Romdhane Rekaya

Romdhane Rekaya serves as a Professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science within the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia. He also holds courtesy faculty positions in the Department of Statistics and is an associate faculty member with the Institute of Bioinformatics at UGA. His research program focuses on developing statistical and computational tools for analyzing large genetic and genomic datasets with applications in livestock, poultry, and human health.

Dr. Rekaya's educational background includes:

• Agriculture Engineer from the High Institute of Agriculture, Tunisia
• Master of Science from the International Center for Advanced Studies in Mediterranean Agriculture of Zaragoza, Spain
• Ph.D. from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain

Dr. Rekaya's research interests span quantitative genetics, genomics, biostatistics, and bioinformatics. His work centers on developing statistical and computational methodologies for analyzing big genetic and genomic data sets with practical applications in livestock, poultry, and human health. His research has been particularly focused on addressing critical challenges in animal agriculture including horn fly resistance in beef cattle, water utilization efficiency in poultry, and greenhouse gas emissions in dairy production. His methodological approaches often integrate machine learning, Bayesian statistics, and genomic technologies to solve complex biological problems.

Dr. Rekaya's publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on statistical methodology development for genetic analysis, with recent work increasingly emphasizing practical applications of genomic technologies in animal agriculture. His research spans both theoretical statistical development and practical implementation in livestock improvement programs, with particular emphasis on innovative approaches to traditional breeding challenges.

Among his professional recognitions:

• Student Career Success Influencer Award 2024
• Mini-Sabbatical Award
• Student Career Success Influencer Award 2022
• Carnegie fellowship
• Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow
• Faculty with significant positive impact of at least one graduate student
• Gamma Sigma Delta outstanding Research Achievements Award

Dr. Rekaya has successfully mentored numerous graduate students including PhD candidates Amanda Warner, Mahsa Zare, Koushik Das, and Evan Hartono, along with undergraduate researchers. His research has been consistently supported by major funding agencies including USDA NIFA, USDA ARS, Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Beef, National Academy of Sciences, and industry partners including Tyson Foods and Cobb-Vantress. Current projects include developing genetic solutions to the horn fly problem in beef cattle, improving water utilization efficiency in poultry, and examining associations between greenhouse gas emissions and feed efficiency in dairy cattle.

Dr. Rekaya leads an active research laboratory that collaborates with multiple departments and institutions. His lab focuses on applying advanced statistical and computational methods to solve pressing problems in animal agriculture, with particular emphasis on integrating genomic information into practical breeding programs. The lab maintains strong industry connections and international collaborations, particularly with researchers in Africa through the African Animal Breeding Network.