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May 5, 2000
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Volume 7, Number 16 |
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GENERAL |
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GRADUATE STUDENTSMartinez at home as researcher and Huskie soccer player
By Ann Dumonceaux It is rare to see a graduate student equally comfortable in the research lab and the soccer field. But for Marcello Martinez, working toward his Master’s Degree in Veterinary Science, athletics have always been a part of his life. Born and raised in Argentina where soccer ranks as a national interest, Martinez played for his university team in Rio Cuarto, running triathlons in his spare time while studying toward degrees in Economics and Veterinary Medicine. "I never finished first though," admits Martinez.
Graduating as a veterinarian when he was only 22 years old, Martinez began working as a research assistant with the Argentina National Research Council. It was during this period that he became aware of the programs offered in his area of interest at the University of Saskatchewan. While taking a course in embryo transfer from Dr. Rueben Mapletoft, professor and Head of the Dept. of Herd Medicine and Theriogenology and a frequent visitor to Argentina, Martinez found himself considering taking his research to Saskatoon under the supervision of Dr. Mapletoft. Describing his current research project as aimed at "making the process of artificial insemination more efficient," Martinez notes that his work manipulating ovarian follicles for the purpose of timed insemination has yielded good results in terms of increasing pregnancy rates in cows. Martinez’s research effectively makes it more convenient for farmers to inseminate their herds, by allowing them to control every step of the process instead of waiting for the animals to go into estrus. The Western College of Veterinary Medicine acknowledges that many practitioners are already applying the procedures developed by Martinez during his graduate studies. Martinez has also been a prolific publisher of his work. In addition to being first author on seven abstracts and a contributor to seven others, he has had one paper accepted for publication, one submitted, and four others in various stages of preparation. For his outstanding achievements, Martinez was awarded the Hope Haanen Memorial Scholarship in Dairy Science. But his accomplishments are not limited to the academic field. Playing for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Martinez recently received the prestigious All Academic Award in recognition of academic and athletic excellence. Expecting to graduate in a few months, Martinez will not rule out remaining in Canada, but he has received several appealing offers from companies in Argentina. Explaining that these research foundations are extremely well-funded because they offer substantial tax breaks to contributors, Martinez notes that returning to his homeland would include both challenges and rewards. "I was invited to northern Argentina to manage farms with over 20,000 head of cattle, compared to farms here which average around 1,000-2,000 cattle." Because his family remains in Argentina, Martinez can see himself going back. Citing a wish to help his parents with the family farm which includes cattle and crops like corn and melon, Martinez says that if he goes, he’ll miss the new friends he has made – as well as some of the conveniences of living in a modern North American city. "I like how things are organized here," he admits. "It’s very easy to live here."
For further information, visit the web site or contact communications@usask.ca
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Next issue of On Campus News: Friday, May 19
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