KSU ASI's Chao Presented AMSA Distinguished Achievement Award
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Dr. Michael Chao, Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) assistant professor, was presented the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award by the American Meat Science Association (AMSA). The award recognizes young AMSA members who demonstrate significant skills in muscle foods research and technology that contribute to the animal products industry and the AMSA.
The award was presented Tuesday, June 27 during the AMSA 76th Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) awards presentation.
“Michael is a well-deserving recipient of this award from AMSA. The award recognizes his excellent research and contributions to the meat industry and AMSA. Congratulations!” says Dr. Mike Day, K-State ASI department head.
Chao is a meat scientist with research interests in meat lipidomic and developing niche meat processing techniques to serve the needs of domestic-ethnic and international markets.
He grew up in Taiwan until the age of 15, when his family moved to the Los Angeles suburb of San Marino. A desire to be a veterinarian led him to University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to major in animal science. The introduction to animal science class his freshman year opened his eyes to the opportunities in livestock production. He earned both his bachelor's (2007) and master's (2011) degrees from UC Davis and then his doctorate in animal science with a specialization in meat science and muscle biology from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2015.
As an assistant professor at K-State, his appointment is 60% research and 40% teaching. In his role at K-State, he has taught the Meat We Eat Cat Community, Undergraduate Research-Meat Science Section, Advanced Meat Science, Fresh Meat Technology and the Meat Science Seminar.
Chao has conducted and published research work related to goat meat quality. He has published 24 peer-reviewed papers, 34 research reports and 56 scientific abstracts with 17 funded grants totaling more than $800,000 awarded as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator.
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The Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry department serves students, livestock producers and the animal and food industries through teaching, research and education. The K-State ASI department prepares students for careers in the animal and food industries. The curriculum includes the study of nutrition, reproduction, genetics, behavior, meat science, food science with production, management, and agribusiness skills.