UTIA launches fellowship to prepare future animal science professionals

Preparing the next generation of animal science professionals requires students to develop both strong scientific skills and the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world agricultural settings. A new program from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will provide undergraduate students with hands-on experiences that intentionally connect research, Extension and professional development.

Phillip Myer and Jennie Ivey, professors in the UT Department of Animal Science, are leading a new $750,000 project funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish F.U.S.E. Animal Science – the Fellowship for Undergraduate Scientific Exchange in Animal Science . The five-year program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for careers throughout animal science and agriculture by developing research, Extension, communication and professional skills.

F.U.S.E. Animal Science will recruit undergraduate students nationally from animal science, agricultural and related life science programs. Selected fellows will participate in a year-long sequence of virtual and in-person experiences and will work within one of six animal science focus areas: animal nutrition; livestock production, robotics and automation; livestock gene editing and genomics; animal disease, immunology and parasitism; animal welfare; or animal reproduction.

A distinguishing feature of F.U.S.E. is its integrated mentoring approach. Each fellow will work with a team that includes research and Extension faculty, a graduate student mentor and a county Extension agent. Through this structure, students will experience both the process of generating scientific knowledge and translating that knowledge into practical applications for producers, industry and other agricultural stakeholders.

Myer says, “By strengthening the pipeline of well-trained animal science professionals, the program will support not only agriculture, but also local communities, economies and food systems that rely on a skilled and innovative workforce.” Ivey adds, “The project will train undergraduate students through mentored research, farm-based experiences and Extension activities that translate science into practical solutions for producers and stakeholders.”

Fellows will receive hands-on training in areas such as experimental design, data collection and analysis, animal management, scientific writing and science communication. Students will also work with Extension professionals through farm visits, production-site experiences, outreach programming and development of Extension materials. The fellowship culminates in an intensive summer research and Extension experience in which students finalize their projects, strengthen their communication skills and engage with animal agriculture professionals.

Professional networking will also be an important component of the program. Fellows will prepare scientific abstracts and presentations and will have opportunities to present their work at the American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, as well as at a F.U.S.E. Animal Science Conference hosted by UTIA. These experiences will connect students with scientists, Extension professionals, industry representatives and other leaders across animal agriculture. Recruitment for the first cohort of F.U.S.E. Animal Science fellows is expected to begin in January 2027, with the first cohort beginning its fellowship experience later that year.

The F.U.S.E. award is part of a broader $8.8 million investment by USDA-NIFA in Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) . The program supports experiential learning opportunities that help undergraduate students develop the technical, professional and leadership skills needed for careers in food and agriculture or continued study in graduate and professional programs. F.U.S.E. Animal Science advances those goals by intentionally integrating research and Extension training within a year-long animal science fellowship experience.

Myer’s research focuses on gut microbiology in beef cattle with an emphasis on the rumen microbiome and its significance to feed efficiency and nutritional physiology. He helped create the website rumenmicrobes.utk.edu , where anyone can learn about the science of microorganisms and animal nutrition. He received his B.S. in biology from Bradley University in 2008 and his Ph.D. in microbiology in 2013 from Purdue University. As a postdoctoral researcher, he worked at the USDA-ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center from 2013-2015 researching gut microbiome impacts on nutrition and feed efficiency in finishing beef steers. Myer currently serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for the UT Department of Animal Science.

Ivey completed a B.S. in equine science at Rutgers University in 2009, and an M.S. and Ph.D. at West Virginia University studying equine nutrition and exercise physiology. Her research and Extension interests include nutritional, exercise and management interventions to improve equine well-being, along with the impact of owner knowledge on equine management. She currently serves on Equine Health Advisory Commission for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu .