Prior to assuming his present responsibilities, Dr. Bazer was a member of the faculty at the University of Florida between 1968 and 1992 and held a dual appointment as Graduate Research Professor in the Department of Animal Science and Department of Pediatrics. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University in 1992 as Professor and O.D. Butler Chair, Department of Animal Science and Director of the Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics. Between 1994 and 2001, Dr. Bazer was Director of the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, a member of the organizing committee (1995-1998) and vice president for research and interim dean, graduate school of biomedical sciences of the A&M University System Health Science Center (1999-2000). He also served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Executive Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Associate Director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (2001-2004), Associate Vice President for Research (2005-2008) and Interim Head of Veterinary Pathobiology (2009-2010).

Dr. Bazer received a B.S. degree in Biology from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1960 and a M.S. degree in Animal Science from Louisiana State University in 1963, and his Ph.D. in animal science at North Carolina State University in 1969. Dr. Bazer’s research in reproductive biology focuses on uterine biology and pregnancy, particularly pregnancy recognition signaling from the conceptus to the maternal uterus by interferon tau and estrogen from ruminant and pig conceptuses, respectively. The roles of uterine secretions as transport proteins, regulatory molecules, growth factors and enzymes and endocrine regulation of their secretion is another major research interest. The endocrinology of pregnancy, especially the roles of lactogenic and growth hormones in fetal-placental development and uterine functions are being studied. The mechanism(s) of action and potential therapeutic value of conceptus interferons and uterine-derived hematopoietic growth factors are areas of research with both pigs and sheep as models for human disease.