Udaya DeSilva - Past Chair
Udaya DeSilva is an Associate Professor in Animal Molecular Genetics in the Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University. He holds a split research: teaching appointment. Udaya holds a B.V.Sc. degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka and was a practicing large-animal veterinarian for three years before he decided to pursue his interest in genetics by returning to graduate school. He holds a M.S. degree in animal genetics from Kansas State University (1992) and a Ph.D. in human molecular genetics from Washington University (1998). After a two-year stint as a post-doctoral fellow and research scientist with the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Institute (CSIRO) in Sydney, Australia, Udaya accepted a faculty position at Oklahoma State University in 2001. He was promoted with tenure as an associate professor in 2006. His research focuses on metagenomics of rumen and other intestinal microflora and in genetic regulation of fat deposition in cattle. He teaches Animal Genetics and an Honors College seminar on depiction of science in the movies. Udaya is also an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
His many service commitments to the University includes twice being elected to the
Faculty Council -first as a representative of the College of Agricultural Sciences
and Natural Resources and then as the multicultural representative. He has served
on many roles in the faculty council including chair of the Faculty Committee, Secretary,
Vice Chair and Chair. He served as a member of the DASNR faculty council from 2004-2006,
and from 2017-2019. He served as the chair of the University Library Advisory Committee
and has served on the University Bio-Safety Committee for several years. Udaya is
a member of the Asian American Faculty and Staff Association of OSU and served as
its founding treasurer.
Udaya and his wife Rupi lives in Stillwater. In his spare time Udaya could be seen
riding one of his many bicycles on the back roads of Stillwater..