By Blake Jackson
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) has granted four faculty research fellowships aimed at expanding dairy-focused research through the Dairy Innovation Hub.
These fellowships will support projects within the Hub’s four core priorities: land and water stewardship, human health and nutrition, animal welfare, and dairy business development.
Backed by a $7.8 million annual investment from the state of Wisconsin, the Dairy Innovation Hub unites research efforts across UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls.
The goal is to strengthen Wisconsin’s $52.8 billion dairy industry through sustainable, science-based advancements. Since its inception in 2019, the initiative has funded nearly 250 research projects.
Each faculty research fellowship is a temporary position offered to permanent faculty, allowing them to focus on specific research goals while receiving support for related expenses and teaching adjustments.
The following faculty from UW-River Falls have been selected for this year’s fellowship awards:
Jill Coleman Wasik - A professor in the Department of Plant and Earth Science, Coleman Wasik’s project investigates how nutrients and pollutants, especially neonicotinoid insecticides, move through the soil and affect groundwater.
Using experimental plots at Mann Valley Farm, the research focuses on improving land use practices to protect water quality. “Monitoring nutrient and contaminant flux through soils with experimental plots at Mann Valley Farm” targets the geological vulnerabilities of western Wisconsin to help safeguard drinking water.
Maria Jose Fuenzalida - An assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Science, Fuenzalida studies milk quality and udder health. Her research project, “Management and housing practices related to bulk tank milk butterfat and protein concentration in Wisconsin dairy herds,” aims to identify best practices that influence key milk quality traits. “By identifying which strategies work best and how they’re implemented,” she notes, “this research aims to help farmers boost milk quality, support profitability, and meet evolving consumer demands.”
Azhar Uddin - Assistant professor in agricultural economics, Uddin is conducting a feasibility study for a proposed Choice and Sensory Evaluation Lab (CSEL). His project, “Feasibility assessment for establishing a Choice and Sensory Evaluation Lab (CSEL) at UW–River Falls,” explores infrastructure, market demand, and sustainability to support dairy product development and enhance student learning.
Bob Zeng (Agricultural Engineering Technology) Zeng’s project, “Development of Dairy Forage Fractionation (DFF) equipment,” focuses on creating a machine to separate protein-rich components from forage crops. This system could enhance feed quality and reduce costs for dairy farmers through “a practical, sustainable solution for the dairy industry.”
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Categories: Wisconsin, Education