Professional Awards | Publication Awards | Volunteer Awards

Professional Awards

• AAAS Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, for "Developing genetic evaluations and resources for dairy cattle breeding", March 2026.
• Innovation in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award, American Society for Animal Science, July 2025.
• Peer Research Award, National Association of Animal Breeders, October 2022
• Outstanding Service Award, National Dairy Herd Information Association, March 2018
• J.L. Lush Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics, American Dairy Science Association, for outstanding research in animal breeding with the potential for improvement of dairy cattle, July 2015
• Award of Recognition, Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, for international development of genomic predictions for dairy cattle (group award), 2015
• USDA Secretary's Honor Award, Cattle Genomics Consortium, for helping America promote sustainable agricultural production and biotechnology exports as America works to increase food security (group award), August 2010
• Southern ADSA-SAD Undergraduate Paper Presentation Contest, Production, 3rd Place, February 1994
• Southern ADSA-SAD Undergraduate Paper Presentation Contest, Manufacturing, 1st Place, February 1993

Publication Awards

• Highly Cited Papers
  • Journal of Dairy Science Highly Cited Award, "Changes in genetic trends in US dairy cattle since the implementation of genomic selection", (Guinan et al.; co-author), June 2026.
  • 100 Most Highly Cited Papers (2020-2023), "Invited review: The future of selection decisions and breeding programs: What are we breeding for, and who decides?" (Cole et al.; corresponding author), Journal of Dairy Science, May 2021.
  • 100 Most Highly Cited Papers (2019-2022), "Genetics, genome-wide association study, and genetic improvement of dairy fertility traits" (Ma et al.; co-author), Journal of Dairy Science, August 2021.
  • 100 Most Highly Cited Papers (2018-2021), "Symposium review: Possibilities in an age of genomics: The future of selection indices" (Cole and VanRaden; corresponding author), Journal of Dairy Science, August 2021.
  • 100 Most Highly Cited Papers (2018-2021), "Invited review: Genetics and claw health: Opportunities to enhance claw health by genetic selection" (Heringstad et al.; co-author), Journal of Dairy Science, August 2021.
  • 100 Most Highly Cited Papers (2018-2021), "Symposium review: Genetics, genome-wide association study, and genetic improvement of dairy fertility traits" (Ma et al.; co-author), Journal of Dairy Science, August 2021.
  • 100 Most Highly Cited Papers (2017-2020), "Invited review: Genetics and claw health: Opportunities to enhance claw health by genetic selection" (Heringstad et al.; co-author), Journal of Dairy Science, August 2020.
• Editor's Choice Awards
  • Hoorn, Quinn A., Maria B. Rabaglino, Thiago F. Amaral, Tatiane Silva Maia, Fahong Yu, John B. Cole, and Peter J. Hansen. 2024. Machine learning to identify endometrial biomarkers predictive of pregnancy success following artificial insemination in dairy cows. Biology of Reproduction. 111:54-62. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae052. (July 2024 Editor's Choice Article of the Month)
  • Lozada-Soto, Emmanuel A., Christian Maltecca, Jicai Jiang, John B. Cole, Paul VanRaden, and Francesco Tiezzi. 2022. Genomic characterization of autozygosity and recent inbreeding trends in all major breeds of US dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 105:8956-8971. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22116. (November 2022 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Genetics and Genomics)
  • McWhorter, T.M., J.L. Hutchison, H.D. Norman, J.B. Cole, G.C. Fok, D.A.L. Lourenço, and P.M. VanRaden. 2020. Investigating conception rate for beef service sires bred to dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 103:10374-10382. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-18399. (November 2020 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Genetics and Genomics)
  • Li, B., L. Fang, D.J. Null, J.L. Hutchison, E.E. Connor, P.M. VanRaden, M.J. VandeHaar, R.J. Tempelman, K.A. Weigel, and J.B. Cole. 2019. High-density genome-wide association study for residual feed intake in Holstein dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 102:11067-11080. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16645. (December 2019 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Genetics and Genomics)
  • Mueller, M., J. Cole, T. Sonstegard, and A. Van Eenennaam. 2019. Comparison of gene editing vs. conventional breeding to introgress the POLLED allele into the U.S. dairy cattle population. Journal of Dairy Science. 102:4215-4226. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15892. (May 2019 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Genetics and Genomics)
  • Santos, D.J.A., J.B. Cole, T.J. Lawlor, P.M. VanRaden, H. Tonhati, and L. Ma. 2019. Variance of gametic diversity and its application in selection programs. Journal of Dairy Science. 102:5279-5294. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15971. (June 2019 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Genetics and Genomics)
  • Ortega, M.S., A.C. Denicol, J.B. Cole, D.J. Null, J.F. Taylor, R.D. Schnabel, and P.J. Hansen. 2017. Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes previously related to genetic variation in fertility with phenotypic measurements of reproductive function in Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 100:3725–3734. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-12260. (May 2017 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics)
  • Parker Gaddis, K.L., S. Dikmen, D.J. Null, J.B. Cole, and P.J. Hansen. 2017. Evidence of a genetic component in traits related to superovulation, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer in Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 100:2877-2891. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11907. (April 2017 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics)
  • Thompson, N.M., N.O. Widmar, M.M. Schutz, J.B. Cole, and C.A. Wolf. 2017. Economic and social considerations of breeding for polled dairy cows versus dehorning. Journal of Dairy Science. 100:4941-4952. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-12099. (June 2017 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Management and Economics)
  • Cole, J.B., D.J. Null, and P.M. VanRaden. 2016. Phenotypic and genetic effects of recessive haplotypes on yield, longevity, and fertility. Journal of Dairy Science. 99:7274-7288. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-10777. (September 2016 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics)
  • Kaniyamattam, K., M.A. Elzo, J.B. Cole, and A. De Vries. 2016. A stochastic dynamic simulation model including multi-trait genetics to estimate genetic, technical and financial consequences of dairy farm reproduction and selection strategies. Journal of Dairy Science. 99:8187-8202. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11136. (October 2016 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics)
  • VanRaden, P.M., D.J. Null, M. Sargolzaei, G.R. Wiggans, M.E. Tooker, J.B. Cole, T.S. Sonstegard, E.E. Connor, M. Winters, J.B.C.H.M. van Kaam, B.J. Van Doormaal, M.A. Faust, and G.A. Doak. 2013. Genomic imputation and evaluation using high density Holstein genotypes. Journal of Dairy Science. 96:668-678. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-5702. (January 2013 Editor's Choice Paper for Production: Breeding and Genetics)

Volunteer Awards

• Chief's Award, Bowie (Maryland) Volunteer Fire Department, 2010
• President's Volunteer Service Award, Silver Award, 2008