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Philip Urso grew up on a cow and calf operation in Scurry, Texas. As a third-generation rancher and the grandson of a veterinarian, animal science was always in his future. He earned a B.S. in animal science and M.S. in agriculture from Sam Houston State University and earned a Ph.D. in animal science at Texas Tech University.

During his graduate work and his early career, he studied the effects of vitamins and minerals on rumen parameters and muscle growth. Urso came to South Dakota State University in fall 2023 and with the goal of helping develop the teaching curriculum in the newly-founded field of bison studies and further cement South Dakota State as the nation leader in bison education, research and outreach.

Urso's research focuses on establishing mineral and vitamin needs in bison, determining how these nutrients impact efficiency and using nutritional and proper management strategies to impact producer efficiency.

He is an active member of the American Society of Animal Science, the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, the National Bison Association and the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association. Urso is also a member of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists and a registered professional animal scientist in beef cattle.

Outside of academia, Urso enjoys being an avid outdoorsman and the excellent hunting South Dakota has to offer. He is a certified Huntmaster by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and an active volunteer for the Brookings County Banded Chapter of Delta Waterfowl. Through this group, he enjoys taking youth and students on their first-ever duck hunts in his free time.