Rhoads receives 2012 American Society of Animal Science Early Career Achievement Award

July 16, 2012 – Robert Rhoads, faculty member in the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences at Virginia Tech, received the 2012 American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Early Career Achievement Award for his many accomplishments as a young faculty member. This award was given at the ASAS national meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Rhoads began his career as a faculty member in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Arizona in 2006 and joined the faculty at Virginia Tech in 2011. Since then, Rhoads has developed an independent and productive research program concentrating on muscle biology and thermal stress. In the five years since his hire, Rhoads has acquired over $4.0 million in research funding, has 15 peer-reviewed publications and has presented his data at over 20 conferences. Currently, his research centers on the interaction between environmental stressors, growth and developments and metabolism.

Rhoads received his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. in Animal Science from Cornell University, completing his degree in 2004. Rhoads has blended basic science with applied animal agriculture, which allows him to receive grants and affect the animal feed industry. Both pieces of his research (muscle and thermal) have long-term and immediate relevance to animal agriculture.

The ASAS Early Career Achievement Award is given to a young Animal Science scholar who has completed their most recent degree within the past ten years. The American Society of Animal Science is a professional organization that serves more than 5,000 animal scientists and producers around the world.

Media Contact:

Anne Zinn
anne.zin@asas.org