James Koltes

James Koltes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. His research focuses on leveraging genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics to address challenges in livestock production, particularly improving feed efficiency and sustainability in dairy and swine systems. He holds a PhD in Genetics (with a Statistics minor) from Iowa State University and a BS in Dairy Science and Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Koltes leads projects such as the Farm Animal Genotype-Tissue Expression (FarmGTEx) initiative and the Resilient Dairy Genome Project, aiming to enhance understanding of genomic and phenotypic relationships in livestock. His work integrates multi-omics data, including transcriptomics and epigenomics, to identify genes and pathways influencing feed efficiency, methane emissions, and other critical traits. Collaborative efforts involve international teams through initiatives like the ruminant telomere-to-telomere (rt2t) consortium and the FAANG (Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes) project.

Key areas of research include analyzing dietary fatty acid impacts on animal physiology, developing FAIR-compliant data ecosystems for agricultural genomics, and applying high-throughput phenotyping technologies. His lab emphasizes translational research, with applied outcomes like improving dairy cattle breeding decisions and mitigating environmental impacts. Education and outreach activities include student internships (e.g., summer feed efficiency genetics programs) and creating educational resources on animal genetics via YouTube.

• Research Themes: Functional genomics, feed efficiency, precision livestock farming
• Key Tools: Single-cell transcriptomics, genomic selection models, sensor-based phenotyping
• Collaborations: USDA-NIFA, NRSP8, international dairy and beef cattle networks

His publications highlight advancements in genomic annotation, microbiome associations with feed efficiency, and epigenetic regulation of livestock traits. Current projects aim to bridge gaps between basic genetic research and agricultural industry applications, fostering sustainable livestock systems.