PhD Students
Ricardo Barron, MS
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla
Dissertation Topic
Cultural Safety in U.S. Dietetics
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
It is an honor to be a part of this program. After a year of getting to know the HNFAS Department’s professors, I knew that the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa was the only program that I wanted to join. Faculty and staff have created a culture that is challenging yet extremely supportive. Everyone that I have interacted with has demonstrated a sincere concern for every student’s success. From the student perspective, you can feel the Aloha. Academically, there is freedom to explore personal interests as well as guidance when needed. As a student in this department, I am gaining a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between food, humans, and health. This understanding is what I will carry forward as I move closer to working with underserved populations.
Academic Highlights
- Hodge, D., Jones, D., Martinez, R., Buono, M.J. (2013). Time course of the attenuation of sympathetic nervous activity during active heat acclimation. Autonomic Neuroscience, 177(2), 101-3.
- Martinez, R., Jones, D., Hodge, D., Buono, M.J. (2012). Blocking the beta-adrenergic system does not affect sweat gland function during active heat acclimation. Autonomic Neuroscience, 169(2), 113-5.
- 2011 Kasch-Boyer Endowed Scholarship in Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University.
Nanqing Bian
Nutrition PhD
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Jae-Eun Cha
Nutrition PhD
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Ryan Chang
Nutrition PhD
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Cody Clifton, MS
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Animal Science Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Kristi West
Dissertation Topic
Cetacean biochemistry and infectious disease
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
My academic path began through the pursuit of personal interest in understanding the marine mammals that call Hawai’i home. This winding road eventually led me to Dr. West’s cetacean Health and Stranding Lab, whose association with HNFAS and the Nutritional Sciences – Animal Science track PhD program has provided me with the perfect opportunity to expand my knowledge of whale and dolphin health in the Pacific. This program also provides access to a wide range of research conducted by HNFAS faculty, and gives ample opportunity to gain broader knowledge related to animal sciences, which has allowed me to develop a diverse skill set that will help me achieve my future professional research goals.
Academic Highlights
- Clifton, C. W. (2022, August 1-5). Targeted Surveillance Detected Novel Beaked Whale Circovirus (BWCV) in Nine New Host Cetacean Species Across the Pacific Basin [Conference presentation]. SMM2022: 24th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, West Palm Beach, FL, United States
- Clifton, C.W., Silva-Krott, I., Marsik, M.G., and West K.L. (2023) Targeted surveillance detected novel beaked whale circovirus in ten new host cetacean species across the Pacific basin. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:945289. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.945289
- GSO Merit-Based Award for Mentorship 2021-2022
Jennifer Galbreath
PhD, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Jean Butel
Dissertation Topic
Characteristics of food security/insecurity in Alaskan families
Tyler Robert Goodearly, MS
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Animal Science Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Andre P. Seale
Dissertation Topic
Identifying the physiological responses to extreme environmental changes in native Hawaiian sea cucumbers found in traditional fishponds
Eileen Sanchez Guerrero, MPH, RDN, CHES
PhD, Nutritional Sciences – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Jean Butel
Dissertation Topic
Kristi Manami Hammond, MS
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Lynne Wilkens, DrPH, MS
Dissertation Topic
Food environment impacts on diet and health
Susan Jones
Nutrition PhD
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Leah Kaplan
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla
Dissertation Topic
Dietary Diversity of Mothers and Infants, Microbiome, and Obesity
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
Prior to beginning the PhD program at University of Hawaii, I worked in clinical research, military medicine and neuroscience, cognitive science, and most recently biotechnology. While it was exciting working at the intersection of health IT, big data, and clinical research and I enjoyed designing AI hardware and infrastructure for clinical trials, I have always wanted to pursue my passion for nutrition science. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue this passion at UH Manoa.
Academic Highlights
- United States Patent # 20200090408, 2019; Systems and Methods for Augmented Reality Body Movement Guidance and Measurement.
- Finalist, Medical Capital Innovation Competition, 2019
- TED MED Frontline Scholar, 2013
- M.S. Lund University, Neurobiology, 2003
- B.S. Wellesley College, Cognitive Neuroscience, 2002
Prem Lal Mahato, DVM, MS
PhD, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Birendra Mishra
Dissertation Topic
Reilly Merlo
PhD, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Andre Seale
Dissertation Topic
Pravin Mishra, DVM, MS
PhD, Nutritional Sciences – Animal Science Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Rajesh Jha
Dissertation Topic
Evaluation of feed and feed additives to improve performance and gut health of broilers
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
During my vet school, I got an opportunity to work as a visiting researcher at the U of Georgia where I learned about poultry trials and different aspects of poultry nutrition focused on growth performance, digestibility, and bone and gut health. Engaging in research, experimental trials, and daily analysis sparked my enthusiasm which further ignited a strong affinity to work and contributes to this field. Upon completion of my DVM, I decided to pursue MS in Animal Sciences at UHM and work as RA at the Animal Nutrition Lab under the supervision of Dr. Rajesh Jha. My research primarily focused on the evaluation of microalgae and exogenous enzyme xylanase for their effects on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens. Nevertheless, this further deepened my thirst for knowledge, and I aspire to explore the effects of various alternative feed and feed additives using different research models. So, I chose to study PhD in Nutritional Sciences driven by my passion to delve deeper into the subject. I strongly believe I have the best work environment to wing my dreams and make a significant contribution to the poultry production system.
Academic Highlights
- R. Das, P. Mishra, … & R. Jha (2024). Effects of in ovo feeding of xylobiose and xylotriose on growth performance, carcass traits, ileal histomorphometry, and immune-related gene expression in broiler chickens. Anim Feed Sci Tech, 313: 115998
- R. Das, P. Mishra, … & R. Jha (2024). Effect of in ovo feeding of xylobiose and xylotriose on plasma immunoglobulin, cecal metabolites production, microbial ecology, and metabolic pathways in broiler chickens. J Anim Sci Biotechnol, 15: 62
- P. Mishra, R. Das, … & R. Jha (2024). Effects of microalgae, with or without xylanase supplementation, on serum immunoglobulins, cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid, microbial diversity, and metabolic pathways of broiler chickens. Poult Sci, 103 (02): 103325
- P. Mishra, R. Das, … & R. Jha (2023). Effects of microalgae, with or without xylanase supplementation, on growth performance, organs development, and gut health parameters of broiler chickens. Poult Sci, 102 (11): 103056
- A. Chaudhary, P. Mishra, … and B. Mishra* (2023). Dietary supplementation of microalgae mitigates the negative effects of heat stress in broilers. Poult Sci, 102 (10): 102958
- For more please visit https://mpravin.info.np/Publications
Jana Phipps
Nutrition PhD
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Kristi West
Dissertation Topic
Utilization of blubber histology methods to determine nutritional health and body condition in Hawaiian cetaceans
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
After beginning my graduate studies in the Animal Sciences MS program I found myself in a position to expand my thesis work into a dissertation. The Nutritional Sciences PhD animal science track provides an amazing opportunity to continue my educational career in the field of marine mammal health and nutrition. I am excited to continue to work with a faculty of diverse backgrounds in order to find creative methods to explore my unique research interests.
Academic Highlights
- Gove, J.M., Whitney J.L., McManus, M.A., Lecky, J., Carvalho, F.C., Lynch, J.M, Li, J., Neubauer, P., Smith, K.A., Phipps, J.E., Kobayashi, D.R., Balagaso, K.B., Contreras, E.A., Manuel, M.E., Merrifield, M.A., Polovina, J.J., Asner, G.P., Maynard J.A., Williams, G.J. Prey-size plastics are invading larval fish nurseries. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences. 116(48): 24143-24149. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907496116
Radha Raman Raj
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Mi-Jeong Lee
Dissertation Topic
Role of omega-3 fatty acid on adipocyte biology
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
Ever since my undergraduate days, I had a keen interested to work in the field of Nutrition. I believed nutrition is the area that holds a good prospect which can be applied to improve both human and animal health. As a result, to quench my thirst of knowledge in Nutrition, I planned to pursue PhD program focusing on Nutrition. I started looking at the different universities. After visiting the webpage of University of Hawaii at Manoa, I figure out that the UH as one of the best places to pursue PhD program as it has a wide array of pioneering research in the field of nutrition from animal to human nutrition. More specifically, I was really interested in research focused on combating obesity and metabolic disorder. Thus, I joined PhD program in UH under the mentorship of Dr. MJ Lee. My current research is focused on the role of omega-3 fatty acids on adipocyte biology. I believe we can address some of the major issues of obesity on the completion of my PhD program
Academic Highlights
- Radha Raman Raj, Abha kumari and Guruprasad (2017). In vitro and in vivo screening of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor using Mangifera indica: A solution for hypertension. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, 6 (1):1063-1071. (DOI: 10.20959/wjpps201701-8378)
Md Ahosanul Haque Shahid, MS in Microbiology, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
PhD, Nutritional Sciences – Animal Science Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Birendra Mishra
Dissertation Topic
Improvement of bacterial toxin-induced immune status and gut health of broilers by adding bioactive components.
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
After earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Science in Microbiology, I chose the Nutrition PhD program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Hawaii, an example of a shortened form of Haven. I’m excited to join the lab of Dr. Mishra. He is a remarkable individual and an outstanding researcher. As a student in this department, I am acquiring a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between immunity and broiler health. This comprehension will assist us in addressing the issue of antimicrobial resistance and human health. In addition, the courses and resources offered by the UHM Nutrition PhD program are advanced and comprehensive. The PhD in Animal Science in Nutritional Sciences provides me with an incredible opportunity to pursue my education in the field of poultry health and nutrition. I am delighted and privileged to be a member of the University of Hawaii family. Mahalo!
Academic Highlights
- Shahid AH, Nazir KN, El Zowalaty ME, Kabir A, Sarker SA, Siddique MP, Ashour HM. Molecular detection of vancomycin and methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from food processing environments. One Health. 2021 Dec 1;13:100276.
- Sarker MS, El Zowalaty ME, Shahid MA, Sarker MA, Rahman MB, Järhult JD, Nazir KN. Maximization of livestock anthrax vaccination coverage in Bangladesh: An alternative approach. Vaccines. 2020 Aug 4;8(3):435.
- Toma MA, Nazir KN, Mahmud MM, Mishra P, Ali MK, Kabir A, Shahid MA, Siddique MP, Alim MA. Isolation and Identification of Natural Colorant Producing Soil-Borne Aspergillus niger from Bangladesh and Extraction of the Pigment. Foods. 2021 Jun 3;10(6):1280.
Hannah Isabel Shai, MPH
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Monica K. Esquivel
Dissertation Topic
Water and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption
Heejin So
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Food Science Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Soojin Jun
Fiorenzo Toncan
PhD, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Mi-Jeong Lee
Thesis Topic
Astaxanthin and adipogenesis + adipocyte functionality
Christina Young, RDN, CLC
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla
Dissertation Topic
Hānai Waiū O Nā Kānaka ʻŌiwi Wāhine (Breastfeeding by Native Hawaiian Women)
Chenchen Zhao
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair:
Academic Highlights
MS Students
Stacey Keruwa
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair:
Thesis Topic
Shayna Mae
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Monica Esquivel
Thesis Topic
Haley Nakamura
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair:
Thesis Topic
Rachel Otsuka
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair:
Thesis Topic
Tianna Williams
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair:
Thesis Topic
Last updated August 21, 2025
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Vanessa Araujo Almeida, MS
Nutrition PhD
Department Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Alan Titchenal
Dissertation Topic
Food Insecurity among College Students
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
I visited Hawaii for the first time in 2015 to participate in a conference and I fell in love with the island. I had just finished a food science master’s degree in Brazil, and I was looking for an academic experience where I could advance my career and learn from different perspectives. I chose the Ph.D. Program in Nutrition at UHM because I knew the immense cultural exchange I would be exposed to once I moved to Hawaii. I wanted to grow as a nutrition scientist and learn from highly qualified professors in a university that offers great infrastructure and a friendly environment that benefits learning. I was interested in having an enriching professional experience while finishing my educational pathway, and I couldn’t be happier about my choice.
Academic Highlights
- Holmes, H., Almeida, V. A., Boushey, C., & Banna, J. (2020). Use of Technology for Dietary Assessment in Immigrant Populations. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 14(2), 118–121. https://doi.org/10.1177/
1559827619890948 - Almeida, V. A., Littlejohn, P., Cop, I., Brown, E., Afroze, R., & Davison, K. M. (2019). Comparison of nutrigenomics technology interface tools for consumers and health professionals: a sequential explanatory mixed methods investigation. Journal of Medical Internet research, 21(6), e12580. https://doi.org/10.2196/12580
- Almeida, V. A. & Davison, K. M. (2018, November). Consumers show greater improvements in dietary intakes and quality of life with nutrigenomic information to support change. Presentation at the Personalized Nutrition 2018 Conference – Translate the Science of NutriGenomics into Practice. Seattle, Washington.
- Achievement Scholarship Grad Division Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sci (B748). 2018-2019.
- Katherine Bazore Gruelle and Nobue Nishimura Scholarship Fund. 2018-2019.