Max Rothschild is an internationally recognized leader in animal genetics whose research has been directed towards identifying genes controlling traits of economic importance in the pig. He serves as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Pig Genome Mapping Coordinator and was the 2002 Iowa Inventor of the Year. He has also received two R&D 100 Awards from R&D Magazine, which honor the nation's top technological product innovations. He has presented invited papers in over 30 countries and has more than 195 referred publications, 450 other publications and 5 patents. He is co-director of the Center for Integrated Animal Genomics, a new presidential initiative at Iowa State.

The Presidential University Lecture Series highlights faculty excellence in learning, discovery, and engagement. Iowa State faculty members are chosen by the university president to present lectures from their own areas of expertise on topics of interest to the general public. The presentations are designed to stimulate high-quality, intellectual discussion among faculty and staff, students, and community members.

This lecture series is organized by the Office of the President with funding from the Miller Endowment, Inc., established through the generosity of the late E. Wendell Miller, and the Committee on Lectures (funded by GSB).