Jim Reecy

James (Jim) Reecy works with faculty and the Office of the Vice President for Research leadership team to develop opportunities for interdisciplinary research and to support faculty in successfully pursuing their research goals.

Jim has worked as a researcher and teacher in the Department of Animal Science since 1999. He served as the director of the Office of Biotechnology for eight years, where he focused on enhancing and expanding Iowa State’s core biotechnology research facilities and advancing outreach education to Iowa middle and high schools in the area of biotechnology. He joined the Office of the Vice President for Research as an associate vice president for research in 2017. His responsibilities include overseeing the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Initiative, promoting and facilitating Data-Driven Discovery and Open Data, as well as two of the research centers on campus.

In his years in the laboratory, Jim served as principal investigator on numerous federal and industry research projects and published more than 125 peer-reviewed manuscripts. His research program combined livestock genomics, bioinformatics, database development, and functional genomics to address issues facing the livestock industry.

Jim was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has received the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Rockefeller Prentice Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics and the ASAS Animal Growth and Development award.

As an advocate for Iowa State research, Jim sees our faculty, students, and staff addressing basic and applied research that will positively impact Iowa, the nation, and the world.

What is your favorite Iowa State research discovery?

“My favorite discovery from Iowa State research is the identification of the genetic cause for dwarfism in American Angus cattle. I was privileged to work on the team that identified that gene, and now there is a genetic test that can be used to prevent the spread of the gene.”

Jim can help with: Developing collaborative research teams, developing and expanding core research facilities, promoting and handling big data, and navigating the grant submission process.