University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa | PhD Program in Nutritional Sciences

You are here: Home / Faculty

Faculty

Cheryl Albright  , PhD, MPH
Professor, School of Nursing & Office Public Health StudiesSchool of Nursing & Dental Hygiene – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Cheryl Albright PhD, MPH

Research Interests

Physical Activity, Energy Balance, Body fat distribution in ethnic minorities, eHealth interventions.

Recent Publications

  • Ferrara A, Hedderson MM, Brown SD, Albright CL, Ehrlich SF, Tsai A, et.al. (2016). The comparative effectiveness of diabetes prevention strategies to reduce postpartum weight retention in women with gestational diabetes. The Gestational Diabetes’ Effects on Moms (GEM) cluster randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. Jan, 39(1): 65-74. 
  • Albright CL, Saiki K, Steffen AD, Woekel E. (2015) What barriers thwart postpartum women’s Physical Activity goals during a 12-month intervention? A process evaluation of the Nā Mikimiki Project. Women and Health. 55(1): 1-21.
  • Williams AE, Stevens VJ, Albright CL, Nigg CR, Meenan R., Vogt TM. (2014) The results of a 2-year randomized trial of a worksite weight management intervention. American Journal of Health Promotion. May/June 2014; 28(5):336-9.
  • Albright CL, Steffen AD, Wilkens LR, White KK, Novotny R, Nigg CR, et.al. (2014) Effectiveness of a 12-month tailored multimedia randomized trial to increase physical activity in multiethnic population of postpartum women: Hawaii’s Nā Mikimiki Project. Preventive Medicine. Oct 5, 69C:214-223.

Recent Grants

  • NIH, NCI (PO1 CA168530-01, 9/1/2012-8/31/2017). Obesity, Body Fat Distribution, and Cancer Risk in the Multiethnic Cohort. MPIs: Loic LeMarchand, MD, PhD & Unhee Lim, PhD. Cancer Epidemiology Program. University of Hawai’i Cancer Center. 2012-present, Co-Investigator.
  • DHHS, HRSA (R39OT26993; 9/1/2014-8/31/2017) Using an Interactive Website, Social Media, and Gamification to Engage/Reframe Deceased Organ Donation for Asian/Pacific Islander College Students. School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; University of Hawai’i. 2014-present, Principal Investigator.
  • NIH/NIDDK (R21DK105413; 7/1/2015-6/30/2017) Brain – Gut Microbiome-Visceral Adiposity Relationships in Multiethnic Adults. 2015- present, Co-Investigator. MPIs: Unhee Lim, PhD, Linda Chang, MD, and Meredith Hullar, PhD.

Current Graduate Students

  • Ashley Morris Biddle (PhD) Department of Psychology. Title: Gender stereotypes within TV shows for preschoolers and their effects on children’s stereotypes.
  • Frankie Hale (PhD) School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. Title: Impact of physical activity on nurses’ daily hassles and their positive / negative moods. (Chair)
  • Siosaia Hafoka (DrPH) Office of Public Health Studies. Title: Physical Activity and the Built Environment Among Rural Residents on Oahu.
  • Joanne R. Loos (PhD) Communication and Information Sciences. Title: General consumer wearables for health and fitness: Implications for physician-patient communication.
  • Lexi Kaneshiro (DNP) School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. Capstone Topic:  Music and Memory.
  • Aaron Summers (DNP) School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. Capstone Topic:  Post-Stroke Depression Screening. (Project Chair)

Mapuana Antonio  , DrPH
Assistant ProfessorOffice of Public Health Studies, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work – University of Hawaii Manoa

Photo of Mapuana Antonio DrPH

Research Interests

Dr. Mapuana Antonio is a Native Hawaiian Assistant Professor, with a joint position in Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health at the Office of Public Health Studies and in Human Nutrition at the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Dr. Mapuana’s research interests include general health and resilience of Native Hawaiians, determinants of health of Native Hawaiians and Indigenous Peoples, community-based participatory research, and chronic disease prevention (including obesity and diabetes prevention).

Recent Publications

  • Keaulana, S., Antonio, M., Schoch, H., Banna, J. (2019). A Literature Review of the Role of Mindfulness Practices in Nutrition for Mothers and Their Children. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619866815.
  • Townsend Ing, C., Antonio, M., Ahn, H. J., Cassel, K., Dillard, A., Kekauoha, B. P., & Kaholokula, J. K. (2019). An examination of the relationship between discrimination, depression, and hypertension in Native Hawaiians. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 10(3), 249-257. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/aap0000151.
  • Kaholokula, J. K., Antonio, M. C. K., Ing, C. K. T., Hermosura, A., Hall, K. E., Knight, R., & Wills, T. A. (2017). The effects of perceived racism on psychological distress mediated by venting and disengagement coping in Native Hawaiians. BMC Psychology, 5, 2. http://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-017-0171-6.
  • Antonio, M. C. K., Hyeong, J. A., Townsend Ing, C., Dillard, A., Cassel, K., Kekauoha, B. P., Kaholokula, J. K. (2016). Self-reported experiences of discrimination and depression in Native Hawaiians. Hawai'i Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 75,9, 266-272. PMID: 27688952.

Jinan Banna  , PhD, RD, CDN
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Jinan Banna PhD, RD, CDN

Research Interests

Nutrition education, program evaluation, community nutrition, child and adolescent nutrition.

Recent Publications

  • Banna JC, Richards R, Jones B, Anderson A, Reicks M, Cluskey M, Gunther C, Hongu N, Lora K, Misner S, Monroe-Lord L, Topham G, Wong SS, Lim E. Describing independent eating occasions among low-income adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(3):E981.
  • Holmes H, Palacios C, Wu Y, Banna JC. Effect of a short message service intervention on excessive gestational weight gain in a low-income population: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1428.
  • Fialkowski MK, Calabrese A, Tillinghast B, Titchenal A, Meinke W, Banna JC, Draper J. Open educational resource textbook impact on students in an introductory nutrition course. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2020;52(4):359-368.

Recent Grants

  • Can mHealth, an app that measures skin carotenoid, work as an optimal biomarker for health and key motivator for F&V intake? Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. 2018-2019. Banna J, Mentor (Undergraduate PIs:Chowdhury, Nahian & Langfelder, Gemady)
  • A secondary data analysis of the quality of a unique diet quality index score with infants in Puerto Rico and Hawaii to assess diet quality. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. 2018-2019. Banna J, Mentor (Undergraduate PI: Ramirez, Jessica)
  • Child Health Assessment in the Pacific Summer (CHAPS) Fellowship. United States Department of Agriculture. 2016-2019. Banna J, Mentor (PI: Novotny, Rachel and Fialkowski, Marie)
  • Preventing excessive gestational weight gain via short mobile messages in WIC. 2017-2018. National Insitutes of Health. Banna J, PI

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

  • Christine Crosby (PhD Nutrition)
  • Asuka Suzuki (PhD Nutrition). Characterization of parental practices supporting positive eating behaviors of adolescents in Hawai'i.

Marla J. Berry  , PhD
Professor and Director, Pacific Biosciences Research CenterSchool of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology (SOEST) – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Marla J. Berry PhD

Research Interests

Selenoproteins and selenium metabolism. Roles in neurological disease and metabolic syndrome.

Recent Publications

  • Ogawa-Wong AN, Hashimoto AC, Ha H, Pitts MW, Seale LA, Berry MJ. Sexual Dimorphism in the Selenocysteine Lyase Knockout Mouse. Nutrients 2018 Jan. 10(2).
  • Gong T, Torres DJ, Berry MJ, Pitts MW. Hypothalamic redox balance and leptin signaling - Emerging role of selenoproteins. Free Radic Biol Med. 2018 Nov 1;127, 172-181. PMC6123311 [IF 6.02]
  • Torres DJ, Pitts MW, Hashimoto AC, Berry MJ. Agrp-specific ablation of Scly protects against diet-induced obesity and leptin resistance. 2019. Jul 23;11(7). Pii: E1693. doi: 10.3390/nu11071693. PMC6682868 [IF 4.6]
  • Seale LA, Khadka VS, Menor M, Xie G, Watanabe LM, Sasuclark L, Guirguis K, Ha HY, Hashimoto AC, Peplowska K, Tiirikainen M, Jia W, Berry MJ, Deng Y. Combined Omics Reveals That Disruption of the Selenocysteine Lyase Gene Affects Amino Acid Pathways in Mice. 2019 Oct 26;11(11). pii: E2584. PMC6893568.

Recent Grants

  • R01 DK47320-24, NIH/NIDDK (Berry MJ, PI)   4/17 – 3/21, Mechanism of selenoprotein synthesis.
  • U54 MD007601, NIH/NIMHD (Hedges J, Mokuau N, PIs)              09/17 - 06/22, Ola Hawaii.  Goals are to support, strengthen and diversify the basic biomedical, behavioral, clinical and community research workforce and thinkforce engaged in the science of minority health and health disparities.
Role: Director of Investigator Development Core

Carol J. Boushey  , PhD, MPH, RD
Associate Research Professor and Director Nutrition Support Shared Resource, University of Hawai‘i Cancer CenterUniversity of Hawai‘i Cancer Center – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Carol J. Boushey PhD, MPH, RD

Research Interests

Nutritional epidemiology, dietary assessment, interventions, biomarkers of dietary intake.

Recent Publications

  • Kelkar S, Boushey CJ, Okos M. A method to determine the density of foods using X-ray imaging. J Food Eng 2015; 159: 36-41. PMID 25848138.
  • Harmon BE, Boushey CJ, Shvetsov YB, Ettienne R, Wilkens LR, Le Marchand L, Henderson BE, Kolonel LN. Associations of Key Diet Quality Indexes with Mortality in the Multiethnic Cohort: The Dietary Patterns Methods Project. Am J Clin Nutr 2015; 101(3):587-97. PMID: 25733644.
  • Fialkowski MK, Ettienne R, Shvetsov YB, Rivera RL, Van Loan MD, Savaiano DA, Boushey CJ. Ethnicity and acculturation: do they predict weight status in a longitudinal study among Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White early adolescents? Adolesc Health Med Ther 2015; 6:1-7. PMID: 25624775.

Recent Grants

  • NIEH/NIH 2005-2016. Domoic acid neurotoxicity in Native Americans.
  • NIH/NCI 2013. Dietary patterns methods project.

Monica K. Esquivel  , PhD, RDN, CSSD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Monica K. Esquivel PhD, RDN, CSSD

Research Interests

Community Nutrition

Recent Publications

  • Greenberg JA, Luick B, Alfred JM, Barber LR, Bersamin A, Coleman P, Esquivel M, Fleming T, Leon Guerrero RT, Hollyer J, Lorring Johnson E, Novotny R, Remengesau S, Yamanaka A. The affordability of a thrifty food plan-based market basket in the United States-affiliated Pacific Region. Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare. 2020 79(7). In press
  • Esquivel MK, Higa A, Hitchens M, Shelton C, Okihiro M. Keiki produce prescription (KPRx) program feasibility study to reduce food insecurity and obesity risk. Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare. 2020; 79(5).
  • McElfish PA, Purvis R, Esquivel M, Sinclair KA, Townsend Ing C, Hawley N, Haggard-Duff LK, Kaholokula JK. Diabetes disparities and promising interventions to address diabetes in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. Current Diabetes Reports. 2019:19(5).

Recent Grants

  • Investigators: Esquivel M, Silva J, Eng S, Hanakawa C, Teves G, Lincoln N, Yuan S.  Title: Grow Eat Think Local: Farm to School (POW 14-243). Funding Body: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resource Cooperative Extension and Hawai‘i Department of Health Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. October 1, 2019-September 30, 2021. Total Amount Funded: $137,500
  • Investigator: Esquivel M and Aflague T. Title: Interinstitutional Innovative Teaching Award: Innovating clinical nutrition instruction for the Pacific. Funding Body: Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities 2019 Academic Programs Section Innovation in Teaching Award. October 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020. Total Amount Funded: $5,000 (with additional $2,000 institution match)
  • Investigator: Esquivel. Title: Farmacy Produce Prescription Evaluation. Funding Body: Contract with Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. September 2018-September 2019 and October 2019-February 2020. Total Amount Funded: $21,500
Honors/Awards
  • Project Director- OLA Hawaii Farmacy Pediatric Produce Prescription for Food Insecurity and Health Disparities. 2020-2022. Infrastructure support $250,000 from NIMHD U54MD007601
  • Chair- USDA Multi-State Research Collaboration Project W1194 Children’s Healthy Living Network (CHLN) in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Region. 2019-2021
  • Emerging Dietetic Leader Award. 2019. Hawai‘i Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Current Graduate Students

  • Cherise Shelton (PhD in Nutrition)

Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla  , PhD, RD, LDN
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla PhD, RD, LDN

Research Interests

Nutrition and Health in Indigenous Populations, Nutritional Assessment, Nutrition Education for Underserved Populations, Infant Nutrition

Recent Publications

  • Fialkowski MK, Ng-Osorio J, Kai J, Swafford K, Langfelder G, Young CGL, Chen JJ, Zhu FM, Boushey CJ. Type, Timing and Diversity of Complementary Foods Among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino Infants. Hawaii J Health Soc Welf. 2020; 79(5 Suppl 1): 127 – 134.
  • Fialkowski MK, Fonseca-Smith T, Pinto PK, Ng-Osorio J. Native Hawaiian Infant Feeding Practices as Told by Grandparents: A Transgenerational Experience. Curr Dev Nutri. In Press.
  • Fialkowski MK, Calabrese A, Tillinghast B, Titchenal A, Meinke W, Banna JC, Draper J. Open Educational Resource Textbook Impact on Students in an Introductory Nutrition Course. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2020; 52(4): 359 - 358. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.08.006.

Recent Grants

  • Children’s Healthy Living Dietetics Scholars Program (CHLD) ($200,000)(5/15/2018-5/14/2023); USDA Multicultural Scholars Program; Role: Project Director

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

  • A Calabrese (PhD Nutrition).
  • A. Dentinger (MS Nutritional Sciences).
  • J Kai (PhD Nutrition).
  • B K-Aloha (MS Nutritional Sciences)
  • G Mau (MS in Nutritional Sciences)

L. Kealoha Fox  , PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor & Research Affiliate FacultyDepartment of Complementary and Integrative Medicine John A. Burns School of Medicine

Photo of L. Kealoha Fox PhD

Research Interests

Triangulate strategies of program innovation, best-practice research, regulatory management, and clinical practice that strengthen a healthier Hawaiʻi, reduce minority inequities, and improve the longevity of wellness for all people in the twenty-first century.

Recent Publications

  • Miyamoto, R., Burke, K. & Fox, K. (in press). Realizing Mauli Ola: A Social Justice Curriculum to Address the Determinants of Kanaka ‘Ōiwi Health. Educational Perspectives Journal.
  • Mokuau, N., Crabbe, K. & Fox, K. (in press). Kū ka ʻōhiʻa i ka ʻaʻā. ʻŌhiʻa that Stands Amidst the Lava Fields. Hūlili: Multidisciplinary Research on Hawaiian Well-Being.
  • Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (2018). Haumea–Transforming the Health of Native Hawaiian Women and Empowering Wāhine Well-Being. Honolulu, HI: Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
  • Crabbe, K, K., Coleman, H., Enos, M.D., Keahiolalo, K., Watkins-Victorino, L. & Hind, N.M. (2017). Mana Lāhui Kānaka: Mai nā kūpuna kahiko mai a hiki i kēia wā. Honolulu: Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
  • Fox, K. (2017). Kūkulu Ola Hou. Reconstructing the native Hawaiian medical inventory based on traditional and contemporary Kānaka ʻŌiwi perceptions of illness and disease, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17(1): 45.

Adrian Franke  , PhD
Director, Analytical Biochemistry Shared Resource and Professor, Natural Products and Experimental Therapeutics ProgramUniversity of Hawai‘i Cancer Center- University of Hawaii at Manoa

Work Phone: 808.586.3008

Photo of Adrian Franke PhD

Research Interests

Development of biomarkers reflecting exposure to vegetarian foods, pharmacokinetics of chemopreventive micronutrients, development of state-of-the-art analytical techniques to determine metabolites in biological matrices.

Recent Publications

  • Franke AA, Custer LJ, Morrison CM, Li X, Lai JF. (2013).Simultaneous analysis of circulating 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D2, retinol, tocopherols, carotenoids, and oxidized and reduced coenzyme Q10 by HPLC with photo diode-array detection using C18 and C30 columns alone or in combination.J Chromatogr, 1301, 1-9 A.
  • Franke AA, Lai JF, Morrison CM, Pagano I, Li X, Halm BM, Soon Rand Custer LJ. (2013).Coenzyme Q10, carotenoid, tocopherol, and retinol levels in cord plasma from multiethnic subjects in Hawaii. Free Radic Res, 47(9), 757-768.

Recent Grants

  • U54 NCI. Identification of biomarkers in saliva for betel nut consumption. 07/01/13 – 06/30/14
  • PO1 NIH/NCI. Project 1:nutritional, biochemical, and hormonal predictors. Obesity, body fat distribution and cancer risk in the multiethnic cohort. 04/01/012-03/31/17
  • R01 NIH/NCI. Urinary Isoflavonoids and Stroke Risk in Chinese Women. 02/01/11-01-31/14

Yanghua He  , PhD
Assistant Professor – Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Yanghua He PhD

Research Interests

1. Livestock animal production: applying genomics and epigenomics approaches as well as computational methods to improve livestock animal production; 2. Diseases: utilizing high throughput sequencing datasets to elucidate the mechanisms of diseases in animals and humans and pinpointing the causal genetic variants of the disease using CRISPR-based technologies; 3. Nutrigenomics: studying the mechanisms of how different diets contribute to different phenotypes (eg. BMI for evaluating obesity) based on omics-data.

Recent Publications

  • Jianan Liu, Fang Liu, Wentao Cai, Cunling Jia, Ying Bai, Yanghua He, Weiyun Zhu, Robert W. Li, Jiuzhou Song. Jejunal Microbiome and Bile Acids Induced by Diets in Angus Beef Cattle. BMC Animal Microbiome. Accepted. 2020
  • Cicera R. Lazzarotto, Nikolay L. Malinin, Yichao Li, Ruochi Zhang, Yang Yang, Yanghua He, Xin Lan, Kasey Jividen, Varun Katta1, Natalia G. Kolmakova, Christopher T. Petersen, Qian Qi, Evgheni Strelcov, Samantha Maragh, Giedre Krenciute, Jian Ma, Yong Cheng, Shengdar Q. Tsai. CHANGE-seq reveals genetic and epigenetic effects on CRISPR–Cas9 genome-wide activity. Nature Biotechnology (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0555-7
  • Yanghua He, Bo Han, Yi Ding, Huanmin Zhang, Li Zhang, Chunfang Zhao, Ning Yang, and Jiuzhou Song. LincGALMD1 regulates viral gene expression in the chicken. Frontiers in Genetics, 10:1122. 2019 doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01122

Recent Grants

UH CTAHR Start-up Fund

Current Graduate Students

Huong Thanh Vu, M.S. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering
Mandeep Adhikari, Ph.D. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering

Ronald Hetzler  , PhD
Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science, College of Education- University of Hawaii at Manoa

Work Phone: 808.956.3802

Research Interests

Exercise metabolism, fitness, testing body composition

Recent Publications

  • Hetzler, R., Gard, D., Kimura, I., Freemyer, B., Wages, J., Stickley, C. (2013). Allometric Scaling of Wingate Anaerobic Power Test Scores in Men.. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 27:9, 2603-2611.
  • Hetzler, R., Kimura, I., Shikuma, C., Stickley, C. (2012). Hydration Behaviors Before and After an Educational and Prescribed Hydration Intervention in Adolescent Athletes.. Journal of Athletic Training 47(3), 273-281
  • Hetzler, R., Kimura, I., Wages, J., Stickley, C. (2012). VALIDATION OF A NONEXERCISE PREDICTION EQUATION OF ANAEROBIC POWER. JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH Volume: 26 Issue: 11,  3067-3074.
 

Kacie Ho  , PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Kacie Ho PhD

Research Interests

Bioactive compounds, bioavailability, food structuring, colloids for nutrient and bioactive stabilization or delivery

Recent Publications

  • Ho, K. K.HY., Ferruzzi, M. G., & Wightman, J. D. (2020). Potential health benefits of (poly) phenols derived from fruit and 100% fruit juice. Nutrition Reviews, 78(2), 145-174.
  • Li, M., Ho, K. K.H.Y., Hayes, M., & Ferruzzi, M. G. (2019). The roles of food processing in translation of dietary guidance for whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Annual review of food science and technology, 10, 569-596.
  • Ho, K. K.H.Y., Schroën, K., San Martín-González, M. F., & Berton-Carabin, C. C. (2018). Synergistic and antagonistic effects of plant and dairy protein blends on the physicochemical stability of lycopene-loaded emulsions. Food Hydrocolloids, 81, 180-190.

Current Graduate Students

  • Garinn Pereira (MS Food Science) Topic: Development of food-grade Pickering particles for emulsion stabilization
  • Kento Senga (MS Food Science) Topic: Phytochemical profiles and bioaccessibility from Hawaiian taro cultivars

Rajesh Jha  , PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Rajesh Jha PhD

Research Interests

Animal Nutrition, Feed Evaluation, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Fiber Fermentation, Gut Physiology and Health, In vitro Digestion and Fermentation

Recent Publications

  •  Tiwari, U. P., H. Chen, S. W. Kim, and R. Jha. 2018. Supplemental effect of xylanase and mannanase on nutrient digestibility and gut health of nursery pigs studied using both in vivo and in vitro model. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 245:77-90
  • Haygood, A. M., and R. Jha. 2018. Strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota of Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in aquaculture: a review. Rev. Aquacult., 10(2):320-333.
  • Singh, A. K., J. D. Berrocoso, Y. Dersjant-Li, A. Awati, and R. Jha. 2017. Effect of a combination of xylanase, amylase, and protease on growth performance of broilers fed low and high fiber diets. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 232:16-20.
  • Berrocoso, J. D., R. Kida, A. K. Singh, Y. S. Kim and R. Jha. 2017. Effect of in ovo injection of raffinose on growth performance and gut health parameters of broiler chicken. Poult. Sci., 96:1573–1580.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

  • Razib Das (PhD, HNFAS home): Nutrition
  • Alyssa Haygood (PhD, MBBE home): Aquaculture Nutrition
  • Hannah Holmes (MS, HNFAS home): Nutrition
  • Ratu Serupepeli Ravula Tagivakatini (MS): Animal Science

Rachel Johnson  , PhD, MPH, RD
Faculty, Robert L. Bickford Jr. Green and Gold Professor of NutritionThe University of Vermont: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences

Photo of Rachel Johnson PhD, MPH, RD

Research Interests

National nutrition policy, pediatric nutrition, dietary intake methodology, energy metabolism and diet and cardiovascular health.

Recent Publications

To learn more about Dr. Johnson and her research please click here    

Soojin Jun  , PhD
Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Soojin Jun PhD

Research Interests

Emerging food processing and packaging technologies, Food nanotechnologies, and Biosensors.

Recent Publications

  • Lee, S.H., Yamada, K., and Jun. S. 2013. Ultraviolet Radiation Assisted with Ohmic Current for Microbial Inactivation in Apple Juice. Transactions of the ASABE 56(3): 1085-1091.
  • Nguyen, L.T., Choi W., Lee, S.H., Jun, S. 2013.  Exploring the Heating Patterns of Multiphase Foods in a Continuous Flow, Simultaneous Microwave and Ohmic Combination Heater. Journal of Food Engineering 116(1): 65-71.
  • Lu, L. Chee, G., Yamada, K., and Jun, S. 2013. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic technique with a functionalized microwire sensor for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 42: 492-495.

Recent Grants

  • 2013, USDA/NIFA, AFRI, Novel Freezing Technique using Combined Pulsed Electric and Magnetic Fields to Maintain the Qualities of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
  • 2009, USDA-AFRI, Development of Combined Continuous-Flow Microwave and Pulsed Ohmic Heating Technologies for Rapid and Uniform Heating of Multiphase Foods.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

  • Natthakan Rungraeng (PhD, MBBE home): Food nanotechnology
  • Seung Hyun Lee (PhD, MBBE home): Food processing
  • Jin Hong Mok (MS, HNFAS home): Food freezing
  • Kara Yamada (MS, HNFAS home): Biosensor
  • Inae Lee (PhD, MBBE home): Food nanotechnology
  • Tim Shafel (MS, HNFAS home): Food processing and chemistry

Yong Soo Kim  , PhD, MS
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Science, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Yong Soo Kim PhD, MS

Research Interests

Improving animal growth performance and carcass composition, myostatin as potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, meat quality characteristics of locally produced forage-finished beef, innovative ways to improve the marketability of low-value cuts of the forage-finished carcasses.

Recent Publications

  • S.B. Lee, R. Choi, S.K. Park, and Y.S. Kim. 2014. Production of bioactive chicken follistatin315 in Escherichia coli. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 98:10041- 10051.
  • W.Y. Haq, S.K. Kang, S.B. Lee, H.C. Kang, Y.J. Choi, C.N. Lee and Y.S. Kim. 2013. High-level soluble expression of porcine myostatin propeptide in Escherichia coli. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 97(19):8517-27.
  • Sang Beum Lee, Jeong Hwan Kim, Hyung-Joo Jin, Il Shik Shin, and Yong Soo Kim, 2013. Highyield expression and purification of bioactive flatfish (Paralichthys olivaceus) myostatin-1 prodomain in Escherichia coli, American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology 8 (3):195-201.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

  • Dong Hyuck Choi, MS in Molecular Biosciences and Biosystem’s Engineering (MBBE) (Spring 2012 – current)
  • Arthur Wong, PhD in MBBE (Fall 2010 –current)

Janet Latner  , PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Psychology, College of Social Sciences- University of Hawaii at Manoa

Photo of Janet Latner PhD

Research Interests

Improving the scientific understanding of obesity and eating disorders and developing methods of relieving the significant disability, stigma, and impairment associated with these conditions

Recent Publications

  • Durso, L. E., Latner, J. D., & Hayashi, K. (2012). Perceived discrimination is associated with binge eating in a community sample of non-overweight, overweight, and obese adults.Obesity Facts, 5(6), 869-880.
  • Ebneter, D. S., & Latner, J. D. (in press).  A comparison of stigma and causal beliefs across eating disorders, obesity and major depressive disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.
  • Latner, J. D., & Ciao, A. C. (in press). Weight-loss history as a predictor of obesity treatment outcome: Prospective, long-term results from group behavioral, self-help treatment. Journal of Health Psychology.
   

Loic Le Marchand  , MD, PhD
Cancer Epidemiology ProgramUniversity of Hawai‘i Cancer Center – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Photo of Loic Le Marchand MD, PhD

Research Interests

The interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors responsible for the cancer risk differences that exist among ethnic/racial groups in Hawaii and California, with the goal of advancing our understanding of the causes, mechanisms and prevention of cancer.

Recent Publications

  • Wang H…Le Marchand L. (2014). Trans-ethnic genome-wide association study of colorectal cancer identifies a new susceptibility locus in VTI1A. Nat Commun. 2014 Aug 8;5:4613. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5613. This is a modified citation.
  • Park SL…Le Marchand L. (2014). Pleiotropic Associations of Risk Variants Identified for Other Cancers With Lung Cancer Risk: The PAGE and TRICL Consortia. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014 Apr 1;106(4):dju061. doi: 10.1093/jnci/dju061. Epub 2014 Mar 28. This is a modified citation.
  • Cheng I…Le Marchand* L. (2013). Pleiotropic effects of genetic risk variants for other cancers on colorectal cancer risk: PAGE, GECCO and CCFR consortia. Gut. 2013 Aug 9. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2013-305189. [Epub ahead of print] *Co-senior author. This is a modified citation.

Recent Grants

  • L. Le Marchand, C. Henderson, L. Wilkens, MPIs, UM1 CA164973, National Cancer Institute, "Understanding Ethnic Differences in Cancer: The Multiethnic Cohort Study" 2012–2017.
  • L. Le Marchand, PI. P01 CA169530, National Cancer Institute, "Obesity, Body Fat Distribution and Cancer Risk in the Multiethnic Cohort" 2012–2017.
  • L. Le Marchand, PI of subcontract, (Haile/Lindor/Jenkins, MPIs), U01 CA167551, National Cancer Institute, "The Colon Cancer Family Registry Cohort" 2012–2016.
  • C. Haiman/L. Le Marchand, MPIs, National Human Genome Research Institute, "Epidemiology of Putative Causal Variants in the Multiethnic Cohort" 2013-2017.

Rachael Leon Guerrero  , PhD, RDN, LD
DirectorOffice of Research and Sponsered Programs – University of Guam

Recent Publications

  • Leon Guerrero RT, Novotny R, Wilkens LR, Chong M, White KK, Shvetsov YB, Buyum A, Badowski G, Blas-Laguana M. Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in the Breast Cancer Risk Model study of Guam and Saipan. Cancer Epidemiology. 2017; 50PB:221-223. DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.008 (PMCID: PMC5682949)
  • Matanane L, Silva J, Li F, Leon Guerrero RT, Novotny R, Barber R, Fialkowski M. “Para I Famagu’onTa”: Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Food Store Environment, And Childhood Overweight/Obesity In The Children’s Healthy Living Program On Guam. Hawaii J Med & Pub Health. 2017;76(8): 225-233. (PMCID: PMC5551277)
  • Novotny R, Li F, Wilkens L, Fialkowski M, Fleming T, Coleman P, Leon Guerrero R, Bersamin A, and Deenik J. 2017. Economic Influences on Child Growth Status, from the Children’s Healthy Living Program in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region. ADBI Working Paper 698. Tokyo: Asian Development Bank Institute. Available: https://www.adb.org/publications/economic-influences-child-growth-status
  • Yonemori KM, Ennis T, R Novotny, Fialkowski MK, Ettienne R, Wilkens LR, Leon Guerrero RT, Bersamin A, Coleman P, Li F, Boushey CJ. Collecting wrappers, labels, and packages to enhance accuracy of food records among children 2–8 years in the Pacific region: Children’s Healthy Living Program (CHL). Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2017;64:112-118. DOI:doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2017.04.012. (PMCID: PMC5792074)

Qing X. Li  , PhD
Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences and BioengineeringCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Work Phone: 808.956.2011

Photo of Qing X. Li PhD

Research Interests

Proteomics, environmental biochemistry and biotechnology.

Recent Publications

  • Baker, M.R.; Li, Q.X. 2013. Guanidination tryptic peptides without desalting for MALDI MS analysis. Analytical Chemistry 85(18):8873–8880. PMID: 23964694.
  • Cho, I.K.; Chang, C.L.; Li, Q.X. 2013. Diet-induced over-expression of flightless-I protein and its relation to flight dysfunction in Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata.  PLoS ONE 8(12): e81099. PMID: 24312525.

Recent Grants

  • Proteomics Core PI. NIH NIMHHD RCMI, Bioscience Research Infrastructure Development for Grant Enhancement and Success (BRIDGES). 2011-2016.
  • PI, Korean RDA. Studies on biological activity of individual g-oryzanol from agro-food. 2013-2015.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

  • Margaret Baker (PhD, MBBE), Glycoproteomics
  • Shumei Gao (PhD, Biotechnology), Microbial adaption to chemical stresses
  • Chelsea Miller (MS, MBBE), Bioremediation
  • Jessica Murison (MS, MBBE), Pesticide exposure
  • Camila Ortega (PhD, MBBE), Microbial adaption to chemical stresses
  • Daniel Roettger (PhD, MBBE), Biodiesel and yeast genomics
  • Ruijin Wang (PhD, Plant Pathology), Phosphoproteomics
  • Boting Wen (PhD, Biotechnology), Enzyme structure and function
Page 1 Page 2

Contact

Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
1955 East-West Road,
Ag Sci 216
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822
Phone: (808) 956-7095
Fax: (808) 956-4024
Email: nutrphd@hawaii.edu

UH Graduate Division

Address: 2540 Maile Way Spalding 354 Honolulu, HI 96822 Phone: (808) 956-8544 Email: gradss@hawaii.edu Website: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/