The Texas Tech College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources' Associate Dean for Research has been selected for this year's Lallemand Forward Award for Scientific Excellence in Dairy Nutrition from the American Dairy Science Association. Nutritional biologist Michael Ballou, who also serves as an associate professor with Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences, was presented the honor today (Jun. 26) at the ADSA's annual meeting in Pittsburgh.

"To my knowledge this is likely the first time in the history of our department that a faculty member has won an award from ADSA," said Michael Orth, a professor and chairman of Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences. "Mike is an outstanding young faculty member who is making a significant impact in the dairy industry."

At Texas Tech, Ballou provides primary leadership for CASNR's graduate and research program development, including graduate student recruiting initiatives, responses to request for proposals, and research team building. In the past Ballou's research has centered on understanding how the innate immune responses of animals at various physiological states are involved in resistance to diseases and modulation of innate immune responses through management and nutrition practices.

Prior to joining the Tech faculty in 2007, Ballou served as an associate instructor and graduate research assistant at the University of California-Davis. He received his bachelor's degree in animal science, and his doctorate in nutritional biology from the University of California-Davis. Recent awards for Ballou include a Texas Tech Distinguished Research Award (2017). He is a member of the American Dairy Science Association, and the American Society of Nutritional Sciences.

CONTACT: Steven Fraze, Interim Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or steven.fraze@ttu.edu

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