Jessie Ralston, B.A., B.S.
Research Associate
I grew up just outside of Ames, IA, with my parents and two siblings. My parents grew up on farms, and my dad was an engineering professor at Iowa State University, so I have been surrounded by animals and academia since I was born. As a child, I had many different animals, including horses, dogs, cats, fish, and various rodents. Working in horse stables and being involved in Pony Club and 4H allowed me to get hands-on experience in animal care starting at a young age. I’ve had the privilege of owning my current two horses for around 20 years, and they’ve each played an integral role in my love of animal care and veterinary medicine.
I have always had a love for animals and an interest in science. I have a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Iowa and a B.S. in biology from Iowa State University. After doing archaeology-related jobs and briefly working in public health after college, I knew my passion was truly to work with animals, which led me to seek out technician-related jobs before finding my way to Colorado State University.
In my role as a research associate at the Flint Animal Cancer Center, I specifically work on the Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study. I split my time between processing lab samples and helping with appointments when dogs come in for their check-ups and vaccinations. I’ve found that CSU is not only a great place to work but a great place to learn. Cancer is something that affects so many animals and people, and it’s a privilege to be able to help oncology research in any capacity.
Outside of work, I spend time with my husband Kyle and our pets, including two horses named Linus and Snoopy, two dogs named Apollo and Atlas, and our chinchilla, Pepe. I also enjoy hiking and cooking.