Faculty Spotlight: Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira

Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira is an Assistant Professor of Genomics and Animal Breeding in Purdue University’s Animal Sciences Department. She has built a distinguished career in animal genetics and genomics, fueled by a deep curiosity and passion for research and teaching.

Rojas earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences in 2014, followed by a master’s degree in genetics and animal breeding in 2015, and a doctoral degree in animal sciences in 2018. Her interest in animal genetics and genomics began during her undergraduate studies.

"It's magical to know that by analyzing the genetic information animals carry, we can accurately predict their performance, optimizing selection decisions" Rojas said. "This knowledge enables us to mitigate genetic disorders, enhance disease resistance, and accelerate genetic progress, ultimately improving the efficiency and sustainability of livestock production."

Following her doctoral studies, Rojas held two partially concomitant postdoctoral research positions at Purdue University and the University of Guelph in Canada. She then joined Lactanet Canada as a geneticist. Lactanet is the country's official organization responsible for performing all genetic and genomic evaluations in dairy cattle, while also providing dairy producers with comprehensive herd management services, including milk recording and strategic advisory.

Despite her success in this role, Rojas found herself missing the fulfillment of teaching.

"I had a feeling that I wasn't complete somehow, that I was missing something," she said. "I think that ‘something’ was the interaction with students."

In August 2023, she joined Purdue’s Animal Sciences Department as an Assistant Professor, where her work is centered on research and teaching. She currently teaches two courses: ANSC 311 Animal Breeding and Genetics and ANSC 595 Mixed Models for Genetic Evaluations. She also leads a research lab focused on genetic and genomic analyses of economically important traits in livestock animals.

Rojas finds inspiration from her students.

"I would say that students inspire me with their dreams—those just beginning their journey, like a blank page, filled with curiosity and a passion for learning,” Rojas said. “And in turn, I hope to inspire them with my own story—to show them that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to and that they should never be afraid of changes.”

Her achievements have been recognized with several awards from the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. In 2025, she was honored for her citation increase from 2023 to 2024. Additionally, she received recognition for a significant H-index increase during the same period, highlighting her influential contributions to the field of animal genetics and genomics.

Although she has received several awards for her work, Rojas believes that the recognition is not only hers but also a testament to the efforts of her lab team. She considers mentoring and guiding her students as her most significant achievement at Purdue.

"I have two master’s students who started their journey with me and completed their master’s in December last year. Now, they are pursuing doctoral degrees under my guidance,” Rojas said. “It’s rewarding to see how much they have learned. My students’ success is my greatest achievement.”

For those considering a career in research, Rojas emphasizes the importance of curiosity and asking the right questions over having all the answers.

"You don’t need to know everything—no one expects you to," Rojas said. "But you need to be curious. The important thing isn’t the answers you get; it’s the questions you ask. That’s what researchers do—we may not have all the answers today, but we always bring the next questions."

She also advises those pursuing academia to maintain a broad perspective.

"For anyone pursuing academia, especially during a master’s or Ph.D., it’s easy to get deeply focused on your thesis—that’s normal," Rojas said. "But don’t forget there’s more beyond it. It’s important to see what others are doing and learn from different fields because everything is interconnected. It’s unlikely you’ll find a job doing exactly what you did in your thesis, so stay curious, explore diverse topics, and keep asking the next questions."

Outside of her academic pursuits, Rojas enjoys spending time with her son, balancing her career with the joys of motherhood.