Poultry Science Association honors two Virginia Tech faculty members
Paul Ruszler, Extension poultry specialist emeritus, and Rami Dalloul, assistant professor, both of the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, were honored by the Poultry Science Association (PSA) during its July 14 annual meeting in Denver, Colo.
The PSA is one of the top organizations in the field, and its members include educators, scientists, producers, extension specialists, and administrators.
Ruszler was elected a PSA Fellow, the highest honor that the association bestows. The status of Fellow recognizes members for professional distinction and contributions to the field of poultry science. Ruszler’s work focuses on the commercial egg and pullet industry in Virginia, and his research centers on increasing the efficiency and profitability of commercial egg production, including rearing, nutrition, and management of laying hens. During his career at Virginia Tech, he has served as advisor to the Poultry Science Club and taught graduate and undergraduate poultry production courses.
Ruszler received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Purdue University and went on to receive a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He has served as commercial poultry and egg Extension specialist since 1976 and was granted emeritus status in 2003.
Dalloul received the PSA Early Achievement Award for Research. The award recognizes PSA members in the early stages of their careers in poultry research. Dalloul’s research focuses on host-pathogen interactions of avian pathogens, and nutritional immunology for enhancing development of the immune system in hatchlings. He also is part of the research consortium working to sequence the turkey genome to study immune response and disease resistance. During his career, Dalloul has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Association of Avian Pathologists Bayer-Snoeyenbos New Investigator Award and the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Outstanding Alumnus Early Career Award.
Dalloul received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the American University of Beirut and went on to receive a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland at College Park. He has served as assistant professor at Virginia Tech since 2007.
Written by Liz Guinn, communications assistant in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
