Graduate student at College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Zitao Fan is a promising graduate student at the College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), China. With a solid foundation in animal husbandry and nutrition, Fan is dedicated to advancing research in livestock production, gut microbiota, and sustainable feeding strategies. His academic career is distinguished by a first-author publication in a reputable SCI-indexed journal, along with active participation in projects exploring microbial colonization in livestock systems. Zitao demonstrates a keen interest in integrating innovative molecular techniques with applied animal science, positioning him as an emerging researcher committed to scientific advancement and real-world application.
Profile
Scopus
🎓 Education
Fan earned both his undergraduate and graduate education from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, gaining fundamental knowledge in livestock biology, feed evaluation, and agricultural systems. He then pursued a graduate degree in Animal Husbandry at the same institution, where his academic focus deepened into specialized areas such as microbial ecology, ruminant nutrition, and probiotic development. This academic progression provided a strong theoretical and practical background that now underpins his contributions to research and innovation in animal science.
🧪 Experience
Zitao Fan has contributed meaningfully to several important research initiatives. As the first author, he led a comprehensive study titled “Effects of Brewer’s Grains on Growth Performance, Nutrient Apparent Digestibility, Serum Biochemical Indexes, Fecal Microbiota, and Economic Benefits in Simmental Crossbred Cattle.” This work assessed the potential of brewer’s grains as an economical and sustainable feed alternative for ruminants. His role encompassed experimental design, sample analysis, and data interpretation. He is also involved in the project “Colonization Characteristics and Adhesion Mechanisms of Porcine-Derived Clostridium butyricum,” where he applies advanced tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 to fluorescently label anaerobic microbes, allowing real-time visualization of their behavior in vivo. His innovative techniques address existing limitations in tracking microbial colonization, pushing forward the frontier of probiotic research in animal systems.
🔬 Research Interest
Fan’s core research interests lie at the intersection of gut microbiota, ruminant nutrition, and microbial ecology. He is particularly fascinated by the mechanisms through which probiotics influence host health, growth performance, and nutrient utilization in livestock. He is also deeply invested in developing alternative feed strategies by repurposing agricultural byproducts such as brewer’s grains, aiming to reduce costs and improve sustainability in animal production. His ability to integrate cutting-edge molecular tools with applied nutrition research exemplifies his multidisciplinary approach to solving practical problems in animal science.
🏆 Awards and Recognition
Zitao Fan has been nominated for the Best Researcher Award in the prestigious International Research Awards on Fiber-Reinforced Polymer. Although still at the graduate level, his impressive research output, leadership in peer-reviewed publications, and contributions to government-supported projects have earned him this nomination. His collaborations with institutions such as the Sunner Group on agricultural innovation projects further validate his research capabilities and commitment to scientific excellence.
📚 Selected Publications
Zitao Fan has authored three scientific papers indexed in SCI/Scopus journals. His most notable publication includes:
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Fan, Z. et al. (2025) – Brewer’s Grains on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Metabolites, and Fecal Microbiota in Simmental Crossbred Cattle Finished in Feedlot, Agriculture, 15(977).
While two additional publications are referenced in his academic record, this first-author work in Agriculture (Impact Factor: 3.6) stands as a testament to his analytical, experimental, and scientific writing skills, with recognition through citations in peer-reviewed literature.
✅ Conclusion
Zitao Fan is suitable and deserving of consideration for the Best Researcher Award. His early-career research already bridges gaps between molecular biology and animal production, offering sustainable solutions and novel methodologies. Recognizing his contributions at this stage will not only honor his achievements but also encourage further groundbreaking work in the field of animal science and microbial biotechnology.