Madison Barshick

Growing up in Northeast Florida showing hunter jumper horses, I have always been interested in understanding how the musculoskeletal system effects horse's ability to exercise. In 2017 I left Florida to attend Berry College in Rome, GA where I received my Bachelor's of Science degree in Animal Science and Biochemistry. During this time I worked under Dr. DeLacy Rhodes where I completed research on a biological pesticide using the RNA-interference mechanism. I additionally gained experience working with microorganisms and was responsible for developing an online program for a classroom based bacterial unknowns project and working on a Streptococcus equi project (the pathogen responsible for equine Strangles disease). After graduating Berry in 2021 I moved to Blacksburg, VA and began working on my Ph.D. under Dr. Sally Johnson at Virginia Tech.

Since starting, I have worked on many exciting projects in the realm of exercise physiology and muscle biology. I have gained experience running equine exercise physiology projects at the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE Center) as well as running mouse exercise physiology projects at the ILSB in Blacksburg.

Currently, I am working to finish my Ph.D. with Dr. Johnson before transitioning into a research based job, hopefully in the realm of exercise based therapies as a treatment for contagious diseases.

Please connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/madison-barshick-17a753165