Google Grant Gives NC State’s Poultry Science Program a Serious Data Science Boost

Raleigh, NC (2024): Hold onto your feathers, folks! The Google Community Grants Fund just threw some serious support behind four bright minds at North Carolina State University’s (NC State) Prestage Department of Poultry Science (PDPS). We’re talking about a grant that’s gonna let these students – Caleb Marshall, Brendan Heinichen, Hannah Gentry, and John Caceres – dive headfirst into the prestigious Ag Data Science certificate program. Translation? They’re about to become data-crunching, AI-wielding poultry pros.

Riding the Data Wave: Why This Matters

This grant couldn’t have come at a better time. The agricultural analytics market is about to explode like a popcorn chicken craze, going from a respectable eight hundred million dollars in twenty twenty to a mind-blowing one point four billion by twenty twenty-five. That’s according to the folks over at Markets and Markets, who clearly know their onions (or should we say, chicken feed?). This massive demand for data-savvy peeps puts these four grads in the driver’s seat, ready to rule the coop as soon as those diplomas are in hand.

From Chickens to Code: Bridging the Gap

“Let’s be real, the poultry industry is straight-up craving masters and doctoral graduates who don’t just know their way around a chicken coop,” explains Dr. Peter Ferket, the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Biotechnology at PDPS (talk about a mouthful!). “They need folks who can wrangle data and make AI dance to their tune.” And that’s where this Google grant swoops in like a superhero in a feathery cape. “It’s giving our students the power to conquer data analytics, modeling, machine learning – all that cool stuff that’ll make them the top roosters and hens in this ever-changing field,” says Dr. Ferket.

Google: Betting Big on the Future of Farming

This isn’t just a win for these students; it’s a big ol’ feather in Google’s cap too. This grant shows they’re serious about backing innovation in agriculture, and they’re not just throwing money at it and hoping for the best. Nope, they’re getting their hands dirty (figuratively, of course). Lilyn Hester, the Head Honcho of Southeast External Affairs and Government Relations at Google, even swung by PDPS in May to meet the scholarship winners and hear all about their research. Talk about commitment!

“At Google, we’re all about nurturing the next generation of rockstars in poultry science,” says Hester. “We’re firm believers that data is the magic sauce when it comes to tackling the tough nuts in agriculture. These scholarships are just one way we’re investing in the future of this essential industry. We see how data analytics and AI can totally revolutionize the way we farm, and we’re here for it.”

Meet the Data-Driven Poultry Squad

So, who are these lucky ducks who snagged the Google grant? Let’s meet the brainy bunch who are about to turn the poultry world on its head:

• Brendan Heinichen (PhD Candidate): “This award is like hitting the jackpot for my academic career,” says Heinichen, clearly stoked about the opportunity. “This funding means I can really nerd out on data management and statistical analysis within my poultry science and nutrition research.” Mentored by the one-and-only Dr. Ferket, Heinichen’s research dives deep into optimizing turkey growth and nutrition models. We’re talking using AI software to analyze data from environmental sensors and figuring out how commercial and experimental growth perform. This is next-level poultry stuff, folks.



• Caleb Marshall (PhD Candidate): Marshall’s on a mission to inject some serious data analytics and modeling skills into his dissertation research, which focuses on – you guessed it – precision nutrition and sustainability in the poultry industry. “Thanks to Google’s awesome support,” he says, “I’m aiming to sharpen my skills and use them to make the global poultry industry way more sustainable.” Someone give this guy a round of applause!
• Hannah Gentry (Professional Science Master in Poultry Science): Gentry’s a multitasking marvel. She’s not just going for a Professional Science Master in Poultry Science, she’s also gunning for graduate certificates in feed science and – wait for it – Ag data science. “This scholarship lets me combine my love for poultry and math by diving into a poultry data analytics project,” Gentry shares. “It’s the golden ticket to developing the skills I need for an awesome career in data analysis within the poultry world.”
• John Caceres (PhD Candidate): Under the watchful eye of Dr. Yan Campbell, Caceres is digging into how different broiler production systems affect meat quality. His mission? To develop predictive models and decision-making tools that’ll make the industry way more efficient. “I’m all about using data analytics, innovation, and sustainable processing techniques to make a real difference in the poultry industry,” Caceres states. We can definitely get behind that!

Data: The Secret Sauce for a Tastier (and More Sustainable) Future

This Google Community Grant is like a shot of espresso for the poultry science field, giving these four brilliant students the fuel they need to become trailblazers. By arming them with top-notch data science skills, this investment is setting the stage for mind-blowing research, game-changing discoveries, and a poultry industry that’s not just tastier but also way more sustainable. We can’t wait to see what they cook up next!