Every day, you have an opportunity to learn something new and commit it to memory. This is why I have fallen in love with research! You ask questions, conduct experiments, and—in the end—you have an answer. You know one more thing about the world.
Henslee McWhorter Undergraduate Gamebird Scholar (Reyna Lab)
- Student
- Student worker
Reyna Laboratory
Henslee McWhorter is a pre-vet animal science major. As a quail research technician for the Lyon Center, she ensures the center’s quail are properly cared for and lends a helping hand on research projects. Henslee says she’s fascinated when months of research comes to life on a high-performance liquid chromatography graph. She’s extremely interested in medicine and animals, and strives to absorb knowledge everywhere she goes. While she claims biology as her favorite subject, she admits she also has a special place for microbiology.
A Conversation with Henslee
What sparked your interest in gamebirds, wildlife research, or conservation?
My favorite thing about the world is knowing you can never know everything. Every day, you have an opportunity to learn something new and commit it to memory. This is why I have fallen in love with research! You ask questions, conduct experiments, and—in the end—you have an answer. You know one more thing about the world.
What's one misconception people have about gamebirds or your research?
I have come to learn that research isn't strictly poking and prodding animals and keeping the same subjects. A lot of studies collect feces, change feeds when experimenting with diet, and conduct climate alterations. Research takes place in many ways, and when one project has commenced, there are plenty of new subjects to explore.
How has your time with the Lyon Center influenced your academic or career path?
My time at the Lyon Center has influenced my career path drastically. I have found a real passion for the research industry and uncovering truths most people are not aware of. Research is a field where anything is possible, and no matter which direction I go in the future, I hope research will remain part of it.
Educational Background
B.S., Pre-Veterinary Animal Science, East Texas A&M University, 2027
Involvement
Member, Pre-Vet Science Society, East Texas A&M University
Selected Publications and Presentations
The Impacts of Fenbendazole on Eggshell Thickness in Northern Bobwhite Quail Eggs, Annual Research Symposium, East Texas A&M University