Dr Ruth Wonfor
BSc, MSc, PhD, SFHEA
Lecturer in Animal and Equine Science
Contact Details
- Email: rec21@aber.ac.uk
- ORCID: 0000-0002-7732-9483
- Office: 2.14, Edward Llwyd Building
- Phone: +44 (0) 1970 823093
- Twitter: @RuthWonfor
- Research Portal Profile
Profile
Ruth Wonfor joined Aberystwyth University as a Lecturer in 2017. She is an Animal Scientist and teaches domestic animal anatomy and physiology, as well as animal bioethics. Dr Wonfor is the Exam Board Chair for the Department of Life Sciences, Scheme Coordinator for MSc Livestock Science and Link Tutor for the Equine Studies courses at Coleg Gwent. Her research interests focus on the use of cell and tissue culture for in vitro animal models, which she utilises for her interests in cell sources and media formulations for cultured meat production and models of animal diseases to study the host immune response.
Prior to starting her current role, Dr Wonfor obtained a BSc(Hons) in Equine and Human Sport Science in 2011 and MSc in Animal Science in 2013 from Aberystwyth University. Following on from this, she completed a PhD in bovine reproductive immunology and endocrinology in 2016, investigating the immune modulatory role of preimplantation factor in the bovine endometrium. Her PhD research began her interest and expertise in in vitro tissue and cell culture models to investigate immune and endocrine responses. She worked as a Teaching Assistant in IBERS and then as a Knowledge Exchange Fellow in IBERS as part of the Knowledge Exchange Hub and alongside Farming Connect to disseminate scientific research into the agricultural industry. Through this role she wrote a number of technical articles on a wide range of Animal Science topics, as well as being involved in the development of several EIP Operational Groups in Wales.
Teaching
Module Coordinator
- BR35220 - Equine and Human Exercise Physiology
- BR16920 - Domestic Animal Anatomy and Physiology
- BR25320 - Human, Equine and Canine Exercise Physiology and Locomotion
Moderator
- BBM1320 - Dyfodol Pecynnu
- BDM6060 - MRes Research Project (A)
- BG21920 - Bwyd, Ffermio a'r Amgylchedd
- BG24720 - Sgiliau Ymarferol a Proffesiynol ym Microbioleg
- BR21720 - Evolution and Molecular Systematics
- BR25720 - Applied and Integrated Studies
- BR27220 - Wildlife Management
- BR34820 - Advances in Agriculture
- BRM5120 - Grassland Science
- RG10510 - Y Diwydiant Amaethyddol - Sgiliau Cynllun-Benodol
- BDM1740 - Nuffield Scholarship Project (New Awards)
- BDM8420 - Plant Breeding
- BG21420 - Arolygu Ecolegol
- BG25620 - Dulliau Ymchwil
- BG36440 - Traethawd Estynedig
- BR13210 - The Biosphere
- BR15720 - Skills for Wildlife Scientists
- BR22220 - Immunology
- BR22620 - Marine Biology
- BR24720 - Practical and Professional Skills in Microbiology
- BR25220 - Animal Breeding: Genetics and Reproduction
- BR26320 - Improving Physical Activity and Sport Performance
- BR26420 - Motor Learning and Performance
- BR33420 - Global Biodiversity Conservation
- BR35220 - Equine and Human Exercise Physiology
- BR36440 - Research Project
- BRM0320 - Livestock Nutrition
- BRM6160 - MRes Dissertation (B)
- RD11320 - Breeding and Stud Management
- RD11720 - Equine Business
- RD20120 - Equine Grassland and Business Management
- RD27120 - Veterinary Health
- BBM1920 - Nwyddau Cyhoeddus
- BDM1320 - Future of Packaging
- BDM3560 - Dissertation
- BDM8320 - Business Management for Rural Entrepreneurs
- BG26020 - Monitro a Microbioleg Amgylcheddol
- BR21120 - Climate Change: Plants, Animals and Ecosystems
- BR21420 - Ecological Surveying
- BR27120 - Veterinary Health
- BR35520 - Biotechnology
- BR36120 - Molecular Pharmacology
- BR36320 - Critical Review
- BRM0620 - Crop Biotechnology
- BRM1620 - Infection and Immunity
- BRM3560 - Dissertation
- BRM5420 - Livestock Production Science
- BRM6220 - Understanding Equine Action: from Anatomy to Behaviour
- BRM6420 - Research Methods in the Biosciences
- RD11420 - Business, Economics and Land Use
- RD22520 - Business Budgeting and Appraisal
- RD25620 - Research Methods
- BBM6420 - Manwl Fagu Da Byw
- BDM5620 - Silage Science
- BDM6160 - MRes Research Project (B)
- BG20720 - Maeth Anifeiliaid Fferm, Ceffylau ac Anifeiliaid Anwes
- BG36620 - Cwrs Maes Ecoleg Ddaearol
- BR10420 - Business, Economics and Land Use
- BR14410 - Exploring Genetics
- BR15520 - Equine Industry and Study Tour
- BR23820 - Tropical Zoology Field Course
- BR23920 - Behavioural Ecology
- BR25420 - Invertebrate Zoology
- BR30420 - Sustainable Land Management
- BR33920 - Population and Community Ecology
- BR34720 - Marketing and Small Business Management
- BRM3720 - Bioconversion and Biorefining
- BRM5820 - Animal Breeding and Genetics
- BRM6520 - Introduction to Environmental Law and Environmental Impact Assessment
- PGM2310 - Research Skills and Personal Development (Science) (2310)
- RD20220 - Equine event management and Advanced horsemastership
- RD20420 - Food, Farming and the Environment
- RD23420 - Livestock Production Systems
- BBM1120 - Systemau Cyflenwi Cynaliadwy
- BBM8720 - Prosesu Cig
- BDM1220 - Waste Resource Management
- BDM1920 - Public Goods
- BG20420 - Systemau Cynhyrchu Da Byw
- BG30820 - Gwyddor Cynhyrchu Da Byw
- BG34820 - Datblygiadau mewn Amaethyddiaeth
- BG36320 - Adolygiad critigol
- BR20620 - Applied Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
- BR20720 - Applied Nutrition of Livestock, Horses and Companion Animals
- BR23520 - Controlled Environment Crop Production and Horticulture
- BR25820 - Aquatic Botany
- BR26720 - Sports Injury
- BR30220 - Advanced Animal Behaviour
- BR33220 - Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture
- BR33720 - Microbial Pathogenesis
- BR34120 - Veterinary Infectious Diseases
- BR34520 - Wildlife Conservation
- BR35320 - Behavioural Neurobiology
- BR35820 - Frontiers in Plant Science
- BRM2860 - MBiol Research Project
- BRM4820 - Field and Laboratory Techniques
- BRM5220 - Equine Reproductive Physiology and Breeding Technology
- BRM6060 - MRes Dissertation (A)
- RD20320 - Equitation
- RD27320 - Equine Industry and Study Tour
- RG20420 - Bwyd, Ffermio a'r Amgylchedd
- RG25620 - Dulliau Ymchwil
- BBM1220 - Rheoli Deunydd Gwastraff
- BDM1120 - Sustainable Supply Systems
- BDM8720 - Meat Processing
- BR01220 - Practical Skills for Biologists
- BR15420 - Disease Diagnosis and Control
- BR22020 - Freshwater Biology
- BR22920 - Practical Skills for Biochemists
- BR26120 - Equine Business
- BR26220 - Applied Aquatic Conservation
- BR30820 - Livestock Production Science
- BR35020 - Marine and Freshwater Field Course
- BRM0520 - Biotechnology for Business
- BRM4920 - Frontiers in the Biosciences
- BRM7220 - Environmental Auditing and Management skills
- EAM2920 - Applications of Remote Sensing and GIS
- RD20820 - Visitor Management
- RG23420 - Systemau Cynhyrchu Da Byw
- SS32620 - Sport & Exercise Nutrition
- BBM8820 - Newid Ymddygiad
- BDM0120 - Research Methods
- BR01440 - Organisms and the Environment
- BR01520 - Communication Skills
- BR12510 - Biological Thought and Discovery
- BR14310 - Evolution and the Diversity of Life
- BR21820 - Chromosome Dynamics
- BR21920 - Food, Farming and the Environment
- BR25620 - Research Methods
- BR26520 - One Health Microbiology
- BR26620 - Proteins and Enzymes
- BR27420 - Sport & Exercise Physiology
- BR31620 - Farm Planning and Advanced Farm Management
- BR35620 - Environmental Regulation and Consultancy
- BR35720 - Equine Nutrition and Pasture Management
- BR36020 - Molecular Biology of Development
- BR36820 - Veterinary Pharmacology and Disease Control
- BR37220 - Advances in Crop and Grassland Production
- BRS0160 - Integrated Year in Industry
- RD22420 - Applied Nutrition of Horses
- RG10810 - Cyflwyniad i Systemau Cynhyrchu Da Byw
- BDM1840 - Nuffield Scholarship Project (Post-Completion)
- BDM5820 - Genetics and Genomics in Agriculture
- BG13320 - Bioleg Cymhwysol Anifeiliad
- BR01340 - Molecules and Cells
- BR20420 - Livestock Production Systems
- BR21020 - Farm Business Management and Appraisal
- BR25520 - An Introduction to Landscape Ecology and Geographic Information Systems
- BR25920 - Cell and Cancer Biology
- BR26020 - Environmental Microbiology and Monitoring
- BR26820 - Vertebrate Zoology
- BR32520 - Equine Stud Management
- BR33820 - Parasitology
- BR34920 - Animal Behaviour Field Course
- BR35120 - Behaviour and Welfare of Domesticated Animals
- BR36620 - Terrestrial Ecology Fieldcourse
- BR37120 - Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics
- BR37320 - Solving societal issues using applied and integrated approaches
- BRM0720 - Current Topics in Biotechnology
- BRM0920 - Hot Topics in Parasite Control
- BRM5320 - Equine Nutrition
- RD10640 - Horsemastership
Tutor
- BR27120 - Veterinary Health
- BR35120 - Behaviour and Welfare of Domesticated Animals
- BG25620 - Dulliau Ymchwil
- BR35220 - Equine and Human Exercise Physiology
- BR35720 - Equine Nutrition and Pasture Management
- BR36440 - Research Project
- BG13320 - Bioleg Cymhwysol Anifeiliad
- BR25220 - Animal Breeding: Genetics and Reproduction
- BR32520 - Equine Stud Management
- BR34720 - Marketing and Small Business Management
- BR35520 - Biotechnology
- BRM6420 - Research Methods in the Biosciences
- BR27520 - Research Methods
Grader
Lecturer
- RD25620 - Research Methods
- RD27720 - Research Methods
- BR35120 - Behaviour and Welfare of Domesticated Animals
- BRM5420 - Livestock Production Science
- RD20220 - Equine event management and Advanced horsemastership
- BR20420 - Livestock Production Systems
- BR20720 - Applied Nutrition of Livestock, Horses and Companion Animals
- BR25220 - Animal Breeding: Genetics and Reproduction
- BR25620 - Research Methods
- BR30820 - Livestock Production Science
- RD20120 - Equine Grassland and Business Management
- RD27120 - Veterinary Health
- VE10430 - Animal Husbandry
- BG25620 - Dulliau Ymchwil
- RD11720 - Equine Business
- BR16020 - Research designs to assess and monitor clients
- RD27320 - Equine Industry and Study Tour
- RD11320 - Breeding and Stud Management
- RD22420 - Applied Nutrition of Horses
- BRS0060 - Integrated Year in Industry
- RD10640 - Horsemastership
- PGM2310 - Research Skills and Personal Development (Science) (2310)
- PGM9005 - Ethics, Plagiarism and Academic Practice for Research Students
Coordinator
Research
Dr Wonfor's research interests focus on utilising in vitro tissue and cell culture to create mammalian models. Through these expertise, she focuses on two research areas:
- Cultured meat: Cell source and media formulations for scalable and sustainable cultured meat production. Current research focuses on utilising production animal physiology and anatomy to support investigations into appropriate sources of efficient and consumer accepted cells for cultured meat and alternative nutrient sources for sustainable, species specific media formulations. Also an interest in standardisation and benchmarking for media formulations.
- Animal health: In vitro models to investigate immune responses. Current research focuses on host responses to inflammatory reproductive diseases, such as endometritis, and gastrointestinal parasites. Research utilises either explant tissue, primary cells or cell line models to reduce the use of animals in research. Current projects are focussing on establishing new models, further understanding host immune responses and assessing novel anti-inflammatories.
Research Groups
- Sustainable Grassland Systems and Agri-Food