Eric Wong named John W. Hancock Professor in Animal Science
Eric Wong of Blacksburg, professor of animal and poultry sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was named the John W. Hancock Professor in Animal Sciences by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board’s quarterly meeting on June 20.
The John W. Hancock Professor in Animal and Poultry Sciences was established in 1985 by Hancock to honor the services and assistance provided to him by Gary Minish, George Litton, and Dan Kite, former animal sciences faculty members.
Wong's research interests include a molecular analysis of genes that play an important role in regulating growth of farm animals. One of his major projects involves an analysis of the development-specific expression of nutrient (amino acids, peptides, sugars) transporter genes in the small intestine of chickens in response to changes in diet.Wong chairs the Virginia Tech Biotechnology Oversight Committee, which reviews all research at Virginia Tech that involves recombinant DNA.
In addition, Wong has consistently demonstrated outstanding achievements in undergraduate teaching, graduate student training, and outreach.
Wong received his bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from the University of California at San Diego. He also completed postdoctoral work at the University of Utah with Mario Capecchi, professor of human genetics and recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
