Hans Coetzee, Ph.D.

Interim vice president for research

Hans Coetzee is a university distinguished professor and interim vice-president of research at Kansas State University. He previously served as head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology and associate dean for research and graduate programs in the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State.

He earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 1996. After graduation, he worked for four years in mixed animal practice in Northern Ireland, followed by two years in pharmaceutical research and development at Norbrook Laboratories Ltd. He was awarded a specialist Certificate in Cattle Health and Production from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (London) in 2000 and earned a doctorate in veterinary microbiology from Iowa State University in 2005. He holds dual board certification in the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and the American College of Animal Welfare. He is a European Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law specialist.

His professional interests include developing pain assessment tools and identifying practical methods to relieve pain in livestock. He has published more than 230 peer-reviewed scientific papers and received more than $22 million in research funding. He was the first North American recipient of the World Veterinary Association Global Animal Welfare Award and the second recipient of the World Buiatrics Congress Ruminant Well-being Achievement Award. He was also recognized with the American Veterinary Medical Association Animal Welfare Award and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Award of Excellence.

He enjoys gardening, fly fishing, and spending time with his wife and twin daughters.