Nasrin Husseini
Arrell Scholar Alumna, Pathobiology
Nasrin Husseini’s research focused on advancing animal health and global food production in the digital age. Nasrin had already found significant success in her field, becoming the first woman to earn a doctorate of veterinary medicine after the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, before she came to Canada.
Back to Our ExpertsResearch Interests and Future Goals
After graduating from veterinary medicine in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nasrin Husseini gained hands on experience working directly with farmers and their livestock. She helped farmers raise healthier animals with the goal of increasing production and reducing treatment expenses. Through this experience, she was able to learn about the economic costs of animal health to producers and realized that by helping farmers have healthier animals at a lower cost she could contribute to increasing access to healthy food in the community. She also started to question the effects of climate change on animal health, productivity and disease susceptibility. These questions led her to her research topic, which investigated if high immune responder beef cattle are more resistant to the effects of climate change compared to average and low immune responders. Nasrin wants to help farmers increase their animal’s health and welfare while decreasing their economic costs.
On top of her work with animals, Nasrin assists in a youth program called Bookies which supports Afghan children with book reading and storytelling.
Why Arrell Food Institute
Nasrin received an MSc in Immunology in the Fall of 2020. She recognized both the University of Guelph and the Arrell Food Institute as offering highly qualified food and veterinary programs and, since graduation, has been working in Dr. Bonnie Mallard’s lab as a Research Assistant.