Heather J Huson

Heather J Huson is an Associate Professor of Animal Genetics in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), with joint appointments in the College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Biomedical Sciences. Her research spans multiple species including working dogs, dairy cattle, musk ox, and small ruminants, focusing on genetic improvement, population structure, adaptation, and genomic tool development.

Dr. Huson's educational background includes:

• Post-Doctoral Researcher at USDA-ARS, Bovine Functional Genomics, Beltsville, MD
• Doctorate in Molecular Genetics from University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK; National Institutes of Health Graduate Partnership Program, Bethesda, MD (2011)
• VTL, Alaska State Veterinary Technician License (2002)
• Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Cornell University (1997)
• Associate of Science, Math and Science from Jefferson Community College, Watertown, NY (1995)

Dr. Huson's research program uses genomic tools to investigate ancestry, relatedness, and genetic regulation of traits across domestic and wild species. Her primary focus areas include working dog genetics (particularly sled dogs), dairy cattle health traits, and musk ox conservation. She studies the genetics of athletic performance, behavior, health, and adaptation across species, with specific projects examining the human-canine bond and public perspectives on extreme conformation in dog breeds. In dairy cattle research, she investigates disease genetics, crossbreeding effects, and epigenetic inheritance related to disease and performance.

Dr. Huson's recent publications reveal her expertise in comparative genomics across species, with particular emphasis on sled dog evolution, working dog performance genetics, and dairy cattle health traits. Her research bridges historical analysis with modern genomic techniques, identifying connections between genetic variants and phenotypic traits across diverse populations.

Dr. Huson has received notable recognition for her work:

• 2022 CALS Rising Star Faculty Award for demonstrating extraordinary promise early in her career
• 2017 Atkinson Center Faculty Fellow

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Huson directs the Cornell Raptor Program (CRP), which houses approximately 25 resident birds of prey. She teaches courses including ANSC 1130: Introduction to Captive Raptor Husbandry, ANSC 2210/5210: Principles of Animal Genetics, and ANSC 3310/6310: Applied Dairy Cattle Genetics. She mentors post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers who learn laboratory techniques, animal handling, and genomic data analysis. Her team collaborates with guide, detection, and assistance dog groups, as well as dairy cattle producers.

Dr. Huson leads the Odyssey DNA Lab, which supports her multi-species genomic research. Her background as a sled dog racer (25 years of experience, including professional racing in Alaska for six years) deeply informs her research on working dog genetics, connecting her personal experience with scientific inquiry.