Pigs, Poultry, the Planet and Data-Driven Problem-Solving, also known as P4, is a Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU) summer fellowship program. The P4 program is designed to develop the next generation of data-savvy food animal production professionals, extension associates, and researchers.
Headed by project director Dr. Natalie Nelson, six students from NC State, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Pennsylvania State University will gain skills in data science,data-driven problem solving, holistic evaluation of food animal production systems, global thinking, and technical communications.
“Few summer programs offer such a wide range of professional and cultural experiences, from gaining highly-marketable skills to traveling overseas,” notes Nelson. “Our hope is that fellows who graduate from the program will have an increased understanding of data science’s role in fostering sustainable swine and poultry production in a global economy.”
With funding from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), students in this program will travel to China for two weeks and receive a stipend while they take part in this hands-on education. This trip will facilitate a knowledge and culture exchange with scholars at China Agricultural University and Zhejiang University, and learn about international food animal production systems.
“The U.S. and China are two of the top swine and poultry producers in the world, making the international component of the program particularly relevant to the professional development of our students,” adds Nelson.
In this program, students will learn how to apply data-driven analytics and problem-solving to address issues surrounding global intensification of poultry and swine production. The program takes place at NC State in partnership with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. They will work on a data-driven research project under the supervision of faculty mentors and visit poultry and swine production facilities in North Carolina. P4 students will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals in the food animal production and data analytics industries and attend a national conference.
Nelson was awarded this grant from the USDA NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Educational Literacy Initiative’s Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates grant program (grant no. 2019-67032-29074/project accession no. 1018043) to create this new REEU program at NC State. P4 fellows receive a stipend, on-campus housing, and meal allowance.
Learn more about the P4 mentors, specific projects in the program and more.
Undergraduate Fellows
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Austin Brown
Pennsylvania State University Major: Animal Science, minoring in Information Systems and Statistical Analysis |
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Amanda Dean
North Carolina State University Major: Agribusiness Management, Biological Sciences concentration |
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Jasmine Gibson
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Major: Biological Engineering |
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Elise Laudenslager
Pennsylvania State University Major: Agricultural and Extension Education, minoring in International Agriculture |
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Asya Macon
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Animal Science |
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Gail Murray
North Carolina State University Poultry Science |
Faculty Mentors
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Dr. Praveen Kolar
Biological and Agricultural Engineering NC State |
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Dr. Lingjuan Li
Biological and Agricultural Engineering NC State |
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Dr. Natalie Nelson
Biological and Agricultural Engineering NC State |
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Dr. Ralph Noble
Animal Sciences NC A&T |
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Dr. Edgar Oviedo-Rondón
Prestage Department of Poultry Science NC State |
Graduate Student Assistants
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Suraiya Akter (Ph.D.) NC State University Dissertation title: Mitigating heat stress for enhanced broiler performance and welfare |
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Lise Montefiore (Ph.D.) NC State University Dissertation title: Impacts of climate and land use change on runoff-driven nutrient loading to coastal systems |
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Derek West (M.S.) NC State University Thesis title: Responses of broiler performance, welfare parameters, and litter characteristics to air velocity treatments |
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Emine Fidan (Ph.D.) NC State University |