Dawn A Koltes

Dr. Dawn Koltes joined Iowa State University in 2017 as a faculty member. Her research explores the effects of various environmental stressors on gastrointestinal physiology and bird performance. Specifically, her research interests involve understanding the effects of environmental stressors on host-microbe interaction and its impact on overall performance in poultry. Her laboratory group is currently focusing understanding the effects of hen housing on both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial species between different laying hen housing systems under commercial settings and more controlled research settings at the Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm; the effects of feed additives on intestinal health and egg performance including microbial contamination of the egg in broiler breeders and layers; and will expand into understanding the effects of dietary and environmental factors that contribute to intestinal health that may be leading to increased morbidity and mortalities in the turkey industry at the new Stanley L. Balloun Teaching and Research Facility. A majority of her focus is devoted to teaching and engaging students in the poultry industry and poultry research. She contributes to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level in the Animal Science department, but she also contributes to teaching in the Midwest Poultry Consortium Center of Excellence program, outreach programs such as the Iowa FFA Career Development and Educational program and advising of the Block and Bridle Poultry Interest Group. Additionally, she also integrates undergraduate projects within her research program to spark interest in poultry and research in undergraduate students.