** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** TICK-BORNE DISEASES (TBD) AFFECT 80% OF THE WORLD'S CATTLE POPULATION, AND OUTDATED GLOBAL COST ESTIMATES ARE BETWEEN $13.9 AND $18.7 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS; THIS IS ESTIMATED AT $23.4 AND $31.6 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN 2021. THESE DISEASES AFFECT LIVESTOCK ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND LEAD TO POOR ANIMAL HEALTH, WELFARE, AND PRODUCTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A DOCUMENTED SHORTAGE OF VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGISTS, THAT IS EXACERBATED BY THE LACK OF TRAINING OF VETERINARIANS AND SIMILAR ANIMAL SCIENTISTS IN ENTOMOLOGY. THUS, THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP ENTOMOLOGICAL SKILLS (IDENTIFICATION, SURVEILLANCE, AND MANAGEMENT) FOR THESE BIOSECURITY PEST AND PATHOGEN COMPLEXES THAT IMPACT THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. THE OVERALL GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO INTRODUCE AND TRAIN TALENTED INDIVIDUALS FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS AND LIVESTOCK-ASSOCIATED CAREERS THAT INVOLVE TEAM SCIENCE, WHILE EDUCATING THEM ON VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY AND PROVIDING THEM A PROJECT RELEVANT TO STAKEHOLDERS. THE PROPOSED REEU PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT TEAM SCIENCE IN A CONDUCIVE AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN FACULTY IN DIFFERENT STATES. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE AN 8-WEEK SUMMER RESIDENTIAL REEU EACH YEAR TO EIGHT SCHOLARS AND THE PROGRAM WILL BE ORGANIZED INTO INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY RESEARCH TEAMS WHICH MEET AT A PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE TO NETWORK, SHARE RESULTS THROUGH A VIRTUAL EXPO TO STAKEHOLDERS, AND HAVE FOCUS DEVELOPMENT ON COMMUNICATION SKILLS, LEADERSHIP APPROACHES, AND TEAM SCIENCE. THE FOUR YEAR-PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL BE LED BY FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, BUT TEAMS WILL ALSO BE FORMED AT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, AND TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY.

University Of Tennessee, Memphis TN

Investigators