Experience

Employment

Small Animal Nutritionist, NomNomNow Inc. (6/2021-Present)

Animal Nutrition Consultant/Owner, Animalis Nutrition Consulting, LLC (12/2020-Present)

Director of Nutrition Services, Nutrition Services Dept., Indianapolis Zoo (7/2019 – 7/2020)

Affiliate Faculty, Biology Department, Portland State University (1/2017-6/2019)

Nutritionist, Living Collections, Oregon Zoo (9/2012 – 6/2019)

Postdoctoral Fellow, North Carolina State University (10/2010 – 12/2011)

Graduate Research Assistant, Div. of Animal Sciences University of Missouri – Columbia (08/2007 – 10/2010)

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University (08/2005 – 08/2007)

Keeper, Nutritional Services Dept., Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc. (4/2004 – 7/2005)

Laboratory Technician, Nutritional Services Dept., Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc. (7/2003 – 4/2004)

Student Research/Lab Asst. III, Cornell University Sheep Farm (9/2001 – 5/2003)

Nutrition Intern, Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc. (5/2002 – 8/2002)

Student Research/Lab Asst. II, Cornell University Animal Science Dept. (10/2001 – 5/2002)

Farm Laborer – Volunteer, Clemson University Equine Center (5/2001 – 8/2001)

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

K.D. Rode, C.A. Stricker, J. Erlenbach, C.T. Robbins, S.G. Cherry, S.D. Newsome, A. Cutting, S. Jensen, G. Stenhouse, M. Brooks, A. Hash, and N. Nicassio (2016) Isotopic incorporation and the effects of fasting and dietary lipid content on isotopic discrimination in large, carnivorous mammals. Physiol Biochem Zool. 89(3):182-197.

M.P. Davis, M.A. Brooks, M.S. Kerley (2016) Relationship between residual feed intake and lymphocyte mitochondrial complex protein concentration and ratio in crossbred steers. J Anim. Sci. 94(4): 1587-1591.

M.A. Brooks, J.L. Grimes, K.E. Lloyd, K. Krafka, A. Lamptey, and J.W. Spears. (2016). Chromium propionate in broilers: Effect on insulin sensitivity. Poult Sci. 95(5):1096-1104

M.A. Brooks, R.M. Harvey, N.F. Johnson, E.A. Koutsos and M.S. Kerley (2014).Effect of varying dietary starch and fiber levels and inoculum source (mule deer vs. dairy cow) on simulated rumen fermentation characteristics. Zoo Biol. 33: 110-120.

M.A. Brooks, J.L. Grimes, K.E. Lloyd, S. Verissimo, and J.W. Spears (2013). Bioavailability in chicks of zinc from zinc propionate. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 22(2): 153-159.

M.A. Brooks, R.M. Harvey, N.F. Johnson and M.S. Kerley (2012). Rumen degradable protein supply affects microbial efficiency in continuous culture and growth in steers. J Anim. Sci. 90: 4985-4994.

M.A. Brooks, J.L. Grimes, K.E. Lloyd, F. Valdez, and J.W. Spears (2012) Relative bioavailability in chicks of manganese from manganese propionate. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 21:126-130.

M.A. Brooks, C.W. Choi, D.K. Lunt, H. Kawachi and S.B. Smith (2011). Subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene expression and fatty acid composition in calf- and yearling-fed Angus steers. J. Anim. Sci. 89: 2556-2570

M.A. Brooks, C.W. Choi, D.K. Lunt, R.K. Miller, C.B. Choi and S.B. Smith (2011). Case Study: Carcass and meat characteristics and M. longissimus thoracis histology of beef from calf-fed and yearling-fed Angus steers. Prof. Anim. Sci. 27:385-393.

M.A. Brooks. J.H. Porter and M.S. Kerley (2011). Assessment of amino acid supplementation on rumen microbial efficiency and nitrogen metabolism using a continuous culture system. Prof. Anim. Sci.27:152-159.

S.B. Smith, C.A. Gill, D.K. Lunt and M.A. Brooks (2009). Regulation of fat and fatty acid composition in beef cattle. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 22(9):1225-1233.

Online Abstracts

M.A. Brooks and J. Pramuk (2018) Whole body compositional analysis of Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata). Proceedings of the Twelfth Comparative Nutrition Society Symposium.

M.A. Brooks, B.A. Lee, and J.M. Pera (2017) Case study: Winos for rhinos: Feeding grape pomace to black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) as a method for mitigating iron storage disease. Proceedings of the Twelfth AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) Conference. 12:43-52

M.A. Brooks and G.I. Harris (2017) Gut-loading diet evaluation for crickets (Acheta domesticus), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), and superworms (Zophobas morio) for the purposes of optimizing institutional protocols. Proceedings of the Twelfth AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) Conference. 12:34-43

M.A. Brooks and M.T. Maslanka (2015) The Tools We Use: Outfitting your operation for efficacy and efficiency. Proceedings of the Eleventh AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) Conference. 11:73-80

C.M. Power and M.A. Brooks (2014) Extrapolating the diet of captive California Condors (Gymnogyps Californanus) at the Oregon Zoo. Proceedings of the Tenth Comparative Nutrition Society Symposium. 10:162-167

M.A. Brooks and G.I. Harris (2017) Gut-loading diet evaluation for crickets (Acheta domesticus), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), and superworms (Zophobas morio) for the purposes of optimizing institutional protocols. Proceedings of the Twelfth AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) Conference. 12:34-43

M.A. Brooks and M.T. Maslanka (2015) The Tools We Use: Outfitting your operation for efficacy and efficiency. Proceedings of the Eleventh AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) Conference. 11:73-80

C.M. Power and M.A. Brooks (2014) Extrapolating the diet of captive California Condors (Gymnogyps Californanus) at the Oregon Zoo. Proceedings of the Tenth Comparative Nutrition Society Symposium. 10:162-167

M.A. Brooks (2010) Ruminal degradation of protein and carbohydrate in domestic and wild ruminants: Out of the forest and onto the farm. Proceedings of the Sixth Crissey Zoological Nutrition Symposium.

M.A. Brooks, R.M. Harvey, N.F. Johnson, E.A. Koutsos, M.S. Kerley (2010) Effect of varying dietary starch and fiber levels and inoculum source (Mule deer vs. Dairy cow) on simulated rumen fermentation characteristics. Proceedings of the Eighth Comparative Nutrition Society Symposium. 8:15-25

M.A. Brooks, N.F. Johnson, R.M. Harvey and M.S. Kerley (2009). Similarity of rumen degradable protein (RDP) degradation rates comparing in vitro and in situ techniques. Proceedings of the Eighth AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) Conference. 8:80-85.

M.A. Brooks, E.A. Koutsos and M.S. Kerley (2008). In vitro fermentation of three diets with varying starch and fiber levels using rumen fluid inoculum of diet adapted mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) or a lactating dairy cow. Proceedings of the Seventh Comparative Nutrition Society Symposium. 7:24-29.

M.A. Brooks, A.S. Hunt and A.M. Ward. (2003). The effect of sample handling and preparation on the iron binding polyphenolic content of browse. Proceedings of the Fifth AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG) Conference. 5:44-47.

Professional Affiliations/Organizations

Association of Zoos & Aquariums (01/2016-Present) – Professional Affiliate

AZA Bear Taxon Advisory Group (10/2013-Present) – Nutrition Advisor

American Society of Animal Science (1/2007 – 7/2015)

Comparative Nutrition Society (8/2006 – Present) – Board of Directors Student Liaison (2008-2010); Board of Directors Secretary (2017 – Present)

Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society (4/2006 – Present)

AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (5/2003 – Present) – Affiliate Member (5/2003 – 9/2012); Full Member (9/2012 – Present); Steering Committee Member-at-Large (2015-Present); Conference Committee Chair (2013-2015)

Mizzou Animal Science Graduate Student Association (8/2007 – 12/2010) – Catering Committee Chair (1/2008 – 1/2009); Grievance Committee Chair (8/2009 – 8/2010)

Alpha Zeta (3/2000 – Present)

Journal Reviewer

Translational Animal Science

Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

Zoo Biology

Journal of Applied Poultry Research