Katherine (Katie) Koralesky

I am a social scientist and research the human dimensions of animal welfare. Currently, I am investigating the social and ethical dimensions of gene editing in farm animals from the perspective of farmers, people developing gene editing technologies, members of the public, and animals. This work involves mixed-method surveys, interviews, focus groups, and reviews.
For my PhD, I used institutional ethnography to examine how animal sheltering and protection policy and law organize what happens to animals who come to be involved in this system.
I have also conducted research on dairy cattle welfare. For example, I examined how dairy farmers and veterinarians make end-of-life decisions for injured dairy cows, and have also investigated how dairy farmers work with advisors and use standard operating procedures to care for newborn calves. I also have a research interest in pedagogy, and conducted a survey with university instructors and undergraduate students to understand how the shift to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic changed how students engaged with course content and their peers.