Meet Carolyn Lee, our latest addition to Farm Journal’s PORK’s Up & Coming Leaders feature. We are showcasing some of the fresh, new voices of the pork industry who combine innovative thought and work ethic with scientific savvy and a passion to make a difference.
Age: 27
Hometown: Wadsworth, Ohio
Education: Bachelor’s degree, The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio; pursuing PhD, College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University
Q. How did you become interested in the swine industry?
A. Before joining graduate school at The Ohio State University, I did not have much interaction with the swine industry, outside of seeing pigs at the local county fair. However, growing up in Ohio has allowed me to gain a deep appreciation of the importance of a rich agricultural industry. A short while after joining graduate school, I was given a project that involved engineering and testing a novel African swine fever (ASF) vaccine developed at OSU. During this project, I developed a deep interest in the swine industry and how my research has the potential to help the pork industry face disease challenges.
Q. Describe (briefly) any internship experiences you’ve had.
A. During the summer before my senior year of undergraduate school, I had a summer internship in Dr. Scott Kenney’s laboratory at in the Center for Food Animal Health at OSU. This is where I was first exposed to zoonotic disease research that aims to prevent and control diseases that make animals sick and in turn have the potential to transmit to humans through the food supply. During this internship, I saw the impact I could have on making animals and people healthier, and this ultimately led me to pursuing a graduate degree in the field of animal health.
Q. Describe your undergraduate research experiences.
A. I was fortunate to attend The College of Wooster, which, since 2002, consistently ranks in U.S. News as America’s premier college for mentored undergraduate research. It was there that I completed a senior independent study capstone project, relating to cystic fibrosis disease progression, and gained a solid foundation in the skills needed to pursue a career in research.
Q. Describe any other swine-related experiences you’ve had as a young person.
A. Joining the Real Pork Scholars Program has been a life-changing experience for me, as someone relatively new to the swine industry. This program has allowed me to better connect with the pork industry outside of the laboratory setting and has allowed my research to be more translatable to the producers. Furthermore, through this program, I am gaining communication and networking skills that will be valuable as I enter the workforce.
Q. Tell us about your current research.
A. The research I am conducting in my graduate program involves the evaluation of a novel nanoparticle-based African swine fever virus (ASFV) vaccine platform. The preliminary study assessing immune responses following vaccination provided us with promising results, that we will use to apply for further funding to evaluate our vaccine’s protection against ASF challenge. We are very fortunate to have a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) facility on our OSU campus, which is equipped to safely work with the virus in containment.
Q. What is your generation’s greatest challenge?
A. The threat of foreign animal disease introduction into the U.S. remains the greatest challenge for our generation going into the swine industry. However, I am confident in the resilience of the pork industry and am proud to be a part of the industry leaders working to help the industry be better prepared for such events.
Editor’s Note: Lee is part of the National Pork Board’s Pork Scholars Program, intended to develop highly trained professionals who are dedicated to a career in the U.S. swine industry. The program includes a research component with a cooperating university, a practical on-farm experience with an industry cooperator and cross-training across more than one academic discipline (i.e. genetics and data science).
