Jorge Hidalgo

Jorge Hidalgo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at the University of Georgia (since August 2023). He earned his PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from UGA in 2021, following a Master's and Bachelor's from Universidad Autónoma Chapingo in Mexico.

His research focuses on genomic evaluations for livestock, particularly in:

• Statistical methods for large-scale genomic data
• Crossbred populations (beef-on-dairy)
• Categorical trait analysis (diseases, mortality)
• Social interaction models in breeding
• Heat tolerance in cattle

Recent publications highlight his work in:

• Genomic prediction optimization
• Run-of-homozygosity analysis
• Machine learning techniques
• Metafounder methodologies
• GxE interactions
• Selection signature studies

Awards include Outstanding Graduate (2024) and leadership in a USDA NIFA grant (2023-2028) on negative effects of genomic selection. He teaches ADSC 3110: Introduction to Genetics of Livestock Improvement and serves in UGA's Graduate Program Faculty until 2028.