Sheila K. Jacobi

Dr. Sheila K. Jacobi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University, affiliated with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on neonatal nutrition, intestinal health, and the application of animal models to study pediatric metabolic processes. She investigates dietary factors influencing gut microbiota composition and mucosal integrity, particularly in suckling pigs and bovine systems.

Key research areas include:

• Neonatal intestinal barrier function and disease
• Impact of prebiotics and dietary components on microbiome health
• Bovine mammary gland pathophysiology during infections
• Cross-species translational nutrition models

Her work bridges animal science with human health, emphasizing global nutrition challenges. Recent studies explore tomato consumption effects on pig gut microbiota and the role of long-chain PUFAs in intestinal repair. Collaborations span veterinary medicine, food science, and public health.

Dr. Jacobi teaches advanced courses in animal sciences (ANIMSCI 5070, 5530, 8998, 8999) and advises on the OSU Nutrition Program. Her lab's current projects include studying staphylococcal infections in heifer mammary glands and metabolic pathways in suckling piglets.