Andrea Luttman is a Ph.D. candidate in the Genetics and Genome Sciences Program at Michigan State University and a USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellow, mentored by Dr. Catherine Ernst. Her dissertation research focuses on evaluating the validity of using cortisol pattern as a proxy for measuring resilience in weaned pigs through the integration of piglet performance data with transcriptomic and whole genome DNA methylation profiles of brain tissues. As she continues her research career, she plans to contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis for resilience enabling selection of animals with improved welfare without compromised production. She also values scientific communication and undergraduate mentorship. She has participated in producer-targeted magazine articles, industry podcasts, serves as advisor for an undergraduate club, and organizes her university Academic Quadrathlon competition.