EDUCATION
• PhD in Animal Science, Michigan State University, 2003
• Masters in animal nutrition (with Distinction), Aberdeen University, Scotland, 1998
• BS in Agriculture, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1991
WORK EXPERIENCE
• Presently, Ruminant Nutrition scientist at Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) Carillanca, Temuco, Chile
• 2011 – 2013: Ruminant Nutrition scientist at CIEN Austral, Osorno, Chile
• 2008 – 2011: Postdoctoral researcher. Lethbridge Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• 2004 – 2008: Postdoctoral researcher. University of Maryland, Department of Animal and Avian Science
RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED (as PI)
• Understanding the efficacy of inhibitors of rumen methanogenesis through a mechanistic approach. Fondecyt, 2024 – 2027.
• Influence of perennial ryegrass genotype and chemical composition on in vitro methane production and fermentation. Fondecyt, 2021 – 2024.
• Consequences of inhibiting rumen methanogenesis on nitrogen metabolism of rumen microbes. Fondecyt, 2021 – 2024.
• Preliminary assessment of genetic variation among wheat and oats in in vitro digestion kinetics straw residues. Núcleos de Investigación INIA, 2019 - 2022.
• Stimulation of metabolic hydrogen sinks alternative to methane in rumen fermentation. Fondecyt, 2019 - 2024.
• Interaction between the inhibition of ruminal methanogenesis and microbial protein production in the rumen, Fondecyt, 2016 - 2019.
• A meta-analysis of butyrate content in milk fat, Corfo, 2012 – 2013.
• Physicochemical control of hydrogen dynamics in ruminal fermentation, Fondecyt, 2012 – 2015).
• Early weaning of dairy calves (1993); Early weaning of dairy calves with milk replacers (1996), Programa de Validación de Alternativas Tecnológicas
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
• 66 journal articles, 5 book chapters, and one edited book
Representative publications:
• Ungerfeld, E.M., and Pitta, D. 2024. Review: Biological consequences of the inhibition of rumen methanogenesis. Animal 26:101170 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2024.101170
• Beauchemin, K.A., Ungerfeld, E.M., Abdalla, A.L., Alvarez, C., Arndt, C., Becquet, P., Benchaar, C., Berndt, A., Mauricio, R.M., McAllister, T., Oyhantçabal, W., Salami, S.A., Shallo, L., Sun, Y., Tricarico, J., Uwizeye, A., De Camillis, C., Bernoux, M., Robinson, T., and Kebreab, E. 2022. Invited review: Current enteric methane mitigation options. Journal of Dairy Science https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22091
• Ungerfeld, E.M. 2020. Metabolic hydrogen flows in rumen fermentation: Principles and possibilities of interventions. Frontiers in Microbiology 11:589.
• Ungerfeld, E.M., and Hackmann, T.J. 2020. Factors influencing the efficiency of rumen energy metabolism. In: C.S. McSweeney and R.I. Mackie (eds.) Improving Rumen Function. Burleigh & Dodds Science Publishing pp. 421-466.
• Ungerfeld, E.M. 2015. Shifts in metabolic hydrogen sinks in the methanogenesis-inhibited ruminal fermentation: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Microbiology 6:37, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00037
• Ungerfeld, E. M., and Kohn, R. A. 2006. The role of thermodynamics in the control of ruminal fermentation. In: K. Sejrsen, T. Hvelplund and M.O. Nielsen (eds.) Ruminant Physiology, Wageningen Academic Publishers, pp. 55-85.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology
• Reviewer for various scientific journals and research grant review panels
