Faculty Spotlight: Gregory S. Fraley

Gregory S. Fraley, Ph.D., is the Terry and Sandra Tucker Chair of Poultry Science and Associate Professor of Animal Sciences, and he joined the animal sciences department in January 2020.

Fraley, who is originally from Baltimore, received his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and master’s degree in avian physiology from University of Maryland College Park. His undergraduate studies focused on physiology, and his research as a master’s student focused on neuroscience. He also attended Washington State University in Pullman, Washington for his doctoral degree in neuroscience, with a focus on behavioral neuroendocrinology. 

After receiving his Ph.D., Fraley conducted postdoctoral research at three institutions. His first was at the UCLA Brain Research Institute under Art Arnold, Ph.D., and his second was back at Washington State University under Sue Ritter, Ph.D. His last one was a senior fellow position in neuroendocrinology in the lab of Rob Steiner, Ph.D.

Fraley pursued a career in animal sciences because of his love for ducks.

“Where else can I do what I do every day working with these fantastic animals without removing some from wild populations?” Fraley asked. “As an avid birder and closet environmentalist, I just couldn't do that. Where else can I learn all I can about these birds to ultimately benefit their lives and to simultaneously benefit the folks in industry?”

Fraley pursued a career in academia because of the influence his professors had on him.

“I took my first physiology course with an amazing teacher, Dr. Brenda Austin-Mills, who absolutely inspired me to pursue physiology,” Fraley said. “I ultimately took an avian physiology course and met Dr. Wayne Kuenzel at the University of Maryland. He invited me to do research in his lab as an undergrad.  This project ultimately led me to meet Steven Jobs of Apple Computer, who presented me with a Mac SE – state of the art in 1988! [Dr. Kuenzel] then offered me a graduate position to complete my M.S. and that ultimately just set the stage for my life.”

Fraley’s current role in the department focuses on research, teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. His research primarily focuses on poultry, exploring how environmental changes affect brain pathways related to production, behavior and welfare through behavioral, neurological, endocrine and molecular studies to provide holistic insights that benefit both the birds and the industry. He teaches ANSC 333: Reproductive Physiology and an ANSC 495 course, which is course-based undergraduate research. The current five students in the research course are conducting a research project to investigate the benefits of auditory enrichment on poultry production and welfare. He also advises the Purdue Poultry Club, which is an avian-focused club that travels to poultry conferences and participates in outreach programs.

Additionally, Fraley said his role focuses on “building bridges.”

“I work with other poultry scientists in the department; scientists in other departments – such as biological sciences and agronomy; and other universities like University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, University of MD Eastern Shore, the Universities of Guelph and Saskatchewan and Sichuan Agricultural University,” Fraley said. “I also work with poultry stakeholders to bring groups together to improve poultry production and welfare, such as Maple Leaf Farms, Culver Duck, CalMaine, Perdue Farms and Nutramaize.”

Fraley has received many awards during his career: 2023 Purdue University Seed for Success Acorn Award, 2023 Mark Cook Pullet-zer Prize for Outstanding Teaching from the Midwest Poultry Consortium, 2020 Outstanding Service Award also from the Midwest Poultry Consortium, and many more. He also recently received the 2024 David C. Pfendler Outstanding Undergraduate Counselor Award. The award recognizes faculty in the Purdue College of Agriculture for their commitment to mentoring undergraduates, specifically highlighting his contributions to the Purdue Poultry Club and his guidance of undergraduates in his lab.

“It means the world to me that my department peers and Head, Dr. Ebner, think highly of my efforts to include undergraduates in my research program,” Fraley said. “I am especially very happy that, in order to receive this award, undergraduates had to support my application. I am incredibly grateful to them, and I feel very privileged to work with them all.”

Although Fraley has accomplished a lot in his career, he said his greatest achievements stem from his students.

“My greatest achievement is always my students' successes,” Fraley said. “Many of my undergraduates and graduate students have received university and national awards for their efforts.  At this stage of my career, it is only about them, not me.”

Fraley aims to inspire students by giving them ownership in their own projects.

“There are no hierarchies in my lab,” Fraley said. “Everyone does everything from the cool surgeries and molecular techniques to washing dishes, including me.  As much as possible, I am in the lab working with them. I always go to the farm to work with them all during our large experiment days, which frequently fall on Saturdays. I don't ask them to do anything I won't do, and I give them as many rewards as possible.”

On the other hand, Fraley said his students’ dedication and success inspire him.

“My students all inspire me by just doing what is necessary to get things done,” Fraley said. “I don't demand and frequently don't even ask. They just do it! I am so very lucky to have each and every one of them want to work with me.”

Fraley said his advice for students pursuing a career in academia is to avoid taking a path that seems quick and/or easy.

“Get a M.S. first, don't try to go straight from B.S. to Ph.D,” Fraley said. “Finish your M.S. then go somewhere else to do a Ph.D., so you learn more techniques and points of view. Then definitely do a postdoc. Learn more techniques and points of view. No one in science has any clue where the future will take them and what you will be doing 10 years from now. The only way to be prepared is to prepare.  Pasteur said, ‘Chance favors the prepared mind.’ Take your time as a student to learn everything you can, both in the classroom and out.”