Bruna Soares
Research Intern
Bruna, originally from Diamantina, Brazil, earned both her B.S. in Veterinary Medicine (2023) and M.S. in Veterinary Sciences (2025) from the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA). In Brazil, she specialized in using in silico methods to study pharmacokinetics across species, with her master’s research focusing on predicting ivermectin concentrations in cattle through model-based meta-analysis. She joined the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Fall 2025 as a research intern, co-advised by Dr. Laporta and Dr. Rostoll Cangiano. Outside the lab, Bruna enjoys reading, spending time in nature, and caring for her pets.
Marta Sfulcini
Ph.D. Student
Marta is originally from Parma, Italy. She was an international intern for six months in Dr. Laporta’s lab as a Ph.D. student. Her research focused on calves, aiming to deepen her understanding of their early stages of life. Marta plans to apply the knowledge gained in the USA to successfully complete her Ph.D.
Latest Update: Ph.D. student in Agro-Food System at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy.
Annalisa Amato
Ph.D. Student
Annalisa is from Ragusa, a city in Sicily (Italy). She was an international intern in the Laporta Lab for six months while continuing her Ph.D. studies. During this time, she focused on the impacts of heat stress on dairy cattle and calves.
Latest Update: Ph.D. student in Veterinary Science at Università degli Studi di Messina, Italy
Julia Petrou
M.S. Student
Julia is from Toronto, Canada. She was a visiting student for a month within the Laporta Lab while continuing her M.S. studies. Her current research focuses on characterizing the structural and molecular changes in the bovine mammary gland during colostrogenesis.
Latest Update: M.S. student in Animal Sciences at the University of Guelph, Canada
Faustina Panissa
M.S. Student
Faustina is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Uruguay. While pursuing her M.S. studies in Animal Sciences in Uruguay, she joined Dr. Laporta’s laboratory for three months as an international intern, seeking to expand her research experience and further her academic career.
Latest Update: M.S. student in Animal Science UdelaR, Uruguay
Andre A. Zambon
M.S. Student
Andre is from Brazil. He was a research intern in the Laporta Lab for six months during the summer and fall of 2022. Andre assisted in a large transition cow project held at the Dairy Cattle Center.
Latest Update: M.S. student at UW-Madison Animal & Dairy Sciences Graduate Program with Dr. Sarah Adcock
Valerie Lantigua
Undergraduate @ UF
Valerie was an undergraduate at Santa Fe College. She was a research intern in the Laporta Lab for six months during the summer of 2021. During this time, she assisted in a large calf project held at the Arlington Research Unit at UW-Madison.
Latest Update: Lab Technician at Parasitology University of Florida