** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** POULTRY MEAT AND EGG CONSUMPTION HAS INCREASED BY 20% PER CAPITA IN THE PAST TWENTY YEARS AND IS PROJECTED TO CONTINUE INCREASING IN THE COMING YEARS. THIS COMES WITH CONCERNS FOR ENHANCING EGG PRODUCTION WHILE MAINTAINING ANIMAL WELFARE, ROBUST PRODUCTION, AND MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. SAFE AND RELIABLE PRODUCTION HINGES ON ELIMINATION/REDUCTION OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS THAT MAY CAUSE DISEASE AND LOSS OF PRODUCTION. BIOSECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE PROTOCOLS ONLY WORK IF WE KNOW THE FULL RANGE OF MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AFFECTING ANIMAL SYSTEMS. TO THIS END, THE PROPOSAL SEEKS TO COMPREHENSIVELY CHARACTERIZE THE REPRODUCTIVE MICROBIOME OF THE LAYER HEN.THISRESEARCH SUPPORTS NIFA PRIORITY AREA ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS BECAUSE DETERMINING MICROBIOTA IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ANIMALS IS DIRECTLY RELEVANT FOR ENHANCING PRODUCTION AND ENSURING FOOD SAFETY. THIS FELLOWSHIP WILL ASSIST IN THE TRAINING OF AN AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIST WITH THE END GOAL OF BECOMING A WORKFORCE-READY INDIVIDUAL FOR A GOVERNMENT RESEARCH INSTITUTION OR AGENCY. PLANS FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS, VERBAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, AND BIOINFORMATICS TRAINING. CLEAR COMMUNICATION OF EXPECTATIONS WITH MENTORS AND STAKEHOLDERS COMBINED WITH THE CREATION OF AN ACTIONABLE TIMELINE CREATES A DEFINITIVE PLAN OF HOW THIS APPLICANT WILL ACHIEVE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED GOALS.