Connie Rojas, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of California, Davis

Andres Gomez

Assistant Professor

UMN

Ermias Kebreab

Associate Dean of Global Engagement and Director of World Food Center

University of California, Davis

Dr. Ermias Kebreab is Associate Dean of Global Engagement and Director of World Food Center at University of California, Davis. He also holds the Sesnon Endowed Chair in Sustainable Agriculture. He conducts research in nutrition modeling and impact of livestock on the environment. He is contributing author to 2019 IPCC update, chairs the methane committee of UN FAO and delivered a TED talk in 2021. He is a member of National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Committee on nutrient requirement of dairy cattle. He has authored over 250 peer-reviewed articles and over 150 invited presentations globally. He received several awards including Excellence in Ruminant Nutrition and International Agriculture from American Society of Animal Science. Dr. Kebreab received BSc from University of Asmara, Eritrea, MSc and Ph.D. from University of Reading, UK.

Matt Koci

Professor - Viral and Mucosal Immunology

North Carolina State University

Matt Koci got his BS in Biology from Virginia Tech, followed by his MS and PhD from the University of Georgia. Following a post-doc at the University of Wisconsin, he joined the faculty at NC State where he is professor of viral and mucosal immunology in the Prestage Department of Poultry Science. His lab focuses on gut health and enteric diseases of poultry. It was this research and the need for novel ways to augment the avian immune system that led his group to study the microbiome. 

Ben Willing, PhD

Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair - Microbiology of Nutrigenomics

University of Alberta

Dr. Benjamin Willing is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Microbiology of Nutrigenomics at the University of Alberta.  He and his team have made important contributions in the understanding of microbes in intestinal development, inflammatory bowel disease, infection resistance, and metabolic health. His research group is working to understand both fundamental and applied questions in gut microbiology. Fundamental research includes identifying mechanisms through which specific core members of the microbiome regulate host physiology using germfree rodent and piglet models. Applied questions include utilizing diet and microbiome to shape immune development to support resistance to enteric pathogens and general disease resilience of poultry and swine.