CAHNR Recognizes Research Success At Annual Event

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) recently celebrated another year of innovative research during an event organized by Kumar Venkitanarayanan, CAHNR's associate dean for research and graduate education, and his team.

"These grants support projects that address critical issues in sustainable agriculture, human, animal, and environmental health, and many other areas," says Indrajeet Chaubey, CAHNR dean. "They also support the goal that underlies everything we do at CAHNR: to find solutions that benefit communities here in Connecticut and far beyond."

Pamir Alpay, vice president for research, innovation and entrepreneurship (left) with Jason Vokoun, head of the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

CAHNR researcher Tracy Rittenhouse (left) with CAHNR researcher Sudha Srinivasan. (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

Steve Szcepanek from the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science (left), Dean Indrajeet Chaubey (center) and Guillermo Risatti (right) from the CT Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

VPRIE Pamir Alpay and Dean Indrajeet Chaubey (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

From left, Maria Gracia Gervasi from the Department of Animal Science, Indu Upadhyaya from UConn Extension, Abhinav Upadhyay, and Elias Uddin, both from the Department of Animal Science. (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

Chief of Staff Michelle Williams (left), CAHNR Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Kumar Venkitanarayanan (center), and Head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science Paulo Verardi (right)

Justin Nash, head of the Department of Allied Health Sciences. (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

Emily Wilson (left) and Stacey Stearns (right) from UConn Extension (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

Tricia Leahy, director of InCHIP and professor of allied health sciences (left) and Clinton Mathias, associate professor of nutritional sciences (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

Beth Lawrence (left) and Ashley Helton (right) researchers from the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

In fiscal year 2024, CAHNR faculty secured $34.5 million in new research awards, underscoring the continued impact and importance of their work. This achievement marks a significant trajectory of growth. Since 2019, CAHNR's annual research funding has grown from $20.7 million. Additionally, research expenditures reached a five-year high at nearly $34.9 million.

"I am immensely proud of our faculty and staff whose dedication and innovation contributed to the incredible success in securing grants" says Venkitanarayanan. "It is a testament of the impact of their research in advancing the frontiers of knowledge and solving real-world challenges."

The celebration brought together leaders from across UConn, including Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Pamir Alpay and Chief of Staff Michelle Williams, to recognize the faculty's accomplishments.

"CAHNR continues to embrace UConn's proud history as an agricultural school while building programs and conducting research into the fields that are changing the world for the better," says Alpay.