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UF Health University of Florida
College of Veterinary Medicine UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA
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Jonathan R Cowart

Jonathan R Cowart, PhD

Research Assistant Professor

Department: Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Business Phone: (352) 294-4095
Business Email: jrc8462@ufl.edu

About Jonathan R Cowart

Jonathan “JC” Cowart is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Cowart’s research focuses on assessing the reproductive physiology and health of marine mammals with a particular focus on Florida manatees and bottlenose dolphins. Dr. Cowart also provides histological services to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that supports diagnostic histopathology for discerning cause of death of manatees around the state of Florida.

Accomplishments

Excellence in Doctoral Studies
2018 · University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Reep / Bonde Prize for Manatee Biology Research
2018 · The Florida Manatee Biology and Conservation

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2020-2024
VEM5931 Topics in Vet Med
2022-2024
VME4906 Problems in Veterinary Science
2022-2024
VME6014 Marine Mammal Biology
2023
VME6938 Topics in Aquatic Animal Health
2024
VEM5111 Animal Systems 2
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is heavily based on both behaviorism and constructivism pedagogies where I find great importance in having students engage in active learning for comprehension of the subject material as well as practice application of concepts as they relate to the world around them. Learning is not a static concept, but instead is dynamic and complex, occurring in a variety of settings and incorporating multiple instructional methodologies to maximize student learning. Teaching and learning are ever-changing; thus, teaching must be learner-centered and should be continually refined to provide an educational environment that is well-adapted to the needs of the students. I strongly believe that educators should utilize all available resources to continually evolve their teaching methodologies to best adapt to their students’ needs in the classroom. Continued professional growth and evolution of teaching strategies are of the utmost importance to meet the needs of the students and to provide an inclusive classroom environment.

Research Profile

The research in my lab primarily centralizes on the study of marine mammal reproductive physiology with particular emphasis on Florida manatees and different cetacean species. This includes studies of reproductive anatomy and microanatomy, evolution of genital morphology and functionality, reproductive health and potential, and spermatology (including sperm morphology, morphometry, and ultrastructure). Additional research interests include investigating the effects of different natural and anthropogenic threats on reproduction in marine mammals.

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0001-8816-8833

Areas of Interest
  • Animal Reproductive Physiology
  • Assisted Reproductive Technologies
  • Marine Mammals

Publications

2024
Sirenian (manatees and dugongs) reproductive endocrinology.
General and comparative endocrinology. 356 [DOI] 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114575. [PMID] 38908455.
PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2022
Evidence of a functional clitoris in dolphins.
Current biology : CB. 32(1):R24-R26 [DOI] 10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.020. [PMID] 35015987.
7 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2022
Morphometric and structural analysis of Florida manatee spermatozoa
The Anatomical Record. 305(2):446-461 [DOI] 10.1002/ar.24645. [PMID] 33890720.
1 citation · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2021
Canine osteosarcoma checkpoint expression correlates with metastasis and T-cell infiltrate.
Veterinary immunology and immunopathology. 232 [DOI] 10.1016/j.vetimm.2020.110169. [PMID] 33387703.
18 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2020
Manual Collection and Semen Characterization in a West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)
Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 7 [DOI] 10.3389/fvets.2020.569993. [PMID] 33195557.
1 citation · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2019
Impaired butyrate absorption in the proximal colon, low serum butyrate and diminished central effects of butyrate on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Acta physiologica (Oxford, England). 226(2) [DOI] 10.1111/apha.13256. [PMID] 30656835.
69 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site

Education

Postdoctoral Research Associate
2020-2023 · University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Doctor of Philosophy – Veterinary Medical Sciences
2014-2019 · University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Bachelor of Science – Marine Biology
2010-2014 · University of North Carolina Wilmington

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 294-4095
Emails:
Business:
jrc8462@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100136
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
2015 SW 16TH AVE
 GAINESVILLE FL 32608