Zinn Receives American Society of Animal Science Morrison Award

This award recognizes Zinn’s significant lifetime contributions to livestock production research

Steven Zinn, professor and head of animal scicence, in an advising session with C.J. Mozeika '20 (CAHNR) at his office in the George C. White Building on Oct. 16, 2019. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Steven Zinn, professor and head of animal scicence, in an advising session with C.J. Mozeika '20 (CAHNR) at his office in the George C. White Building on Oct. 16, 2019. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Steven Zinn, head and professor in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR) was selected to receive the 2021 American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Morrison Award.

This lifetime achievement award honors Zinn’s substantial contributions to research related to livestock production.

The Morrison Award was established through ASAS as the result of a generous donation from Dr. Frank and Mrs. Elsie Morrison in 1947. The award is presented yearly to a nominee who has “made a meritorious scientific contribution or discovery in research in the field of animal science.” The Morrison Award is the highest and most prestigious award in ASAS.

“Receiving the Morrison Award is one of my greatest honors in my academic career, and its an honor to join the list of animal scientists that are Morrison Award recipients,” says Zinn.

Zinn’s area of research expertise is growth biology and lactation in cattle, swine, sheep and the interactions of nutrient intake and hormones. His recent research focuses on the effects of maternal nutrition on offspring growth and metabolism both pre- and post-natal. Results of his research have made significant contributions to the understanding of animal physiology and animal health.

In addition to his research pursuits, Zinn has held several leadership roles including the president of ASAS from 2017 to 2018. He served as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Animal Science from 2008 to 2013 and was a founding member and editor-in-chief of Animal Frontiers. Zinn was awarded the Tucker Lactation & Endocrinology Award in 2014 and was named an ASAS Fellow in 2015. In addition to his research, Zinn has been recognized for his teaching, advising, and mentoring, including being named a University of Connecticut Teaching Fellow in 2016.

Zinn has been principal investigator or co-principal investigator for projects that boast over $5.5 million total in extramural funding from federal sponsors such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) and over $250,000 in funding from competitive internal funding programs at the University. These research efforts have resulted in over 95 peer-reviewed manuscripts, two book chapters, and over 130 abstracts.

“For more than 30 years, Dr. Zinn has pursued excellence in his field, winning numerous awards for research and teaching and making significant contributions to the field of animal science,” says Dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Indrajeet Chaubey. “We are very pleased that the ASAS has chosen to recognize Dr. Zinn for these achievements with the 2021 Morrison Award.”

 

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