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Long before research papers, artificial intelligence, and scientific publications became part of his daily life, Yashan Dhaliwal could usually be found surrounded by animals in the rural countryside of Punjab, India.

Raised in an agricultural family, animals were more than livestock - they were companions, teachers, and a constant presence in his childhood. His mornings often began with walks through the fields alongside his dogs, while evenings were spent playing with domesticated pigeons and listening to stories about the family’s buffaloes and cows.

“I grew up with an urge of bringing a new animal every day at our farm,” Yashan recalls. “Looking back, it’s not surprising that they eventually became the focus of both my education and my career goals.”

Although he initially planned to pursue his higher education in India, a simple internet search unexpectedly changed the direction of his life. While exploring programs related to animal and veterinary sciences, he came across Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus and its Bio-Veterinary Science program.

“What started as a random Google search quickly turned into my study place for next four years,” he says. “The more I learned about the program and the campus, the more I felt it was the right fit.”

After discussing the opportunity with his family, Yashan applied to Dalhousie University and soon received an offer of admission. Thousands of kilometres from home, a new chapter was about to begin.

That chapter took an unexpected turn during his second year when he met Dr. Gurpreet Selopal. Encouraged to join a nanofertilizer research project, Yashan stepped into a laboratory environment for the first time and discovered a passion he had never anticipated.

“That experience completely changed my perspective,” he says. “I realized that a degree is about much more than simply learning existing science and earning A grades in courses, as many students initially believe. It’s about stepping outside our comfort zones, developing a curiosity to explore new ideas, and moving beyond the mindset that perfect grades are the ultimate goal. While academic performance is certainly important, it should not come at the expense of growth, discovery, and meaningful learning. Don’t get so caught up in the race for A grades that you lose sight of the broader purpose of education.”

Motivated to learn more, he spent the summer of 2023 working in Dr. Selopal’s lab before setting out in search of new opportunities. Armed with determination and more than a few cold emails, he reached out to faculty members across the Department of Animal Science to look for further opportunities. His persistence paid off.

In the summer of 2024, Yashan joined Dr. Suresh Neethirajan’s research team, where he worked on integrating artificial intelligence for the early detection of lameness in dairy cows using their facial expressions. The project combined two of his greatest interests: animal welfare and emerging technology.

“It was fascinating to see how technology could help us to detect pain and lameness in dairy cows early on using their facial expressions, even before the actual symptoms appeared, improving their well-being,” he says.

The work led to his first scientific publication, “Bimodal Data Analysis for Early Detection of Lameness in Dairy Cows”  in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. Becoming a first-author researcher while still an undergraduate was a milestone that further strengthened his commitment to scientific discovery.

Rather than slowing down, Yashan accelerated.

He entered the honours program and continued working under Dr. Neethirajan’s supervision. His honours research focused on monitoring the early life of laying hens using multimodal sensing technologies over a period of 25 continuous weeks.

The project challenged him in ways he had never anticipated.

“Research teaches you humility very quickly,” he says with a smile. “Just when you think everything is working, a new problem appears the next day. Then you figure it out, learn something new, and keep going.”

His dedication resulted in a second first-author publication, “Multimodal Digital Sensing of Early-Life Laying Hens: A Pilot Study Integrating Thermal, Acoustic, Optical-Flow and Environmental Data”. Soon afterward, he published a third research paper, “A Longitudinal Multimodal Big Data Infrastructure for Precision Poultry Monitoring, in Frontiers in Big Data”.

By the time he completed his undergraduate degree, Yashan had authored three research publications, an accomplishment that few undergraduates achieve. “I can’t forget to mention how supportive and welcoming everyone at DAL AC has been throughout my journey," he said.

"I’m especially grateful to the farm staff, including Jean and Mike, whose dedication and encouragement made a lasting impact on my experience. I’d also like to thank my equine professor, Dara, who nurtured my love for horses into an Equine Science minor in my degree.”

Despite these successes, he remains grounded by a lesson shared by his mentor.

“One thing Dr. Neethirajan often says is, ‘No one ever becomes an expert in science, we are all learning at different stages of our academic journey.’ That mindset has stayed with me.”

Outside the laboratory, Yashan has left a significant mark on campus life.

As International Student Representative, he advocated for the needs and concerns of international students within Student Senate and university administration. He also founded the Indian Student Association and served as its first president, helping create opportunities for cultural connection and community building.

Among the association’s achievements was the 2024 Diwali Festival, one of the largest student-led events held at Dal AC, which welcomed more than 200 students, faculty members, staff, and community guests.

His contributions extend beyond leadership roles. Yashan earned second place in the university’s Research Poster competition while competing against graduate students and doctoral researchers. He has also volunteered extensively at the Ruminant Animal Centre, the horse stable, the Atlantic Poultry Research Centre, and the campus Food Pantry.  For Yashan, however, these accomplishments are not the finish line, they are stepping stones toward a larger goal.

He hopes to become a veterinarian-scientist, combining clinical veterinary medicine with cutting-edge research to advance animal health and welfare. While his interests span many areas of animal science, he is especially passionate about equine medicine and research, with a particular focus on racing horses.

From the fields of Punjab to the research facilities of Dalhousie’s Agricultural Campus, Yashan’s journey has been driven by curiosity, perseverance, and a lifelong connection to animals.

And while he may have traded childhood races chasing puppies for research publications, the fascination that first began in rural Punjab remains exactly the same.

Link for first research paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266615432500208X

Link for second research paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2026.1796102/full

Link for third research paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/big-data/articles/10.3389/fdata.2026.1821612/full

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashan-dhaliwal-3662202b8?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

Canadian poultry magazine: https://issuu.com/annexbusinessmedia/docs/cp_-_may_june_2026

CBC documentary (Cluck! Chickens exposed) https://gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-of-things/s65e08