Tennessee Tech Poultry Science Program Bolsters Industry
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Poultry is one of Tennessee’s top agricultural sectors, and in response to the growing need for skilled poultry science professionals, Tennessee Tech University is leading the charge.
In December 2022, the university opened its new Poultry Science Research Center, including the Aviagen Poultry Science Laboratory. The state-of-the-art facility offers research-driven, hands-on opportunities for both faculty and students in the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology.
Experiential Learning
“There are lots of universities out there that have animal science programs, but Tennessee Tech stands out for the experiential learning approach to things,” says assistant professor Victoria Ayres of Tennessee Tech’s School of Agriculture. “For example, students are handling animals by week three of their Introduction to Animal Science Lab. This is phenomenal.”
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With the facilities for research and study in place, the university launched a new concentration in the fall of 2023.
“The poultry science concentration is in addition to our new bachelor of science in animal science degree,” Ayers says. “We now have three different concentrations: pre-veterinary science, animal science industries and poultry science.”
Industry-Ready Grads
The poultry science concentration will help meet the need for professionals in the poultry science industry, where career opportunities abound.
“Tennessee is home to two very big poultry genetics companies,” Ayres adds. “Students can enter the poultry industry in a variety of career paths. For example, they can work in hatcheries, feed mills, broiler houses or processing plants.”
The program is still young, but it’s positioned for strong impact.
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“We’ve been operational for over a year, and we’re gaining more traction,” Ayres says. “We’ll attract more students over time, and we already have a lot of Tech alumni working in the poultry industry. Companies say they like our grads, so I’m hoping to continue that reputation. Giving students real-world experience allows them to hit the ground running when they apply for industry positions.”
From Passion to Profession
One student with a promising future in poultry science is senior Emily Lawrence, who will graduate in 2025 with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture with a concentration in poultry science.
Lawrence started her college career in ag education with a passion for sheep and livestock. “Then I took a class in animal science, and Dr. Ayres was my professor. I grew to really respect her and became her teacher’s assistant for a few classes,” Lawrence says. “She also asked if I wanted to be a student worker because she needed help in the poultry science program. With her help, I grew to love poultry.”
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That love extends to learning outside the classroom. For example, the School of Agriculture took a group of students to the International Production and Processing Expo, a three-day industry event in Atlanta with hundreds of companies in attendance.
“From that trip, I got an internship with JBS Pilgrim’s, where I worked as a live operations intern,” Lawrence says. “When I came back to Tech, Dr. Ayres asked me to lead a research study here, and I’m also the vice president of our Poultry Science Club. Our main goal is to make learning as hands-on as possible.”
After graduation, Lawrence plans to keep learning by pursuing a master’s degree and Ph.D. She credits her time at Tennessee Tech with her future career trajectory.
“The advancements of the facilities, the hands-on learning, the dedicated faculty committed to the success of students – it’s truly changed my life.”