Overview
Background
Dr Elham (Ellie) Assadi Soumeh is a Senior Lecturer in Animal Science and Production at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland. She holds a BSc in Animal Science, an MSc in Animal Nutrition, and a PhD in Animal Nutrition and Physiology, with a focus on monogastric species, particularly poultry and swine.
Dr Soumeh completed her PhD at Aarhus University in Denmark, where her research focused on the requirements and metabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in weaned pigs and the metabolic profiling of high-performing pigs fed optimal BCAA levels. Following her PhD, she worked as a Senior Scientist at Cargill BV in the Netherlands, leading customer-focused research in monogastric nutrition. Her work there spanned nutrient metabolism, gut health, and nutritional strategies aimed at improving production efficiency.
Her current research explores the role of nutrition in modulating gut microbiota composition and function, and how these microbial shifts influence host metabolism, health, and productivity. She is particularly interested in the interplay between dietary components, gut microbial ecology, and the physiological responses of monogastric animals.
Dr Soumeh's work addresses practical and emerging challenges in animal nutrition, with an emphasis on sustainable feeding practices and precision nutrition. Her research findings have been widely published in high-impact scientific journals and presented at leading international conferences and symposiums.
Availability
- Associate Professor Elham Assadi Soumeh is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, University of Tabriz
- Masters (Coursework), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy, Aarhus University
Research interests
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Nutrition-Microbiota-Host Axis
Investigating the role of diet in shaping gut microbiota composition and function, and its subsequent impact on host metabolism, immunity, and overall health.
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Sustainable and Functional Feed Ingredients
Evaluation of alternative and novel feed ingredients (e.g. insect-based proteins) to improve sustainability and maintain or enhance nutrient digestibility and animal performance.
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Gut Health and Nutritional Physiology
Nutritional strategies to support gastrointestinal integrity, nutrient absorption, and systemic metabolic responses in monogastric animals.
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Amino Acids requirements, metabolism, and nutrition
Amino acids requirements, metabolism, and precision feeding strategies for poultry and swine to optimize growth, health, and production efficiency.
Research impacts
Industry Engagement and Current Collaborative Research:
Alternative ingredients to replace soybean meal in poultry feed Metex Noovistago & UQ:
- Local alternative protein-rich ingredients to replace soybean meal fully or partially in chicken feed
Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a protein feed ingredient in broiler chicken nutrition
- Amino acids ileal digestibility, AMEn, fat digestibility and nutritive value of Full-fat BSFL produced from food waste streams for meat chickens
Industry funded project by Ajinomoto Animal Nutrition Europe SAS:
- Amino acids interventions to reduce the consequences of heat stress in broiler chicken
Industry funded project by Bioproton Pty Ltd:
- Effects of new bacillus strain probiotics and natural biosurfactants on broiler chickens production
- The efficiency of probiotics with or without prebiotics in antibiotic-free poultry production system, mode of actions, and growth performance
- Effects of Multi-enzyme super-dosing on reduced-energy diets on broiler chicken growth performance and gut health
Works
Search Professor Elham Assadi Soumeh’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Effects of black pepper and turmeric powder on growth performance, gut health, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of Japanese quail
Ashayerizadeh, O., Dastar, B., Shams Shargh, M., A. Soumeh, E. and Jazi, V. (2023). Effects of black pepper and turmeric powder on growth performance, gut health, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of Japanese quail. Frontiers in Physiology, 14 1218850, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1218850
2023
Journal Article
The optimum ratio of digestible leucine: lysine in wheat-based diets for female broiler chickens from 8 – 21 days of age
Amirdahri, S., Janmohammadi, H., Taghizadeh, A., Lambert, W., Oliayi, M. and Assadi Soumeh, E. (2023). The optimum ratio of digestible leucine: lysine in wheat-based diets for female broiler chickens from 8 – 21 days of age. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 32 (2) 100289, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.japr.2022.100289
2023
Journal Article
Elecampane rhizome extract alleviates methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in male rats
Sharifi, Fatemeh, Jazi, Vahid and Assadi Soumeh, Elham (2023). Elecampane rhizome extract alleviates methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in male rats. Advances in Traditional Medicine, 23 (4), 1255-1264. doi: 10.1007/s13596-023-00679-1
2022
Journal Article
Effects of protease supplementation on growth performance, organ development, gut morphology, and microbial profile of broiler chicken
Huyan, Lingjun, Kumar, Arun, Manafi, Milad and Soumeh, Elham A. (2022). Effects of protease supplementation on growth performance, organ development, gut morphology, and microbial profile of broiler chicken. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science, 71 (1-4), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09064702.2022.2113121
2022
Conference Publication
Blood metabolic profile of pigs fed different dietary zinc levels after weaning
Soumeh, Elham A., Curtasu, Mihai, Nielsen, Tina S., Gorji, Sara G. and Hedemann, Mette S. (2022). Blood metabolic profile of pigs fed different dietary zinc levels after weaning. 15th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2022), Rotterdam, Netherlands, 17–20 May 2022. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2022.04.028
2021
Journal Article
The efficiency of probiotics administrated via different routes and doses in enhancing production performance, meat auality, gut morphology, and microbial profile of broiler chickens
Soumeh, Elham A., Cedeno, Astrid Del Rocio Coba, Niknafs, Shahram, Bromfield, Jacoba and Hoffman, Louwrens C. (2021). The efficiency of probiotics administrated via different routes and doses in enhancing production performance, meat auality, gut morphology, and microbial profile of broiler chickens. Animals, 11 (12) 3607, 3607. doi: 10.3390/ani11123607
2021
Journal Article
Enhancing growth performance, organ development, meat auality, and bone mineralisation of broiler chickens through multi-enzyme super-dosing in reduced energy diets
Bromfield, Jacoba I., Hoffman, Louwrens C., Horyanto, Darwin and Soumeh, Elham A. (2021). Enhancing growth performance, organ development, meat auality, and bone mineralisation of broiler chickens through multi-enzyme super-dosing in reduced energy diets. Animals, 11 (10) 2791, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/ani11102791
2021
Journal Article
Leucine Requirement of Female Cobb Broilers from 8 to 14 Days of Age
Amirdahri, S., Janmohammadi, H., Taghizadeh, A., Soumeh, E. A. and Oliayi, M. (2021). Leucine Requirement of Female Cobb Broilers from 8 to 14 Days of Age. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science, 11 (2), 391-398.
2021
Journal Article
Efficacy of natural alternatives to antibiotic on the growth performance, gut microbial population, intestinal morphology, and serum biochemical metabolites of broiler chickens
Teymouri, Pouya, Jafari Khorshidi, Kaveh, Rezaeipour, Vahid and Assadi Soumeh, Elham (2021). Efficacy of natural alternatives to antibiotic on the growth performance, gut microbial population, intestinal morphology, and serum biochemical metabolites of broiler chickens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 20 (1), 1801-1809. doi: 10.1080/1828051x.2021.1954558
2020
Journal Article
Multienzyme super-dosing in broiler chicken diets: the implications for gut morphology, microbial profile, nutrient digestibility, and bone mineralization
Madigan-Stretton, Jacoba, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Soumeh, Elham Assadi (2020). Multienzyme super-dosing in broiler chicken diets: the implications for gut morphology, microbial profile, nutrient digestibility, and bone mineralization. Animals, 11 (1) 1, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ani11010001
2020
Journal Article
Valine Requirement of Female Cobb Broilers from 8 to 21 Days of Age
Amirdahri, S., Janmohammadi, H., Lambert, W., Soumeh, E. A. and Oliayi, M. (2020). Valine Requirement of Female Cobb Broilers from 8 to 21 Days of Age. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 29 (4), 775-785. doi: 10.1016/j.japr.2020.04.005
2020
Journal Article
Effect of dietary supplementation of whey powder and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, gut and hepatic function, and muscle antioxidant capacity of Japanese quail
Jazi, Vahid, Farahi, Majid, Khajali, Fariborz, Abousaad, Shaymma, Ferket, Peter and Assadi Soumeh, Elham (2020). Effect of dietary supplementation of whey powder and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, gut and hepatic function, and muscle antioxidant capacity of Japanese quail. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 104 (3) jpn.13323, 886-897. doi: 10.1111/jpn.13323
2019
Journal Article
Synergistic effects of fermented soybean meal and mannan-oligosaccharide on growth performance, digestive functions, and hepatic gene expression in broiler chickens
Soumeh, E. A., Mohebodini, H., Toghyani, M., Shabani, A., Ashayerizadeh, A. and Jazi, V. (2019). Synergistic effects of fermented soybean meal and mannan-oligosaccharide on growth performance, digestive functions, and hepatic gene expression in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 98 (12), 6797-6807. doi: 10.3382/ps/pez409
2019
Journal Article
Excess dietary tryptophan mitigates aflatoxicosis in growing quails
Khanipour, Sousan, Mehri, Mehran, Bagherzadeh‐Kasmani, Farzad, Maghsoudi, Ali and Assadi Soumeh, Elham (2019). Excess dietary tryptophan mitigates aflatoxicosis in growing quails. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 103 (5) jpn.13167, 1462-1473. doi: 10.1111/jpn.13167
2019
Conference Publication
Fermented soybean meal with or without mannan-oligosaccharides for broiler chickens
Soumeh, E. A., Jazi, Mohebodini, H., Toghyani, M., Shabani, A. and Ashayerizadeh, A. (2019). Fermented soybean meal with or without mannan-oligosaccharides for broiler chickens. 6th EAAP International Symposium on Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 9-12 September 2019. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers. doi: 10.3920/978-90-8686-891-9_87
2019
Conference Publication
Effect of feeding fermented rapeseed meal on nutrients digestibility and digestive enzymes activity in broiler chickens
Ashayerizadeh, A., Dastar, B., Shargh, M. Shams, Shabani, A., Jazi, V. and Soumeh, E. A. (2019). Effect of feeding fermented rapeseed meal on nutrients digestibility and digestive enzymes activity in broiler chickens. 6th EAAP International Symposium on Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 9-12 September 2019. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers. doi: 10.3920/978-90-8686-891-9_85
2017
Journal Article
Use of metabolic profile in short-term studies for estimating optimum dietary isoleucine, leucine, and valine for pigs
Nørgaard, J. V. , Soumeh, E. A. , Curtasu, M. , Corrent, E. , van Milgen, J. and Hedemann, M. S. (2017). Use of metabolic profile in short-term studies for estimating optimum dietary isoleucine, leucine, and valine for pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 228, 39-47. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2017.04.002
2016
Journal Article
Nontargeted LC-MS metabolomics approach for metabolic profiling of plasma and urine from pigs fed branched chain amino acids for maximum growth performance
Soumeh, Elham A., Hedemann, Mette S., Poulsen, Hanne D., Corrent, Etienne, van Milgen, Jacob and Norgaard, Jan V. (2016). Nontargeted LC-MS metabolomics approach for metabolic profiling of plasma and urine from pigs fed branched chain amino acids for maximum growth performance. Journal of Proteome Research, 15 (12), 4195-4207. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00184
2016
Journal Article
Evaluation of in situ valine production by Bacillus subtilis in young pigs
Norgaard, J. V., Canibe, N., Soumeh, E. A., Jensen, B. B., Nielsen, B., Derkx, P., Cantor, M. D., Blaabjerg, K. and Poulsen, H. D. (2016). Evaluation of in situ valine production by Bacillus subtilis in young pigs. Animal, 10 (11), 1796-1802. doi: 10.1017/S1751731116000781
2016
Journal Article
Effect of bacillus subtilis mutants on growth performance of piglets fed tryptophan- and valine-deficient diets
Norgaard, J. V., Canibe, N., Soumeh, E. A., Jensen, B. B., Nielsen, B., Derkx, P., Cantor, M. D., Blaabjerg, K. and Poulsen, H. D. (2016). Effect of bacillus subtilis mutants on growth performance of piglets fed tryptophan- and valine-deficient diets. Journal of Animal Science, 94 (Supp. 3), 66-69. doi: 10.2527/jas.2015-9773
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Elham Assadi Soumeh is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Zinc requirements, bioavailability and transport mechanisms in piglets.
An PhD/MPhil projet is availabe to start in 2026. For further information please contact Dr Ellie Soumeh
e.soumeh@uq.edu.au
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Gut microbiota, liver transcriptomics and blood metabolic response to dietary zinc levels in piglets
An PhD/MPhil projet is availabe to start in 2026. For further information please contact Dr Ellie Soumeh
e.soumeh@uq.edu.au
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Genetically Modified Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as a Novel Ingredient in Dog Treats and Kibble
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Hudson, Professor Louw Hoffman
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae as a Protein Source in Broiler Diets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Eugeni Roura, Associate Professor Daniel Cozzolino, Professor Louw Hoffman
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Doctor Philosophy
Alternative protein ingredients to replace soybean meal for sustainable livestock production systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Eugeni Roura, Professor Louw Hoffman
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Doctor Philosophy
Non-essential amino acids requirements in reduced broiler chicken diets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Eugeni Roura, Dr Marta Navarro, Dr Arun Kumar, Professor Chiara Palmieri
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Doctor Philosophy
Heat Tolerance (HT) in lactating sows: dietary strategies, metabolic biomarkers and microbiome signature
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Gaughan, Dr Marta Navarro, Professor Eugeni Roura
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Doctor Philosophy
Extrinsic and intrinsic factors that influence the meat quality of goat fresh meat and products.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Hudson, Associate Professor Daniel Cozzolino, Professor Louw Hoffman
Media
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