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Innovation stops at nowhere. In animal science, this means there is always something to pursue in the name of research, and there is no better place to do it than at NC State University’s Department of Animal Science.
Ranked #9 in the US and #14 globally (Edurank) for animal science research, NC State is where students achieve real-world progress while completing their programme. Here, they not only hone their research in one focus area – instead, they get to experience an all-encompassing programme covering all species and disciplines across nutrition, physiology, genetics and genomics, and animal management and well-being.
“To be successful as a leader in one area, multidisciplinary understanding and collaborations are essential as the animal body is very complex to understand,” says Dr. Sung Woo Kim. “NC State provides such an environment, allowing me to find research collaborators in relevant disciplinary areas.”
The collaborators in question? Other world-class faculty and the research team of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scientists.
At NC State, graduate students take charge of their own research projects under the guidance of the faculty members like Dr. Kim, whose research expertise lies in nutrition research and is ranked among the top 100 researchers in Animal and Veterinary Science worldwide by Research.com.
Here’s how Dr. Kim and his fellow professors is contributing new knowledge to this field and to your career success:
NC State University researches animal well-being, focusing on genetics, breeding practices, and environmental impacts on animal health and behaviour. Source: NC State University
Animal well-being
Pursuing animal well-being research at NC State University means gaining versatile
technical, engineering, and critical thinking skills to bridge the gaps in genetics, physiology, and technology.
“We need more interdisciplinary people who can speak both data science and animal science,” says Dr. Suzanne Leonard, whose work in precision animal agriculture is used to improve management and decision-making related to the livestock environment. With her students, Dr. Leonard emphasises adding a technology piece to their projects.
There’s work with multiple species through the teaching farms as well, enriching a student’s understanding further.
“By providing broad toolsets and strategies, they can transition more smoothly into future roles and make meaningful career impacts,” says Dr. Leonard. “Each species presents unique management challenges, but there’s also significant overlap. By sharing knowledge across species, we can often find solutions without reinventing the wheel.”
Genetics and genomics
Today, agriculture faces big questions about sustainability, resilience, and animal welfare. How do we ensure livestock can adapt to changing environments? Genetics and breeding researchers may just have some answers.
At NC State University, students are at the forefront of this research, driving innovation and exploring new ideas. Here, you will actively engage in experiments and contribute to the development of solutions that address the challenges in agriculture and livestock production.
To Dr. Christian Maltecca, a student can achieve this if theycollaborate well with the global scientific community. Hence why the internationally ranked researcher in the subject often encourages his students to attend and present at international conferences to connect more with their peers across the world. He also emphasises the importance of staying informed about research topics related to a student’s projects while spurring them to cultivate their curiosity.
“The diverse range of expertise across various domains at NC State fosters collaboration in a research landscape where disciplinary boundaries are increasingly blurred,” says Dr. Maltecca. “This ability to work alongside researchers and students with a wide array of knowledge is our most significant asset in training students on the latest techniques and technologies in the field.”
Physiology students can access various animal resources at Lake Wheeler and statewide research stations for research and extension activities. Source: NC State University
Physiology
Another growing concern in agriculture is sustainability and resource use, especially among cattle. However, improved productivity and efficiency through physiology can help.
Dr. Felipe Silva, an Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Specialist, was drawn to North Carolina and NC State because of the many research opportunities available, such as the beef and dairy teaching unit at Lake Wheeler and four beef and two dairy research stations throughout the state.
He aims to improve reproductive efficiency in cattle systems with help from his graduate students. “Students are the frontline workers conducting the work in the labs or the field,” he says. “While I guide the process, graduate students take the lead, gaining experience in everything from working with producers to presenting at conferences while developing soft skills.”
Nutrition
In the nutrition programme, Dr. Kim’s research focuses on interventions to manage mucosal microbiota and mucosal immunity in the small intestine, especially through maternal nutrition or directly to young pigs.
In his lab, graduate students lead their own research projects. They are responsible for data analysis, presentation of research data to the public, and the publication of their research. There are even opportunities to take on multiple projects during their degree to attain more diverse experiences.
“NC State provides an ideal setting for collaboration, bringing together experts in nutrition, physiology, genetics, immunology, and more to address the complexities of animal health,” says Dr. Kim.
Follow NC State University’s Department of Animal Science on Facebook. Learn more about graduate admissions, assistantships, or apply today.
