From the lab to veterinary school: Purdue Animal Sciences alumna builds on her passion for poultry

Purdue Animal Sciences alumna Isabella von Seggern is building on her passion for poultry as she pursues a career in veterinary medicine.

Von Seggern earned her bachelor's degree in animal science from Iowa State University before completing her master's degree in animal sciences at Purdue in May 2026. She is now pursuing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, with plans to work in the poultry industry.

"I want to be that connection between consumers, producers and research," von Seggern said.

Finding Her Passion for Poultry

Despite growing up on a farm, von Seggern attended school in Fort Wayne, where she noticed a disconnect between agricultural producers and consumers. This experience sparked her interest in helping bridge that gap through veterinary medicine.

Her interest in poultry veterinary medicine was further inspired by Patricia Wakenell, DVM, Ph.D., a former professor of avian diagnostics at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Von Seggern met Wakenell at the Indiana State Fair while participating in 4-H. During their conversation, Wakenell encouraged her to consider a career working with birds as a veterinarian. Von Seggern admired Wakenell's ability to connect researchers, producers and consumers, something she hopes to accomplish in her own career.

During her undergraduate studies at Iowa State University, von Seggern gained experience working with turkeys and developed connections within the poultry industry. She also became interested in neurological research and animal welfare, which influenced her decision to pursue graduate studies.

Those interests ultimately led her to Purdue, where she had the opportunity to work with Gregory Fraley, the Terry and Sandra Tucker Endowed Chair of Poultry Science and professor of animal sciences. Fraley's research offered von Seggern the opportunity to explore the relationship between poultry behavior, brain function and animal welfare.

Poultry Research at Purdue

During her master's program, von Seggern worked with Fraley to better understand poultry behavior and welfare. Her research focused on how chickens respond to potentially fearful stimuli and whether common welfare tests accurately measure those responses. By studying what happens inside chickens' brains during these tests, she hoped to better understand their behavior and improve how researchers evaluate poultry welfare.

Her research is important because these tests can influence animal welfare standards in the poultry industry. Understanding how chickens respond to fear can help researchers make better recommendations for improving their overall welfare.

One of von Seggern's most memorable experiences came when she accidentally left a light off during an experiment. The chickens responded differently than expected, leading her to explore new questions about how their melatonin levels change with age.

The experience taught von Seggern that unexpected results can create opportunities for new discoveries.

"Just because you mess something up doesn't mean you've failed," von Seggern said. "I also learned the importance of accepting help from others."

From Graduate Research to Veterinary School

Von Seggern is now in her first year at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she continues to build on the knowledge and skills she gained during her bachelor’s and master's programs.

While the transition from research to veterinary school has been an adjustment, von Seggern said her graduate experience helped prepare her for the challenges of veterinary coursework. Beyond gaining research experience, she learned the importance of collaboration, asking for help and communicating complex scientific information to others.

Von Seggern credits Fraley and her fellow lab members with helping her grow both personally and professionally. She said the support she received helped her develop a sense of community within Purdue Animal Sciences.

Looking Ahead and Advice

As von Seggern continues veterinary school, she hopes to pursue a career working with poultry. Although she has not decided on a specific path, she is interested in working with producers, in academia or in technical services for a poultry or pharmaceutical company.

For students interested in the poultry industry, von Seggern emphasized the importance of networking and exploring different career opportunities. She encourages students to take the initiative to connect with professionals, noting that the poultry industry is a close-knit community where people are often willing to help.