Bridging the gap

Horses sit at several important intersections of science and culture; they are both livestock and companion animal, they have a rich history in urban and rural America, in science they are used as a model for those studying health and athleticism, in agriculture they are a source of power and a consumer of forage and feeds. Conducting research with horses represents a unique opportunity for students with an interest in cutting edge science performed using animals that have a long and rich history in agriculture.

Program Overview

Increasing urbanization has led to a dramatic decrease in students with direct livestock health and production experience before starting college. This results in a student base with decreased knowledge of the agriculture industry and animal health practices. In contrast, the agriculture industry is advancing rapidly in regards to animal health with the incorporation of precision agriculture concepts. This widening gap leads to a shortage in qualified workforce applicants. To directly address this need, a network of four, geographically diverse universities have developed a collaborative, innovative undergraduate research fellowship program focused on equine health and production. Students with an interest in learning more about animal science and/or agriculture will be recruited with specific efforts to recruit from underrepresented groups. 

The overall program objectives include: (1) provide immersive, equine health focused, experiential research opportunities to undergraduate students; (2) strengthen leadership and essential employability skills of participants; and (3) increase the number of students prepared for careers in animal health and production and/or science focused graduate programs. 

Through the 8-week summer fellowship program, students will complete educational modules, establish professional networking connections, and engage in individual research projects focused on equine health concepts using precision health monitoring technology and traditional methods. Much of this work will be conducted using the horse as a scientific model. Completion of the summer program will address a critical workforce need by helping students learn technical, leadership, and employability skills in order to prepare them for animal health and production careers or for graduate programs.

Bridging the Gap Project is a United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Food and Agriculture Science Enhancement funded grant focused on Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU, Program Code A7401) geared towards Education and Workforce Development (Funding Opportunity USDA-NIFA-AFRI-009041; Award Number2023-68018-40320).