Penny Riggs

Dr. Penny Riggs is an Associate Professor of Functional Genomics in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, with an adjunct appointment in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Purdue University, an M.S. in Cytogenetics, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Texas A&M. Her research focuses on genomic characterization of bovine skeletal muscle traits, stress physiology, and meat quality in beef cattle. She has held leadership roles including Associate Vice President for Research at Texas A&M (2019–2022) and Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of the Interior (2018–2019). Dr. Riggs has pioneered initiatives like the Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences and Society and contributed to programs such as the NIEHS Center for Research on Environmental Disease. She is a member of multiple professional societies, including the American Society of Animal Science and the American Association for Cancer Research.

Her scientific contributions span functional genomics, epigenetics, and livestock genetics, with notable work on DNA methylation patterns and their implications for stress responses in cattle. She has directed core facilities and multidisciplinary research initiatives, emphasizing translational applications for agriculture and animal health. Awardees of her fellowships include the Texas Aerospace Fellowship and the Texas A&M Regents Graduate Fellowship.