Three faculty members have recently been hired at UW–Madison and UW–River Falls with funding from the Dairy Innovation Hub. These new scientists will support work in the Hub’s four priority areas: stewarding land and water resources, enriching human health and nutrition, ensuring animal health and welfare, and growing farm business and communities.
The Dairy Innovation Hub, funded through a $7.8 million per year investment by the state of Wisconsin, harnesses research and development across the UW–Madison, UW–Platteville and UW–River Falls campuses ensuring that Wisconsin’s $45.6 billion dairy community remains a global pacesetter in producing nutritious dairy products. This is all accomplished with a keen focus on economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
“By infusing faculty focused on the Hub priority areas into departments that match their discipline, we are addressing critical gaps and key research challenges in areas identified by the Hub,” says Hub faculty director Heather White. “Furthermore, these faculty are stimulating collaborations within their departments and colleges, and excitedly, across the three campuses.”
Three new faculty members join thirteen that were already in place from previous rounds of hiring. In addition, there are multiple faculty searches currently in progress. All Hub-funded faculty collaborate with each other and leverage the unique resources across UW–Madison, UW–Platteville, and UW–River Falls.
AT UW–MADISON
Lautaro Rostoll Cangiano, Department of Animal and Dairy Science
Rostoll Cangiano is an assistant professor in animal and dairy sciences with a focus in bovine immunology. In this position, he aims to develop innovative preventative and therapeutic strategies to improve long-term health outcomes in dairy cattle. His appointment began in January 2023.
Rostoll Cangiano will also teach and mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the areas of animal physiology and dairy calf immune development.
Rostoll Cangiano earned his MS in animal science from the University of Florida and PhD in bovine immunology from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.
“One of the main goals of my research is to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that shape immune development in dairy cattle during early life,” says Rostoll Cangiano. “By translating my research into actionable strategies, I hope we can help dairy farmers across the state to improve cattle health while reducing antibiotic use, ultimately improving the sustainability and profitability of the Wisconsin dairy industry.”
Michaela Hoffelmeyer, Department of Community and Environmental Sociology
Hoffelmeyer is an assistant professor of public engagement in agriculture exploring a range of topics including robotics, labor, market concentration, and alternative farm models. In this position, she aims to examine how agricultural resources are accessed and the influence structural inequalities have on food production and environmental stability. Her appointment began in August 2023.
Hoffelmeyer will also teach undergraduate courses on agri-food systems.
Hoffelmeyer earned her BS in global resources systems and public service and administration in agriculture from Iowa State University and PhD in rural sociology with a dual title in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies from Penn State University.
“My areas of research feed into a primary goal of calling on individuals, organizations, institutions, and policy makers to consider if and how we are serving all farmers and celebrating all people involved in agricultural production,” says Hoffelmeyer. “I want people to examine what we mean when we leverage phrases like ‘No farms, no food’ and ‘America needs farmers’ and the degree to which we support underserved farmers and farm workers with this rhetoric.”
About UW–Madison:
The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) is part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, both the flagship and land grant university of Wisconsin. CALS educational and research programs cover fields ranging from physical and life sciences to social science. More than 2,800 undergraduate and 900 graduate students make up CALS 16 academic departments, including 23 undergraduate majors and 47 graduate programs. Research is at the foundation of CALS activities, supported by the 12 agricultural research stations around the state and $95.8 million in funding awarded to CALS faculty and staff since 2021.
AT UW–RIVER FALLS
Maria Jose Fuenzalida, Department of Animal and Food Science
Fuenzalida is an assistant professor in animal and food science specializing in dairy health and management. In this position, she aims to examine how intramammary infections impact fertility, animal health, milk production, and milk quality and determine appropriate and effective strategies for prevention and control. Her appointment began in July 2023.
Fuenzalida will also teach undergraduate courses in dairy and animal sciences with an emphasis on cattle health and management and serve as an academic advisor to undergraduates.
Fuenzalida earned her MS and PhD in dairy science from UW–Madison.
“During my master and PhD programs, I had a great mentor who taught me the importance of mastitis and dairy cow health,” says Fuenzalida. “I aim to build a laboratory that invites students to learn about dairy health and management research through high impact hands-on experiences.”
About UW–River Falls:
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls enrolls 1,700 undergraduate students across 14 different majors. Two laboratory farms, a greenhouse complex, food processing plants, including a newly renovated dairy pilot plant, specialized laboratory facilities, intercollegiate competitive teams, and a very successful industry internship program, contribute to the College’s active learning environment which emphasizes hands-on experiences in real world settings. UW–River Falls is located on 226 acres 30 miles from downtown St. Paul, Minn., and is a leader in exemplary teaching, undergraduate research, and sustainability efforts.
Contact: Maria Woldt, Dairy Innovation Hub program manager, (608) 265-4009, maria.woldt@wisc.edu