Student Research Thesis

Nutrition Grad Student Research Projects

• Allison Bartlett (Allison.bartlett121@gmail.com): I am interested in the relationship between the human gut microbiome community and nutrition. Currently, I work under Dr. Stanley Omaye. We are designing an experiment that will examine the impact of specific foods on the human gut microbiome and health outcomes. Our interest in the symbiosis of bacteria and human nutrition is far-reaching and we are excited to grow and learn more within this budding field.
• Erin Engle: I am excited to begin work with Dr. Jamie Benedict over the winter break. My project will focus on the ‘Rethink Your Drink’ Campaign and the middle-school population. Community Nutrition has always been a passion of mine, and I hope to continue my career in this field. 
• Hailey Fox: I work with Dr. Jamie Benedict on Nevada's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education (SNAP-Ed) Statewide Needs Assessment. We are developing a survey of SNAP households to inform the program with the most pressing needs of SNAP participants in Nevada and to identify opportunities for improvements. The survey is the third and final phase of the needs assessment and will help guide the program by providing the perspectives of adults enrolled in SNAP.
• Kelly Eiler (kbear250@gmail.com): I work with Dr. Jamie Benedict and Joy Newton at the Lyon County Cooperative extension office for UNR. For my project, I am using the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Environment Tool (SPAN-ET) in order to evaluate the environmental resources and strategies within the Lyon County Elementary schools that promote habitual healthy eating and physical activity.
• Deborah Joakimson: I work under the guidance of Dr. Jaime Benedict on a project titled "Rethink Your Drink Nevada". This is a multi-component campaign; to promote healthful beverage choices among SNAP households and to decrease the intake of sugary drinks among children. Currently, I am working with SNAP-approved grocery retail stores (5 currently, with a goal of 10) to distribute healthful drink recipes. Recipes I developed (2016-2017) with permission from Dr. Jaime Benedict are posted to the RYD website and Facebook page. The recipe cards are also translated in Spanish on the back of all 30 recipes.
• Deborah Nunes Jones (denorahnunes2011@yahoo.com): I work under the direction of Dr. Jamie Benedict. My research is focused on evaluating an education/screening tool for use with parents/guardians of young, school age children (6-12 years old) in medical and dental care settings for the purpose of promoting healthful beverage choices and decreasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Brent Roling (brent.roling@yahoo.com): My PI is Dr. Marie-Louise Ricketts and I work with grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE) in cellular and animal models of dyslipidemia. GSPE is an extract that is derived from the seeds of white wine grapes, Vitis Vinafera. Our lab has demonstrated that GSPE inhibits hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia via regulation of bile acid homeostasis in mice and rats through direct and indirect regulation of gene expression. For my thesis project, I will elucidate alterations in these mechanisms in the presence of differing levels of dietary cholesterol and GSPE.