Performing Department
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Non Technical Summary
Livestock diseases pose a significant threat to global food security and public health. To address these challenges, we're training the next generation of scientists in the field of animal production, with a focus on understanding and controlling livestock diseases. By providing rigorous training in pathobiology, genomics, and data science, we aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.Through a combination of coursework, hands-on research, and professional development opportunities, students will learn to analyze large datasets, identify genetic factors that contribute to disease susceptibility, and design effective disease control strategies. By fostering collaborations between researchers and industry partners, we will accelerate the translation of research findings into practical applications.Ultimately, this project will contribute toimprovements in traits like disease resistance anddevelopment of new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tools, leading to improved animal health and increased food production. By training a diverse group of students, we will help to ensure a sustainable future for the agricultural industry and protect public health.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
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Developmental
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Goals / Objectives
We propose to offer two M.S. and two Ph.D. fellowships for students (NNFs) who wish to pursue a graduate degree in the field of animal production, with an emphasis on the pathobiology and genomics of livestock diseases, in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. We have designed a recruitment process that targets traditionally under-represented U.S. citizens or nationals committed to the Animal Production TESA. The Fellows will enjoy an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary program working with faculty that have national and international reputations in areas of transboundary diseases, viral diseases, bacterial diseases, vaccine development, vectorborne diseases, epidemiology, and food safety and security lead research programs, providing the NNFs with a very robust and well-funded training environment. The goals will be to produce highly trained NNFs with objectives of fundamental and transdisciplinary knowledge in the overall understanding of the genetic component of disease expression in livestock, skills in the use of innovative technologies to investigate livestock diseases, with scholarship in novel research and teaching approaches, communication, and ethical reasoning towards their professional careers in agriculture. The NNFs will receive hands-on practical training on effectively applying advanced data science solutions to their research projects and will be able to have a national impact on the livestock industry contributing to the efficient production of animal protein for a growing global population. This program has relevance to NNF program goals and the USDA Strategic Goals and Objectives by developing the next generation of a highly-skilled workforce for food and agricultural science.Objectives:Recruit and Train Exceptional Students:Recruit and enroll a diverse group of graduate students with strong academic backgrounds and a passion for animal health research.Provide rigorous academic training, including coursework in pathobiology, genomics, statistics, and data science.Offer hands-on research experiences under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors.Foster a collaborative and supportive learning environment.Conduct Innovative Research:Conduct cutting-edge research to identify novel genetic markers and genomic regions associated with disease resistance or susceptibility.Develop advanced statistical and computational methods for analyzing complex biological data.Investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis.Evaluate the efficacy of new vaccines and other interventions.Disseminate Knowledge and Technology:Publish research findings in high-impact scientific journals.Present research results at national and international conferences.Develop educational materials and training programs for researchers, veterinarians, and producers.Collaborate with industry partners to translate research findings into practical applications.Build a Strong Research Community:Foster collaborations with other researchers and institutions.Organize workshops and seminars to exchange ideas and knowledge.Mentor undergraduate and graduate students to inspire future generations of scientists.Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of animal production.
Project Methods
Recruitment and Selection of Fellows:Targeted Recruitment: Actively recruit from a diverse pool of applicants, including underrepresented groups, through various channels such as professional conferences, social media, and direct outreach to HBCUs and HSIs.Rigorous Selection Process: Implement a rigorous selection process based on academic qualifications, research experience, and potential for future success.Mentorship and Advising: Assign each fellow to a faculty mentor who will provide guidance, support, and expertise throughout the program.Curriculum and Training:Core Curriculum: Develop a comprehensive curriculum that covers fundamental concepts in animal science, pathobiology, genomics, statistics, and data science.Specialized Training: Offer specialized training in advanced techniques, such as next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and machine learning.Hands-on Research: Provide opportunities for fellows to conduct independent research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors.Professional Development: Organize workshops and seminars on topics such as scientific writing, grant writing, and presentation skills.Research and Innovation:Collaborative Research: Foster collaborations between fellows and faculty to address important questions in animal health and production.State-of-the-Art Technology: Utilize cutting-edge technologies, such as high-throughput sequencing and advanced bioinformatics tools, to accelerate research.Data Analysis and Interpretation: Train fellows to analyze and interpret complex data using statistical and computational methods.Knowledge Dissemination: Encourage fellows to present their research findings at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.Data Analysis and Interpretation:Statistical Analysis: Use appropriate statistical methods to analyze quantitative data, such as experimental results and survey data.Bioinformatics Analysis: Employ advanced bioinformatics tools to analyze genomic and other biological data.Data Visualization: Create clear and informative visualizations to communicate research findings.Evaluation and Assessment:Progress Monitoring:Regularly assess the progress of fellows through meetings with mentors and periodic reviews of research activities.Performance Evaluation:Evaluate the performance of fellows based on academic achievements, research productivity, and professional development.Program Evaluation:Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.Outcome Assessment:Measure the long-term impact of the program, including the career trajectories of graduates and their contributions to the field of animal production.Evaluation of Efforts and Impacts:Student Surveys: Conduct surveys to assess student satisfaction with the program and the effectiveness of training activities.Faculty Evaluations: Collect feedback from faculty mentors on the performance of fellows and the overall program.Job Placement Tracking: Monitor the career trajectories of graduates and assess their success in obtaining positions in academia, industry, or government.Publication Metrics: Track the number and quality of publications produced by fellows.