Jessica Hayward

Jessica Hayward is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on veterinary genetics, particularly canine, feline, and equine species, using genomic approaches to understand disease traits and develop non-invasive biomarkers. She is affiliated with the Cornell Veterinary Biobank and the Center for Vertebrate Genomics.

• PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Auckland (2009)
• Postdoctoral work at Cornell University (Canine Influenza Virus, later shifting to canine genetics)

Her research spans veterinary genetics, bioinformatics, and biomarker development. Key projects include genome-wide association studies for glaucoma, deafness, and cancer in companion animals, alongside developing animal variant classification guidelines. She contributes to computational genomics by improving genotype imputation methods.

Recent publications highlight her work on gastric cancer in dogs (2025), variant classification frameworks (2024), and orthopedic trait mapping (2023-2016). Her studies often integrate comparative medicine approaches, linking animal models to human health insights.