Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
What brought you to the Animal Welfare Program?
I was first attracted to the Animal Welfare Program because of its world-class reputation as a leader in animal welfare science and because of the chance to work with outstanding scientists in this field. I was also very attracted to the possibility of applying social science methods to questions about animal welfare, while remaining in an applied animal science setting.
What have you been doing since graduating from the AWP?
Since graduating from the AWP I have secured a position in the faculty of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota, where I lead animal welfare teaching efforts for undergraduates in the department.
I am also very interested in how knowledge generated by animal welfare scientists can be leveraged into realistic and implementable change for animals in practice. My research interests therefore focus on better understanding the human element of animal welfare, especially how various stakeholder groups interpret animal welfare challenges and perceive barriers to resolution. My applied research interests relate mainly to pain mitigation for routine procedures and how enrichment may be used to improve animal behaviour and welfare outcomes at a commercial scale.
What advice would you give to students?
My advice for current students and recent graduates is to seek out every experience to work with animals, in as many contexts as possible (even if it’s not your preferred species of interest). Likewise, if you’re interested in research, connect with professors teaching classes you enjoy, and inquire as to whether they’re in need of research assistants. Get involved with research to see if you enjoy the process. Build your online profile and network and connect to as many professionals in the field as possible (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).
You can find me on social media at https://twitter.com/drsassenach and https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-ventura-861835a4/
