Source: MICHIGAN STATE UNIV submitted to
INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING IN LEADERSHIP AND ANIMAL BIOSECURITY (IT-LAB)
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029575
Grant No.
2023-38420-38754
Cumulative Award Amt.
$238,500.00
Proposal No.
2022-04880
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 1, 2022
Project End Date
Oct 31, 2027
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[KK]- National Needs Graduate Fellowships Program
Project Director
Hegg, C.
Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824
Performing Department
VET MED DEAN
Non Technical Summary
We propose an Interdisciplinary Training in Leadership and Animal Biosecurity (IT-LAB)program to train a new, diverse workforce of scientists able to demonstrate leadership inpopulation medicine, food security, and infectious disease ecology. There is a projected shortageof graduates with advanced degrees and specialties in epidemiology, vector biology, virology,and infectious diseases, immunology, toxicology, and the microbiome between 2020-2025,areas related to the IT-LAB program.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
50%
Developmental
25%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
31539991103100%
Knowledge Area
315 - Animal Welfare/Well-Being and Protection;

Subject Of Investigation
3999 - Animal research, general;

Field Of Science
1103 - Other microbiology;
Goals / Objectives
The proposed Interdisciplinary Training in Leadership and Animal Biosecurity (IT-LAB) graduateprogram addresses the shortage of a diverse workforce in population medicine, food security, andinfectious disease. There are documented disparities in the demographics of awarded agriculturaldoctoral degrees. Developing a diverse agriculture workforce is an objective of the USDA Scienceblueprint. The benefit to broader inclusion of underrepresented individuals is that inclusive teamshave wide-ranging perspectives and work more effectively towards common goals. The objectiveand anticipated impact is to increase the number of graduates fromunderrepresented groups whopursue careers related to the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) of agricultural biosecurity.IT-LAB will support 3 PhD fellows during years 1-3 of training. A comprehensive recruitment andretainment plan will be used to identify and nurture highly qualified underrepresented fellows witha committed interest to animal health and biosecurity. The five key components of the training planare a/an: 1) challenging curriculum and a research dissertation emphasizing our training faculty'sexpertise in the agricultural biosecurity discipline (Code X); 2) concentration program in leadershipand epidemiology and risk analysis, sustainable animal production, or biosecurity policy; 3)experiential immersion with industry partners in food animal production, biosecurity, diseasesurveillance, and risk analysis; 4) professional development program; and 5) individualdevelopment plan. Mentor training is required for all IT-LAB faculty and students. Fellows receiveexcellent research and professional training that prepares them for leadership roles and careers inproduction animal health and diseases that threaten a sustainable and secure global food network.
Project Methods
The IT-LAB program uses effective practices to ensure long-term success for graduates.Foremost is that training is grounded in a model in which students must achieve scientific acuityin mechanisms of disease through strong dissertation research. Laboratory excellence issupplemented through rigorous core coursework that is further honed via additional concentratedlearning in leadership and either epidemiology and risk analysis, sustainable animal agriculture,or food security policy. Fellows will be well prepared to succeed in a variety of positions inacademia, production and food industries, or regulatory agencies due to their strong foundationin basic research and their enhanced understanding of specific security processes within the foodchain. This proposal enjoys broad support from the Graduate School and resource units withinand external to MSU, further testifying to the likelihood of success in training a new scientificworkforce in food animal biosecurity and production animal health and wellbeing.

Progress 11/01/23 to 10/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Our recruiting efforts focused on students who conducted research during the summer (i.e., had full-time immersion experience) and wereinterested inanimal health and biosecurity. We also reachedunderrepresented individuals who conductedbiomedical research. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The students are taking Responsible Conduct in Research as online modules, one-on-one discussions with mentors,and in discussion based workshops. The students are involved in professional development centered around scientific writing, scientific rigor, mentoring and effective presentations. Specific topics include Team science,Strategies for building effective mentoring relationships, Effective reading strategies,Setting Expectations in Graduate Education, Building self-efficacy,Science literature searching, Building networks. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The student who started in January has disseminated the results of her research to the public at an outreach event, and to fellow scientists at a scientific conference (see Other Products and Oututs section). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During this next period, students will continue conducting research in the focal area of animal biosecurity, attend professional development workshops, and follow their individual development plan. Additionally, undertaking the experiential immersion with industry partnersand the leadership program is planned.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have successfully recruited three PhD fellows from underrepresented populations. Two students began in August 2024, and one student started in January 2024. The students are currently immersed in the following phases of the training plan: 1) challenging curriculum and a research dissertation in the agricultural biosecurity discipline; 4) professional development program; and 5) individual development plan. The students are taking Responsible Conduct in Research. The students are involved in professional development centered around scientific writing, scientific rigor, mentoring and effective presentations.

Publications


    Progress 11/01/22 to 10/31/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience:We have created an NNF (IT-LAB) training opportunity flyer and disseminated it across schools in the US. We have also advertised the training grant opportunity at our MidSure (undergraduate) symposium. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will recruitand name at least 2 graduate student fellows in the coming academic session. Since the funding was received after the admissions cycle in Fall of las year, much of our efforts have been on recruiting URM candidates for thee fellowship.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? We have begun recruiting for graduate students under this training grant.

    Publications