detection of QTL using microarray expression data, validation of industry genetic markers in beef cattle, incorporating genetic markers as random effects in QTL detection. She is also interested in the methodology for the incorporation of molecular breeding values into national beef sire evaluations.

COURSES

  • STAT 801: Statistical Methods in Research
    Semester:
    Summary: Statistical concepts and statistical methodology useful in the descriptive, experimental, analytical, and interpretative study of biological phenomena. Data summarization, probability and basic distributions, hypothesis testing, t-tests, analysis of variance, regression and analysis of covariance are discussed.


  • STAT 802: Experimental Design
    Semester:
    Summary: Explore suitability and efficiency of various designs in conducting experimental investigations in agriculture and related areas and the statistical analysis of the data.


  • STAT 892: Introduction to Mixed Models
    Semester:
    Summary: Statistical concepts and methodology using mixed models under various distributions and statistical designs


  • STAT 892: QTL Analysis
    Semester:
    Summary: Introduction of statistical methodologies available for the identification of genes, including the development of linkaga maps and the identification of quantitative trait loci.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Kononoff, P.J. and K.J. Hanford. 2006. Technical Note: Estimating statistical power of mixed models used in dairy nutrition experiments. J. Dairy Sci. 89:3968-3971.

  • Hanford , K.J., L.D. Van Vleck, and G.D. Snowder. 2006. Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic change for reproduction, weight and wool characteristics for Polypay sheep. Livestock Sci. 102:72-82.

  • Hanford , K.J., L.D. Van Vleck, and G.D. Snowder. 2005. Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic change for reproduction, weight and wool characteristics for Rambouillet sheep. Small Ruminant Research 57:175-186.

  • Van Vleck, L.D., K.J. Hanford, and G.D. Snowder. 2005. Lack of evidence for cytoplasmic effects for four traits of Polypay sheep. J. Anim Sci.  83:552-556.

  • Snowder, G.D., K.J. Hanford, and L.D. Van Vleck. 2004. Comparison of models including cytoplasmic effects for traits of Rambouillet sheep. Livestock Prod. Sci. 90:159-166.

  • R. Mark Thallman, Kathryn J. Hanford, Stephen D. Kachman, and L. Dale Van Vleck. 2004. Sparse Inverse of Covariance Matrix of QTL Effects with Incomplete Marker Data. Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology. 3: Article 30.

  • Van Vleck, L.D., G. D. Snowder, and K.J. Hanford. 2003. Models with cytoplasmic and dominance effects for birth, weaning and fleece weights, and litter size at birth for a population of Targhee sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 81:61-67.\

  • Hanford , K.J., L.D. Van Vleck, and G.D. Snowder. 2003. Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic change for reproduction, weight and wool characteristics for Targhee sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 81:630-640.

  • Hanford , K.J., G.D. Snowder and L.D. Van Vleck. 2003. Models with nuclear, cytoplasmic and environmental effects for production traits of Columbia sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 81:1926-1932.

  • Hanford , K.J., L.D. Van Vleck, and G.D. Snowder. 2002. Estimates of genetic parameters and genetic change for reproduction, weight and wool characteristics for Columbia sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 80:3086-3098.