VERO Doctoral Student Wins National Meat Science Research Award

Brennen Hunt, a second-year doctoral student in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (VMBS) Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach (VERO) program, earned first place in the student research poster competition at the 79th annual Reciprocal Meat Conference.

This flagship meeting of the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) was hosted this year by VERO’s partnership institution, West Texas A&M University, in Amarillo and Canyon; it brought together researchers, educators, students, and industry professionals from around the world to share advances in meat science, food safety, and animal agriculture.

The student research poster competition at the Reciprocal Meat Conference recognizes excellence in scientific research and communication among undergraduate and graduate students. 

Hunt received the award and a $1,000 scholarship for presenting his research on “Targeted Sequencing Enables Greater Detection of Salmonella enterica in Complex Samples,” conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Morley, director of research at VERO and Sally Rau McIntosh Endowed Chair at the VMBS. 

“Brennen’s success reflects the exceptional work and dedication he brings to his graduate program, and this is a tremendous accomplishment for him,” Morley said. “For nearly eight decades, the Reciprocal Meat Conference has been recognized as the premier gathering for meat science researchers, educators, students, and industry professionals. Earning first place among such a talented group of graduate students is a significant achievement.”

Hunt’s research addresses challenge of detecting Salmonella in beef products and cattle production systems, where traditional methods may fail to identify the bacteria when they are present at very low levels within complex microbial communities. 

“Detecting Salmonella in complex samples can be extremely difficult when only small numbers of bacteria are present,” Hunt said. “Our approach enriches Salmonella DNA before sequencing, making it easier to detect and characterize specific strains. We hope this tool will help researchers better understand how Salmonella moves through cattle and beef production systems and support new strategies for reducing its impact on animal and public health.”

“Because of its importance to both public health and the beef industry, developing better tools to detect and characterize Salmonella is directly relevant to the VERO program’s mission and the needs of our stakeholders,” Morley said. “Research like Brennen’s provides new tools that strengthen science-based approaches to improving food safety.”

Hunt earned his bachelor’s degree in microbiology, with a minor in classics, from the University of Arizona. Prior to graduate school, he worked in a clinical microbiology laboratory in Tucson, where he analyzed bacteria, fungi, and parasites from patient samples. His experience working with multidrug-resistant organisms helped shape his interest in research focused on animal and public health.

This recognition highlights the impact of research conducted at the VMBS VERO program, where faculty and students work together to develop innovative solutions that advance animal health, food safety, and veterinary medicine through applied, industry-relevant research.