Swine Nutrition

My work in swine metabolism research introduced me to hypothesis-driven science within a production animal setting. Through observing how metabolic research questions were translated into controlled feeding trials, I gained insight into experimental design, protocol implementation, and the role of funding and logistics in large-scale studies. In addition to participating in lab meetings and data discussions, I assisted with daily animal care, weighing and monitoring over 600 pigs across nursery and finishing stages, collecting feed and growth data, administering medications, and supporting blood collection procedures.

This experience grounded me in the practical realities of research — where animal husbandry, precise data collection, and experimental control intersect. It strengthened my understanding of how nutrition, physiology, and management practices influence both animal health and agricultural efficiency, and it provided an early foundation for my continued interest in translational and population-level research.