Research
My broad goal is to evaluate and improve health through sustainable diets and behaviors. My research involves evaluating the nutritional quality and health impacts of sustainable foods, examining the impact of nutrition on health and related behaviors and programs using biotechnology, and investigating the connections among nutrition, metabolism, body composition, health, and performance.
Current areas of interest include:
- Examining California consumers' opinions and behaviors regarding the consumption of local, drought-tolerant, sustainable foods in relation to cost and health.
- Evaluating the effects on attention and related measures in adults after consuming a standardized meal challenge to better understand the "food coma" and "brain fog" phenomena.
- Determining whether cooking-related skills and activities can be considered a form of physical activity, or exercise, by evaluating the energy expenditure of these activities.
- Evaluating the impact of fermentation on nutritional content and quality of whole-wheat bread.
- Examining the relationships among nutrition, training, body composition, and performance in long-distance and ultramarathon runners.
NOTE: If you are interested in joining my research group, please review this guide before reaching out to me.
Ongoing Student Projects
2024-
Curtis Jackson
Project: Association between glycemic load and cognitive function
2022–
Nathan Shelub
Thesis: Acute impact of high saturated fat content in breakfast meal on
postprandial attention level - A pilot study
2023 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($2,500)
Past Student Projects
Note: When available, a link to the thesis full text or the project abstract is included below.
2023-2024
Lauren Weber
Project: Relationship between dietary probiotic consumption and cognitive function in older
adults: A 2011-2014 NHANES study
2021–2023
Cassandra Boyd, MS
Thesis: Association between prebiotic intake and disease in United States adults using the
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data
Poster presentation:
Poster presentation:
2022 Circle of Friends scholarship winner ($2,000)
2022 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($2,500)
2021–2023
Elise Silva, MS
Project:
Poster presentation:
2022 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($1,500)
2021–2022
Bryan Singharaj, MS, RDN
Thesis:
Poster presentation:
2021–2022
Diana Lee, MS, RN
Thesis:
Poster presentation:
2021–2022
Lasya Shah, MS, RD
Thesis:
2020–2021
Helen Lee, MS, RD
Thesis:
Oral presentation:
Authorship:
2021 Circle of Friends Jean Downes scholarship winner ($2,000)
2021 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($1,000)
2020–2021
Samantha Kalb, MS, RD
Thesis:
2021 Circle of Friends Lucy McProud scholarship winner ($2,000)
2021 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($1,000)
2019–2021
Lorena Cuan, MS, RD
Project:
2020
Shaun Orvell, MS, RD
Project:
Authorship:
2020 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($1,000)
2018–2019
Shannon Mendez, MS, RD
Thesis:
Poster presentation:
Authorship:
2019 Circle of Friends Elveda Smith Memorial scholarship winner ($2,000)
2019 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($1,000)
2018–2019
Breanne Vinogradoff, MS, RD
Thesis:
Poster presentation:
2018–2019
Sofia Apsey, MS, RD
Thesis:
Poster presentation:
2019 Circle of Friends Nancy C. Lu scholarship winner ($2,000)
2019 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($1,000)
2018–2019
Kiley Field, MS, RD
Project:
Authorship:
Poster presentation:
2019 Circle of Friends Dietetic Internship scholarship winner ($2,000)
2019 Circle of Friends Graduate Student Research Assistance Award ($1,000)