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Xiaomei Yue, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine (VPM), has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM) Research Staff Excellence Award. The newly established award recognizes outstanding contributions by postdoctoral or research staff with at least 80 percent research appointments and will rotate annually through CVM departments.
Yue joined the college in 2022 after completing her PhD in Animal Health Economics at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Since arriving, she has made an exceptional impact as part of the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP), contributing rigorous data analysis, thoughtful collaboration, and industry-relevant insight across multiple high-impact projects.
"Working at UMN CVM, with the Swine Group and the MSHMP team, has been truly life-changing,” Yue says. “I’ve had the unique opportunity to contribute to the largest voluntary swine disease monitoring project in the country, using data to help answer real-world questions that matter to producers.”
In just her first few months, Yue completed a complex disease early warning project known as the Early Regional Occurrence Warning (TEROW) system, a tool designed to help swine producers better understand the risk of disease outbreaks near their breeding farms. The project not only required advanced data analysis and coding skills but also close engagement with producers to ensure the tool would be practical and effective in real-world settings.
Since then, Yue has led several high-impact projects that address urgent industry needs. In one study, she worked with national stakeholders to better understand how oral fluid samples—an increasingly important diagnostic tool—are being used across swine operations in the U.S. Her work provided the first broad look at usage patterns, storage practices, and testing strategies, filling a major knowledge gap that will now help USDA teams model how well these samples can detect emerging diseases.
She also secured industry funding from AAF International to investigate how air filtration systems affect the spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRSS), a costly viral illness in swine production. Her analysis helped quantify the effects of different barn filtration ventilation systems, providing producers with more evidence-based guidance to reduce disease risks. The study was well-received by industry leaders and earned her an invitation to speak at top national meetings, including the 2025 American Association of Swine Veterinarians conference.
“These efforts exemplify her adaptability and determination to immerse herself in new challenges,” says Cesar Corzo, Leman Chair in Swine Health and Yue’s primary mentor. “I have been continually impressed by her level of curiosity, team approach, and ability to produce results that make a significant impact.”
In addition to her scientific contributions, Yue brings design and communications expertise to the lab, from conference materials to web development. She also actively supports hands-on research in the field and is exploring ways to integrate animal health economics into veterinary research to generate deeper insights and new funding pathways.
“I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some of the kindest, most collaborative colleagues,” Yue says. “This award is both a recognition of the work we’ve done together and a powerful motivation to keep moving forward in research that supports animal health and the swine industry."
Yue will be formally recognized at the 2025 Research Innovation, Discovery, and Education (RIDE) Summit on July 16.
May 28, 2025 - University of Minnesota
