Unishma Ghimire received a $3,000 scholarship for the second consecutive year awarded through Delmarva Chicken Association’s Scholarship Program. She is pursuing a master’s degree in food and agricultural sciences with a concentration in animal and poultry science at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Ghimire is working with UMES poultry researcher Dr. Jennifer Timmons on a project studying the impacts of early-age thermal conditioning on overall performance, pathogen prevalence and gut microbial composition under acute heat stress conditions in pasture-raised broiler chickens.
The Nepalese student arrived on the UMES campus in fall 2024 and has been a graduate research assistant with Timmons since, contributing to ongoing projects.
“Although the Delmarva poultry industry is more focused on conventional indoor-based production systems, there has been increasing demand for alternative systems, such as pasture-raised poultry,” Ghimire wrote in an essay submitted for the scholarship application. “However, because these birds are raised outdoors, they are more exposed to environmental fluctuations, making them more vulnerable to factors such as heat stress.”
Heat stress, she said, affects growth performance, physiology, production, reproduction and immune status in broilers. Their research evaluates thermal conditioning as a mitigation strategy to alleviate the negative effects of heat stress in pasture-raised broiler chickens.
The student researcher is slated to graduate in December 2026. She is building her research experience, extension work, academic writing, scientific communication and laboratory skills to contribute to the region’s economically important poultry industry.
Ghimire’s work also focuses on feed safety and quality, which are vital components of the production chain affecting consumer health. She is looking at salmonella prevalence in chicken carcasses and the microbial community of the chicken gut. Her research seeks to provide valuable information on raising pasture-based poultry to small- and medium-scale farmers on the Delmarva Peninsula.
“Overall, this work aims to support Delmarva farmers in improving bird welfare and food safety while helping them stay competitive and meet consumer demand,” Ghimire said.
The budding poultry scientist holds an undergraduate degree in veterinary science and animal husbandry from the Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal.
Ghimire is among three graduate students to earn the Emerson Morgan Graduate Scholarship in addition to 12 undergraduate students awarded $2,000 scholarships to support their academic studies relevant to careers in Delmarva’s chicken industry.
“By supporting these students, DCA is nurturing the next generation of leaders in our chicken community,” said Holly Porter, DCA’s executive director, in a May 19, 2026, announcement.
“These young people are determined to put their learning and skills to good use in the chicken community. They’ll join an essential, motivated workforce that puts tasty, nutritious chicken on the plates of Americans and the world.”
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
