Dini hopes his current research projects will help improve the understanding of equine placental development. | Photo: University of Kentucky

Name: Pouya Dini
From: Tehran, Iran
Degrees and institutions where received:

• DVM, Karaj Veterinary School at Azad University, in Tehran;
• PhD in animal reproduction, Azad University in collaboration with Ghent University, in Belgium.

After obtaining his DVM, Pouya Dini started a doctoral training program combined with a residency in animal reproduction. He passed the Iranian National Specialty Board Exam in equine reproduction in 2011. Afterward, he continued his doctoral research at Azad University and Ghent University and obtained his PhD. His research focused on bovine uterine infections.

Over time, Dini became more interested in equine reproduction and applied for an additional PhD program at Ghent University. During the first two years of his doctoral program, his research primarily focused on in vitro (in the laboratory) equine embryo production via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), equine embryo manipulation, and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). He was then accepted into a residency training program with the European College of Animal Reproduction (ECAR)