Stacy Branning

Laboratory Technologist

CVM, Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory

Years in position/Service to MSU: 1.5

From a young age, Stacy Branning, a Laboratory Technologist at the Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, knew she loved science.

“I believe strongly in science and the intent of goodwill. I want to help people through their animals,” Branning said.

Branning tests samples from poultry farms for viruses that can be deadly to chickens, such as Reovirus, Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), and Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV). When a flock shows concerning symptoms or experiences an elevated number of deaths, veterinarians send tissue samples to MVRDL. From there, Branning determines the best methods for conducting the tests.

“While not necessarily good news for the birds, I love getting a positive result because that means we’ve identified the problem,” Branning said.

Lab results provide critical information so the rest of the flock can be treated to help prevent the virus from spreading and reduce losses. The work isn’t the only rewarding part—so is the team she does it with.

“We spend the whole day working alongside one another, laughing, and really enjoying each other’s company. It is such a happy, wonderful experience,” Branning said.

Together, the team works to provide accurate and timely results, but they also find moments for connection. Around the holidays, a large shipment of testing kits arrived. Branning and her team unpacked, organized, and stored them, which resulted in a large, pyramid-shaped stack of boxes. At the end of the workday, they took time to spread some cheer and prepared a surprise for their supervisor. The cardboard pyramid was transformed into a Christmas tree, decorated with hand-cut paper ornaments and placed in their supervisor’s office.

“It was fun for us to laugh while working on it, and when our supervisor came in the next day, he laughed too,” Branning said.

Branning earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and her master’s degree in community college education from MSU. During her undergraduate years, she worked as a student employee in Harned Hall, and as a graduate student, she served as a teaching assistant for biology and microbiology courses. She later worked at Tulane University in animal research before deciding it was time to return to Mississippi.

“MSU is home, and I am glad to be back,” Branning said.

Outside of work, she spends time with her two daughters, ages 5 and 7, and hopes to share her love of nature, animals and science with them.