Research and Leadership Program in Animal Sciences
Join Us!
Come join our fellowship program! “Developing Science-Engaged, Culturally Competent, Research-Savvy Women Leaders in Animal Science Through Collaborative, Experiential Learning” is a partnership between Iowa State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
We call this the “Savvy Leaders” program, for short. The overall project goal is to increase the number, the career preparation and persistence, and the long-term success of women as leaders in animal science-related fields. Our savvy leaders-in-training will develop essential professional skills in leadership, research and cultural competency.
From an abundance of care about your health and wellness, the summer 2022 program will be virtual except for one important week. From May 31-June 4, Fellows will attend an in-person conference in Portland, Oregon. During the other weeks, Savvy leaders will participate in modules that are highly interactive, varied and dynamic. They will engage in assessment and training for leadership, enhanced cultural competencies, effective communication, responsible conduct of research, and strong professional skills. Skills will be gained and honed through practice.
Research topics will include science literacy, approach and methods in research, research ethics, idea generation, communication, research culture and career advancement. Research simulation programs will enhance independent, active learning. Team work between the two universities will enhance the cooperative learning experience. Guest experts will introduce special topics, including contemporary women leaders.
A special component will be active, virtual participation in a national conference as part of the program curriculum. The Savvy leaders program is led by an experienced team of four accomplished faculty women in animal sciences, and in agricultural education and leadership.
Schedule:
May 23 – July 1, 2022. Scheduled program hours, Monday – Friday, plus independent work time each day. Full-time engagement of forty hours per week is required. Attendance at national conference in Portland, Oregon, May 31 – June 4, 2022, with engagement hours adjusted for conference activities and travel.
Compensation:
Fellows will receive, upon satisfactory achievement of program milestones, a total stipend of $4,800 (pre-tax) for the 6-week summer 2022 program, paid in two installments. Also, registration fee, travel, hotel and meals will be paid for attendance at a 5-day national conference that will be integrated into the program curriculum.
Eligibility:
Per sponsor requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible to receive funding. Per the program design, this program is intended for women students at North Carolina A&T University and Iowa State University. To help build a diverse workforce, we highly encourage applications from undergraduate students who identify as women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, first-generation college students, and veterans and masters students who will be enrolled in a graduate program during the time of the summer research experience.
Online Application due March 11, 2022:
Additional Application Materials
In addition to the online application, students must submit, by mail, the following:
- Official University Transcript
- Official transcripts may be sent directly from your institution to the address below.
- Unofficial transcripts will be acceptable if signed and emailed by your academic advisor.
- Two Letters of Recommendations
- Recommenders may email (preferred) or postal mail their recommendation letters directly to the address below.
Send the above materials to:
Dr. Susan J. Lamont
806 Stange Road, 2255 Kildee Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
sjlamont@iastate.edu
ALL Application Materials Must Be Post-Marked By March 11, 2022
Meet the project team!
Dr. Susan J. Lamont
Dr. Susan J. Lamont’s research program focuses on the molecular basis for important biological traits in poultry, with a special emphasis on host response to pathogens and to environmental stress. She has extensive administrative experience, including serving as the head of the Department of Animal Science. She leads an active research laboratory, including undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs, funded by competitive federal grants. She also works closely with the poultry genetics industry in joint research projects.
Her research group has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal papers. She mentors multiple summer interns each year and has had several students from NCAT in her laboratory. She teaches three graduate courses (Livestock Immunogenetics, Applied Poultry and Swine Breeding, and Responsible Conduct of Research) with the latter course being university-wide and satisfying the NSF and NIH training requirements in RCR. She has served on many federal and international research grant panels and Scientific Organizing committees of international conferences. She is an elected Fellow of the Poultry Science Association and the International Society of Animal Genetics.
Dr. Millie Worku
Mulumebet “Millie” Worku is a professor of animal sciences and director of the office of undergraduate research. She is the institutional coordinator with the Leadership Alliance and representative on the Council for Undergraduate Research. She is the advisor for the interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate in biotechnology and served as Graduate Coordinator for the Integrated Animal Health Systems Masters.
She was named 2007 Teacher of the Year in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Science, the University Senior Researcher of the Year in 2011 and is also a recipient of the USDA ARS Merit Award. Dr. Worku came to North Carolina A&T in 1999 as a visiting professor and instructor in microbiology. She previously served as a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. She was an International Atomic Energy Agency research fellow at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. She has had national and international experience in research and education, including 25 years in teaching.
Dr. Worku holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree, both in animal sciences, from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alemaya in Ethiopia, also in animal sciences. Dr. Millie Worku’s research program focuses on the molecular basis for important biological traits, emphasizing host response to pathogens causing inflammation in ruminants. This effort contributes to global food security and the provision of a diverse, well-prepared workforce. Her research “Molecular signatures and regulatory checkpoints for animal health” is funded through the USDA.
Currently, funded training efforts include preparation of STEM women and multicultural scholars and online curriculum development. Dr. Worku has published journal papers, review articles, and book chapters in inflammation in animal health. She has served on many advisory boards, federal and international research grant panels, and scientific organizing committees of international conferences.
She teaches courses including Agricultural Genetics (ANSC 214) Techniques in Biotechnology (ANSC 665), Global livestock systems (ANSC 713) Bioinformatics and Genome Analysis’s (ANSC 771) and has co-taught AGRI 800 Sustainable and local food systems. She leads an active research laboratory, including undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs, research associates and mentors high school research apprenticeships students.
She oversees the Bioinformatics learning facility and is director of the laboratory for Animal Genomic Diversity and biotechnology. She participates in STEM outreach to schools and stakeholders.
Dr. Theressa Cooper
Dr. Theressa Cooper currently serves as the assistant dean for diversity for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – this is the first person to hold an dean’s level administrative position dedicated to solely dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the university’s history. Dr. Cooper also jointly holds an adjunct assistant professor position in the department of agricultural education and studies. She has life-long experiences of working informally within the agricultural system and over 15 years of administrative leadership within a university system. In Dr. Cooper’s role as assistant dean, she is responsible for the coordination, management, and implementation of the college's diversity and inclusion programs. Her research areas focus on increasing the pipeline of underrepresented groups in agriculture and life sciences, multicultural education, and youth development. It is Dr. Cooper’s passion for agriculture and social justice that enables her to work across the teaching, research, and extension (outreach) missions of the university to build cultural competency within the community based on a shared love and passion for agriculture.
Dr. Chastity Warren English
Dr. Chastity Warren English has more than 14 years’ experience in agricultural and distance education and she is also the author of 19 scientific-publications that focus on diversity, employability skills, and leadership development in agricultural education. She is currently a Professor of Agriscience Education and the Program Coordinator at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she is responsible for coordinating the undergraduate and graduate agricultural education programs, teaching and developing distance learning courses, advising and mentoring students, conducting research, and participating in community service endeavors.
Sponsor
Supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (award number 2020-70003-30929)