Robert Beckstead
Prestage Family Distinguished Scholar in Turkey Physiology, Nutrition and Immunology
Director, Graduate and Certificate Programs
Professor
Scott Hall 261
Area(s) of Expertise
Research interests include
- gut health
- biomarker identification and testing,
- Blackhead disease (Histomonis meleagridis),
- Cochlosoma antis,
- Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, and
- Coccidiosis.
Robert B. Beckstead received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University, a Ph.D. from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and performed postdoctoral work at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He was a faculty member in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia from 2007-2016 and is currently an associate professor in the Prestage Department of Poultry Science at NC State. Research in his lab focuses on molecular diagnostics and treatment strategies related to flagellated protozoal infections in poultry and the development of transgenic technology in chickens. Dr. Beckstead has mentored 60 undergraduate, nine master’s, and three Ph.D. students. He has taught Molecular Diagnostic and Research Tools in Avian Biology, Freshman Odyssey – Chickenology: Everything You Need to Know About Chickens, Methods in Biotechnology, and the Effect of Global Agriculture on World Culture. Dr. Beckstead has been awarded the Poultry Science Association Early Achievement in Teaching Award and Novus International Inc. Teaching Award, the Richard B. Russell Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the First-Year Odyssey Seminar Teaching Award, and the UGA Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor Award.
Publications
- Histomonas meleagridis isolates compared by virulence and gene expression, VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY (2020)
- Oviduct Fluke (Prosthogonimus macrorchis) Found Inside a Chicken Egg in North Carolina, AVIAN DISEASES (2020)
- Sodium bisulfate feed additive aids broilers in growth and intestinal health during a coccidiosis challenge, POULTRY SCIENCE (2020)
- The effect of sodium bisulfate and coccidiostat on intestinal lesions and growth performance of Eimeria spp.-challenged broilers, POULTRY SCIENCE (2020)
- Two Blackhead Disease Outbreaks in Commercial Turkey Flocks Were Potentially Exacerbated by Poor Poult Quality and Coccidiosis, AVIAN DISEASES (2020)
- Blackhead Disease: Recovery of Layer Flock After Disease Challenge, JOURNAL OF APPLIED POULTRY RESEARCH (2019)
- PCR detection of Heterakis gallinarum in environmental samples, VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY (2019)
- Development of a dry medium for isolation of Histomonas meleagridis in the field, Avian Diseases (2017)
- Relationship between broiler body weights, Eimeria maxima gross lesion scores, and microscores in three anticoccidial sensitivity tests, Avian Diseases (2017)
- Distribution of α-Gustducin and Vimentin in premature and mature taste buds in chickens, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (2016)
Education
B.S., Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT (1994)
Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (2001)