AMES, Iowa – A former Iowa State University faculty member is returning to Ames to serve as the next director of the Egg Industry Center (EIC).
Michael Persia, the John W. Hancock Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech, will begin his new role on June 1, 2026. Prior to joining Virginia Tech in 2013, he spent four years as an assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State. He has also worked at Syngenta Animal Nutrition and earned his academic credentials at The Pennsylvania State University, The Ohio State University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Brett Ramirez, associate professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering and EIC associate director, has been serving as interim director of the EIC since February 2024, following the passing of former EIC director Richard Gates.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Persia back to Iowa State and to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. His expertise in poultry nutrition and management, networks throughout the industry and many years doing research, teaching and extension in the animal and poultry sciences fields will serve him well in this role. This will include key work with the board of the EIC and its many stakeholders and cooperators across the U.S. and Canada, reflecting its role as a global center located at Iowa State, but serving the industry broadly,” said Daniel J. Robison, holder of the Endowed Dean’s Chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “We are so grateful for Dr. Ramirez’s outstanding leadership during this interim period and the tremendous ways he has continued to move the EIC forward in supporting the nation’s egg producers and our university missions. Many thanks, as well, to the search committee, led by Jason Ross, for their work on this important effort.”
Persia’s research at Virginia Tech focuses on increasing the efficiency of chicken and turkey production through enhanced nutrient management and a better understanding of their digestive processes. Highlights of his work include helping introduce to the market a new phytase feed ingredient, updating poultry nutrient requirements and developing ways to reduce antibiotic use in poultry feed.
In 2022, he received the Poultry Nutrition Research Award from the American Feed Industry Association in recognition of his research.
Persia is a member of the Poultry Science Association, Southern Poultry Science Society, World Poultry Science Society, Virginia Poultry Federation, Virginia Egg Council and Virginia Poultry Disease Task Force.
“I am honored by this opportunity to pursue one of my professional passions of facilitating and engaging in research supporting the efficient production of safe and high-value eggs for human consumption,” Persia said. “I am overjoyed to work with former and new colleagues at Iowa State University and the egg industry to support and expand the goals of Egg Industry Center, a unique organization that focuses on research and education within the production and use of this high-quality food by facilitating collaboration among academic, government and industry persons.”
“We’re very pleased that Dr. Persia will join our program at Iowa State University to continue our service and commitment to the poultry industry,” said Jason Ross, chair of the Department of Animal Science and chair of the EIC director search committee. “His experiences and leadership in the industry, coupled to his connection with the U.S. poultry industry, will provide excellent capacity as he leads the Egg Industry Center in pursuit of its mission.”
“On behalf of the Egg Industry Center Advisory Board, we would like to commend the selection committee’s rigorous and thorough process in selecting the new director, Dr. Persia,” said current EIC Board Chairman Jeffry L. Henning. “Dr. Persia offered his insight into the future of EIC and skillfully laid out his plan to reach out to all the local and national constituents to further EIC’s collaboration with them.”
