My professional objective is to support the missions of the Department of Animal Science and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences by providing high quality research and teaching performance. My overall goal in research is to enhance reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle and thereby to increase the profitability and sustainability of the dairy industry. Nutrition and reproduction are interrelated and I seek to describe the physiological mechanisms involved in their interaction. The control of follicular selection and development in cattle is currently emphasized. In particular, negative energy balance in postpartum lactating dairy cows affects gonadotropin secretion, the timing of ovulation and subsequent fertility. Follicle development occurs in all cows postpartum, but the outcome for ovulation or atresia is related to the energy balance profile, insulin and IGF levels, and LH pulse frequency. The degree of body condition loss in early lactation delays first ovulation and negatively impacts fertility later during breeding. Feeding high protein diets to dairy cows stimulates and supports high milk production. Metabolism of high dietary protein during lactation is associated with higher urea in blood or milk (BUN, PUN, MUN) and lower conception rate, through effects on the uterine environment that negatively impact embryo viability. By understanding the cellular mechanisms most affected by energy and protein metabolism, I anticipate that dietary strategies and hormonal therapies can be developed to facilitate both high milk production and improved reproductive performance. In teaching, my goal is to provide stimulating and challenging instruction in animal physiology and related functions. Understanding the importance of endocrine and biochemical mechanisms during the life cycle of mammals provides students with information and perspective to understand and contribute to animal well-being and performance. By acknowledging the known and the unknown, as well as exciting new research built on the established foundation, my goal is to model life-long learning.