2025 Awards Archive

University of Georgia

Dr. Lilong Chai is an Associate Professor & Engineering Specialist in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia (UGA). He is also an affiliate faculty member (steering committee) of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture at UGA. Dr. Chai’s primary research focuses on animal environmental engineering, cage-free hen housing, and precision poultry farming. Prior to joining UGA in 2018, Dr. Chai was a postdoc fellow at Iowa State University (2015–2018) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2012–2015). He completed his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Bioenvironmental Engineering (2005–2011) through a joint program between China Agricultural University and Purdue University. Dr. Chai’s academic contributions include 290 scientific publications (i.e., 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, 150 conference papers and abstracts, and 50 Extension publications). He has served as PI/Co-PI on 40 grants/contracts (∼$5.5 million) and received over 20 professional awards and honors. Dr. Chai currently serves as Section Editor for Poultry Science journal. He is the Coordinator of the Georgia Precision Poultry Farming Conference and the Georgia Layer Conference, two annual extension poultry training programs at UGA. His previous leadership roles include serving as Chair of the ASABE Environmental Air Quality Committee and President of the Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers.

Dr. Chai has served as a grant proposal reviewer/panelist for USDA-NIFA, NSF, Egg Industry Center, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canadian Poultry Research Council, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Dutch Research Council, and the German Research Foundation.

The American Egg Board Research Award is given to the recipient who has increased the interest in research pertaining to all things related to eggs. This could include areas related to egg production, safety, product quality, or egg science technology. This is an annual award.

University of Georgia

Dr. Oluyinka Olukosi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Hailing from Nigeria, Dr. Olukosi obtained his Bachelor of Agriculture and MPhil. (Animal Science) from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He subsequently earned his Ph.D. (Animal Sciences) and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Olukosi started his academic career as the Senior Poultry Research Scientist at the Scotland’s Rural College (previously Scottish Agricultural College) and adjunct position at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, where he conducted research and trained undergraduate and graduate students at the Avian Science Research Center at Auchincruive, Ayr, Scotland. After eight years in Scotland, he joined the Faculty at the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia as an assistant professor with a research-teaching appointment. Dr. Olukosi’s research focuses on three overarching areas, namely, nutritive evaluation of feedstuffs and their methodologies, interaction of nutrition and gut health with emphasis on feed additives and functional feedstuffs, and the use of nutritional interventions to mitigate possible negative impacts of poultry production on the environment. In the past 10 years covered by this award, Dr. Olukosi has trained 23 graduate students, including 11 PhD and 12 MSc students, as well as over 12 undergraduate researchers and visiting scholars. During this time, he has published 63 peer-reviewed articles, along with 136 scientific abstracts and conference proceedings, popular press articles, podcasts, and invited presentations. Throughout his 15-year research career, including the 10 years covered by the award, Dr. Olukosi has secured funding totaling over $14.9 million through collaborative research with the feed and feed additive industries, as well as with state, federal, and international funding bodies from the UK, US, and the EU. In addition to his contributions to the industry, Dr. Olukosi has previously held a position on the council of the WPSA (UK branch) and currently serves as a section editor for Poultry Science, British Poultry Science, and the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

This award is given to recognize distinctive work demonstrating sound research in poultry nutrition in the last 10 years. This is an annual award.

University of Wisconsin

Dr. Steven Ricke received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He became a USDA-ARS postdoctorate in the Microbiology Dept. at North Carolina State University, then joined the Poultry Science Dept.at Texas A&M University as an Assistant Professor in 1992. In 2005 he was appointed the Endowed Chair in Food Safety and Director for the Center for Food Safety at the University of Arkansas. In 2020 he became Director of the new Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Program at the University of Wisconsin. In recognition of his research efforts, he has received several Poultry Science Association (PSA) Awards including the PSA National Research Award in 1999, American Egg Board award in 2006, the Evonik Award for Achievement in Poultry Science in 2019, the National Chicken Council Broiler Research Award in 2020, and the USPOULTRY Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award in 2023. He was named a PSA Fellow in 2017. Dr. Ricke has emphasized foodborne Salmonella and Campylobacter ecology from the broiler farm to the processing plant and mechanisms employed by pathogens to survive these highly variable poultry industry environments. His group has used this to devise preharvest and postharvest prevention strategies that better limit survival of these pathogens during poultry and egg production. Dr. Ricke is exploring microbiome and metabolomic approaches to develop a better understanding of the interaction of the gut microbiota with pathogens and to evaluate feed additives. Simultaneously, he is developing the concept of microbiome mapping for broiler processing. The overall outcomes of his research efforts are contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the microbial ecological linkages between live bird production and poultry processing. His program has generated over 500 peer reviewed publications, and he has mentored over 40 graduate students during his career. He has also served as editor or co-editor of 15 books and given over 200 invited talks.

This award is given to stimulate and reward research in the field of poultry (chicken, turkeys and eggs) pre- and post-harvest food safety. Nominee’s research should exhibit a sustained impact on decreasing pathogenic organisms in pre- and post-harvest situations. It is given every other year.

University of Guelph

Dr. Elijah G. Kiarie, Professor of Monogastric Nutrition, focusing on poultry at the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph. An alumnus of University of Nairobi (Kenya) for his BSc (1998) and MSc (2003) in Animal Science; he received PhD (2008) and post-doctoral training (2009–2011) in monogastric nutrition at the University of Manitoba (Canada). He was appointed Assistant Professor at the Department of Animal Biosciences University of Guelph in January 2016. Prior to his current appointment he was Innovation Research Scientist for a global feed additives company. His research program harnesses basic and applied research to solve contemporary challenges in animal protein production. Current research focus includes: (1) Integration of parental, in-ovo, and early life nutrition strategies to bolster gastrointestinal and skeletal development for enhanced productivity and reduction in antibiotic use and (2) Evaluation of novel feed ingredients, feedstuffs processing technologies, and innovative feed additives to mitigate feed cost and environmental impact. He has authored or co-authored over 180 articles in frontline peer-reviewed journals, 8 book chapters, over 70 invited conference proceedings, 200 peer-reviewed scientific conference abstracts, 6 patents and disclosures (h-index=44; 6150 citations in google scholar). Since his appointment at the University of Guelph, he has supervised completion of 14 MSc, 11 PhD students and 2 Post Doc and is currently supervising 4 PhD, 3 MSc students. Invited speaking engagements at national and international technical conferences highlight his industry linkages and outreach. Recognition of his research impact is evidenced by invitations to evaluate grant proposals by various government and research agencies. He was awarded University of Guelph Research Excellence Award for contribution to research and training. He serves on the editorial board of Poultry Science Journal, and he will be the Program Chair for 2026 PSA Annual Meeting.

The Evonik Corporation award is an annual award given as an achievement award, i.e., for distinctive contributions to poultry science advancement, covering a period of not more than seven years preceding the annual award.

United Animal Health

Dr. Hector Leyva-Jimenez earned his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Chapingo Autonomous University in Mexico (2013) and later received both a Master of Science (2015) and a Ph.D. (2018) in Poultry Science from Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, he actively sought to reduce the environmental impact of poultry production through precise feed formulation and by evaluating various feed strategies to enhance nutrient utilization. His research concentrated on the dietary vitamin D₃ requirement of modern broiler chickens. After graduating from Texas A&M, he spent two years in Mexico as a researcher of functional ingredients and feed additives working for Grupo Nutec, conducting various trials to evaluate the efficacy of supplementing feed additives in poultry and swine diets. Dr. Leyva-Jimenez joined United Animal Health in 2020 as an Associate Research Scientist, primarily focusing on poultry nutrition and specialty product research. In 2025, Dr. Leyva-Jimenez advanced to the role of Manager – Global Technical Services, where he provides technical support for poultry and swine on an international scale.

This award is given to stimulate and reward research with ducks and improve the knowledge base of science as applied to commercial duck production. This research should be for a period of not more than 10 years preceding the presentation of the award.

University of Georgia

Dr. Rami Dalloul is the R. Harold Harrison Distinguished Professor of Poultry Science and the Interim Assistant Dean for Research of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia (Athens). He grew up in Lebanon and attended the American University of Beirut where he earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Agriculture (Animal Sciences) and Agricultural Engineering followed by a Master’s degree in Poultry Microbiology. He then joined the University of Maryland (College Park) for his doctoral studies that focused on poultry immunology and gut health. Following a postdoctoral fellowship working on immunity to enteric pathogens, Dr. Dalloul joined the faculty at Virginia Tech University before moving UGA Poultry Science in 2020. His research intersects with several multidisciplinary focus areas investigating host-pathogen interactions during enteric challenges. Particular emphasis is on coccidiosis and clostridial diseases in chickens and turkeys, very impactful diseases of commercial poultry. In this context, his group explores the molecular mechanisms of mucosal immunomodulation and physio-immunological responses of the host during such challenges. Further, his lab employs unique bacterial and parasitic challenge models to interrogate issues of nutritional immunology, specifically applications for enhancing the early development and competence of the immune system as well as promoting a healthy microbiome in commercial poultry.

The National Chicken Council Broiler Research Award recognizes distinctive research work that has a strong economic impact on the broiler industry, primarily on the economic influence the work has had or will have on the industry. It is an annual award.

Mississippi State University

Dr. Pratima Adhikari is an Associate Professor at Mississippi State University, earning tenure and promotion in 2023. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia (2017), where she studied under Dr. Woo Kim, and a DVM from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Her passion for education began during vet school, where she trained technical assistants in various sectors of animal production. Dr. Adhikari balances 60% research and 40% teaching appointment. She has mentored over 35 undergraduate students, 9 graduate students (3 Ph.D. and 6 M.S.), and 3 visiting scholars, while also serving on committees for 16 graduate students. Currently, she supervises 3 Ph.D. and 1 M.S. students. Her teaching portfolio includes courses such as Management of Commercial Layers, Poultry Advanced Nutrition (AA, CHO, and Minerals), Undergraduate Seminar, and direct individual study classes. Additionally, she has co-taught Avian Anatomy and Physiology and Reproduction. She is currently enrolled in the Maroon Academy Teaching Certification course at MS State and serves as an active board member of the National Egg Quality School. Dr. Adhikari’s students have earned more than 12 awards at PSA and IPSF competitions. Her research focuses on laying hen nutrition and gut health management, investigating alternative feed ingredients, feed additives, and nutrient requirements for pullets and layers. Her lab also conducts research on foodborne and poultry health diseases, including Salmonella and E. coli, as well as intervention studies. Beyond academia, she collaborates with various grain-promoting boards such as the United Soybean Board and Almond Board of California to explore nutritional aspects of various feed ingredients. Dr. Adhikari has delivered 20 invited presentations, including 4 international talks, and authored over 131 publications—45 refereed journal articles and 1 book chapter.

This award is given to recognize that excellence in teaching is basic to the future welfare of the poultry industry and to aid continued professional improvement through travel, study, and other means. This is an annual award.

Texas A&M Univesity

Dr. Gregory Archer received his BS from Virginia Tech and they went on to receive a Ph.D in Animal Science from Texas A&M University in 2005. Dr. Archer joined the Poultry Science Department at Texas A&M University as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in 2012 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017 and Professor in 2024. His research focuses on animal health and welfare by investigating means to improve both via environmental and nutritional manipulation. He has served as a section editor for JAPR and on several PSA awards committees. He has published 90 peer reviewed journal articles based on his applied research. He has been listed in Stanford/Elsevier’s Top 2% of Animal Science researchers for the last 4 years. He serves on several advisory boards. Dr. Archer has served as the sole Poultry Extension Specialist for the state of Texas for the last four years and uses his applied research to assist the industry not only in Texas but worldwide. He has previously received the Poultry Science Associations Early Achievement Award for Extension (2015) and the Poultry Science Associations Maple Leaf Farms Duck Research Award (2021). Dr. Archer extension program serves the youth of Texas, both the commercial layer and broiler industry of Texas, the allied poultry industry, small flock owners, county agents, and the poultry industry worldwide.

This award is given to recognize PSA members for conducting an outstanding program of work in the area of poultry extension and outreach during a five-year period. This is an annual award.

University of Connecticut

Dr. Indu Upadhyaya is an Assistant Extension Educator for Poultry and Food Safety at the University of Connecticut, where she leads a comprehensive outreach and applied research program focused on poultry health, product safety, and sustainable production. Her extension work spans the delivery of HACCP trainings, biosecurity education, and egg safety workshops for poultry producers, processors, and 4-H youth across the Northeast. Dr. Upadhyaya serves as a Co-PI on multiple USDA-funded grants, including a $10 million USDA-SAS project where she leads the national extension and outreach team to advance antibiotic-restricted poultry production systems. A veterinarian by training, Dr. Upadhyaya is passionate about translating science into practical solutions for the poultry industry and small-scale producers alike.

This award recognizes the achievements of PSA members in the early stages of their career in poultry extension. It is given every other year.

Adisseo USA

This award recognizes the achievements of PSA members in the early stages of their career in the poultry industry. It is given every other year.

Texas A&M University

Lesley Gleason serves the Department of Poultry Science at Texas A&M University as a Lecturer and Program Manager for Undergraduate Student Development and Industry Relations. Lesley received her B.S. in Poultry Science from Texas A&M University in 2008 and her M.S. in Educational Leadership Studies from Oklahoma State University in 2011. For the past thirteen years Lesley has loved finding new ways to recruit and engage with students from diverse backgrounds. In her role at Texas A&M, Lesley is responsible for undergraduate professional development, industry networking, former student outreach, and undergraduate recruitment. After serving as an academic advisor from 2015–2020, in addition to other duties, Mrs. Gleason became a Lecturer in the department in 2021 where she has taught multiple courses focused on professional development and career exploration including the department’s capstone and internship courses. Mrs. Gleason also serves as the advisor for the Aggie Poultry Ambassadors and previously advised the Poultry Science Club and the International Student Association. Through her career, recruiting quality students to Texas A&M Poultry Science has always been a passion of Lesley’s. For the past decade, Mrs. Gleason has been an integral part of the undergraduate enrollment growth in Poultry Science at Texas A&M. She strives to connect students to the poultry industry and help them succeed in their career goals. Lesley and her husband, Kevin, live in Franklin, Texas and love staying busy with their two daughters, Avery and Hallie.

This award recognizes an individual who, through the use of innovative methods, has significantly improved the recruiting program of a respective department, college, or university. This award is given every other year.

Auburn University

This award acknowledges the contributions by support personnel and to recognize outstanding support of research, extension, or teaching programs in poultry science. This is an annual award.

Hy-Line International

Dr. Petek Settar received her Ph.D. in the Department of Animal Science at Ege University, Türkiye where she also has served as a research assistant. She has completed postdoctoral research appointments at the ARO Volcani Center in Israel and the Department of Animal Breeding at Iowa State University, USA. In 2002, Dr. Settar joined Hy-Line International as an Applied Geneticist. She currently holds the position of Managing Director of R&D department. Dr. Settar has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, symposium abstracts, and two book chapters. She is a frequent presenter at national and international scientific meetings and industry symposia. As a long-standing member of the Poultry Science Association (PSA), she has also served on the board of the USA branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA).

This award recognizes distinctive, outstanding contributions by an industry leader or leaders based upon a broad, even nonscientific, contribution to the poultry industry.

University of Maryland

Dr. Tom Porter became a student member of the Poultry Science Association in 1986, when he presented at his first scientific conference. In 1993, he joined the Department of Poultry Science at Texas A&M University as an Assistant Professor, and in 1997, he was recruited to the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences at the University of Maryland, where he now holds the title Distinguished University Professor. Dr. Porter has served the Poultry Science Association (PSA) nearly continuously for the past 27 years, and he continues to serve PSA. He chaired sessions at annual meetings in 1994, 2002, and 2019. He judged student presentations in 1998, 2009, 2019, and 2022. He was an abstract reviewer in 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2025. He was a member of the Ancillary Scientist Committee (1998–2003), Chair of the High-Wire Press committee (2004–2005), representative to the Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM; 2005–2007), Chair of the Teaching Committee/Novus Intl Teaching Award committee (2010), and served on the Long Range Planning committee (2010–2013). Dr. Porter provided 21 years of continuous service to PSA as Associate Editor (Physiology section, 1995–1998; Immunology and Molecular Biology section, 1999–2004), Section Editor (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology section; 2004–2010), and Editor-in-Chief (2010–2016) for Poultry Science. He was named Fellow of the Poultry Science Association in 2016 in part for his long-term leadership and comitment to the journal Poultry Science. He then continued to serve. He served on the Publications Committee from 2016 to 2021. He served on the Board of Directors from 2020–2024 as 2^nd Vice President, Vice President, President, and Past President. He served as Chair of the PSA-APAC Exploratory Committee from 2023–2024, and he is currently serving as Chair of the PSA-PacRim Organizing Committee for the meeting to be held in Macau, China in October 2025. He is also currently serving on the Nominating Committee (2023–2027). In 2024, Dr. Porter was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his research accomplishments and for his service to scientific associations, including the journal Poultry Science and the Poultry Science Association.

University of West Virginia

His research through the multistate research project “Genetic Bases for Resistance and Immunity to Avian Diseases” is the foundation for studies on genes that affect immune responses. The studies also benefited from specialized chicken lines he developed. Experiments on these lines revealed genetic effects on tumor growth and metastasis caused by chicken viruses. Bob and his collaborators also identified genes and their protein products (s) that impact chicken responses against disease as well as production characteristics. His research has produced 140 refereed scientific journal articles plus 140 abstracts and 51 technical reports. Bob is a Fellow of the Poultry Science Association, past Editor-in-Chief for Poultry Science and an Honorary Life member of the West Virginia Poultry Association. He is a Life Member of the Virginia Chapter of 4-H All Stars.

University of Arkansas

Andi Asnayanti is pursuing her post-doctoral position at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas. She just completed her Ph.D. in the Cell and Molecular Biology program at the University of Arkansas, sponsored by the Fulbright scholarship, last year. She has been studying Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness in broiler chickens under Dr. Adnan Alrubaye's supervision since 2021. Her work has focused on developing innovative mitigation measures for BCO lameness, combining fieldwork with cutting-edge laboratory techniques to address this multifaceted problem through developing experimental BCO models and assessing the selected feed additives and an eBeam BCO vaccine. Before attending her Ph.D. program, she worked in the National Agency of Drugs and Food Control (NADFC) in Indonesia for almost two decades. Her main role was as a laboratory analyst for quality control of biopharmaceuticals and food products, employing microbiology, molecular biology, and immunology testing. She obtained her master’s degree at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, and completed her bachelor’s degree majoring in microbiology at Makassar State University in Indonesia. Through her academic, work, and research experience, she has been involved in a wide range of laboratory testing and research areas, particularly vaccine development by protein recombinant and eBeam irradiation technologies, vaccine quality control testing using mammalian cell lines and animal testing, antimicrobial resistance, genetically modified food testing, food safety, and bacterial bone diseases in chickens. Thus, she is very passionate about researching infectious disease control and prevention for both humans and animals. Overall, her life experience has shaped her resilience, perseverance, professional strength, and commitment to personal development. She believes that continuous self-improvement is required to provide a significant contribution to society.

This award is given to a graduate student for the presentation and publication as senior author of an outstanding research manuscript in Poultry Science® or The Journal of Applied Poultry Research.

University of Alberta

Jo Ann Chew is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, working with Dr. Martin Zuidhof on optimizing pullet rearing via nutritional strategies. Jo Ann developed an interest in poultry research during her BSc in Animal Health at the University of Alberta, following a mini-research project she conducted in the final year of her undergraduate degree, which she presented at her first Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting in 2018. Jo Ann went on to complete her MSc in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan in 2020. Her MSc thesis focused on light intensity during rearing on pullet behaviour and welfare, under the supervision of Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner. Since attending her first PSA meeting, Jo Ann has been actively involved with the Poultry Science Association Student Hatchery, serving as university ambassador (2018–2019), regional director (2019–2021), and student director (2022–2024).This award is given to a graduate student whose training and research in applied poultry sciences may lead to improvements in efficiency and profitability of the egg industry; particularly research that has the potential to have a positive financial impact on the egg industry.