Congratulations to our graduates! Here is where they are today.
Tanisha Aflague, PhD, MS, RD
Title & Employer
Assistant Professor of Nutrition & EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Coordinator at the University of Guam
Dissertation Topic
Addressing childhood obesity through surveillance, novel assessments, and enhancement of summer enrichment programs in Guam.
Academic Highlights
- Esquivel MK, Fialkowski MK, Aflague T, Novotny R. Engaging Head Start Teachers on Wellness Policy Implementation to Improve the Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Head Start Classrooms: A Qualitative Study of the Children’s Healthy Living Program (CHL) in Hawai’i. J Fam Med Community Health 2016; 3(5): 1094.
- Aflague TF, Boushey CJ, Leon Guerrero RT, Ahmad Z, Kerr DA, Delp EJ. Feasibility and Use of the Mobile Food Record for Capturing Eating Occasions among Children Ages 3–10 Years in Guam. Nutritents 2015; 7:4403-4415. doi:10.3390/nu7064403
- Boushey CJ, Hanbury AJ, Kerr DA, Schapp TE, Paterson S, Aflague TF, Bosch M, Ahmad Z, Delp EJ. The mobile food record: how willing are adolescents to record? JMIR mHealth uHealth 2015; 3(2):e47. doi:10.2196/mhealth.4087
Monica Esquivel, PhD, MS, RD
Title & Employer
Assistant Professor (Director of Dietetics Program) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Dissertation Topic
Childcare Center Wellness Policy Implementation for Childhood Obesity Prevention
Academic Highlights
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Esquivel MK, Nigg C, Fialkowski MK, Braun K, Li F, Novotny R. Head Start Wellness Policy Intervention in Hawaii: A project of the Children’s Healthy Living Program (CHL). Childhood Obesity. 2016; 12 (1).
- Esquivel, MK, Nigg C, Fialkowski JK, Braun K, Li F, Novotny R. Influence of teachers’ personal health behaviors on operationalizing obesity prevention policy in Head Start preschools: A project of the Children’s Healthy Living Program (CHL). In press: Journal for Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Cheryl Gibby, PhD, MS
Dissertation Topic
Maternal and infant factors involved in overweight/obesity and the acceptability of a text message-based intervention aimed at reducing excessive infant weight gain
Academic Highlights
- Gibby CLK, Palacios C, Campos M, Graulau RE, Banna J. Acceptability of a text message-based intervention for obesity prevention in infants from Hawai’i and Puerto Rico WIC. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):291. doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2446-9
- Gibby CLK, Palacios C, Campos M, Lim E, Banna J. Associations between gestational weight gain and rate of infancy weight gain in Hawai’i and Puerto Rico WIC participants. BMC Obes. 2018;5:41. doi:10.1186/s40608-018-0219-z
- Gibby CLK, Palacios C, Campos M, Lim E, Banna J. Breastfeeding discontinuation not associated with maternal pregravid BMI but associated with Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander race in Hawaii and Puerto Rico WIC participants. Matern Child Health J. July 2018. doi:10.1007/s10995-018-2587-x
- Palacios C, Campos M, Gibby C, Meléndez M, Lee JE, Banna J. Effect of a Multi-Site Trial using Short Message Service (SMS) on Infant Feeding Practices and Weight Gain in Low-Income Minorities. J Am Coll Nutr. 2018;0(0):1-9. doi:10.1080/07315724.2018.1454353
- Banna J, Campos M, Gibby C, et al. Multi-site trial using short mobile messages (SMS) to improve infant weight in low-income minorities: Development, implementation, lessons learned and future applications. Contemp Clin Trials. 2017;62(Supplement C):56-60. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2017.08.011.
Michelle Mosley, PhD, MS, CBA
Title & Employer
ASenior Service Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dissertation Topic
Cultural Attitudes and Beliefs on Diet and Physical Activity in Early Adolescents and Influence on Weight and Dietary Intake
Academic Highlights
- Mosley, M.A., Andrade, F.C.D., Aradillas-Garcia, C., Teran-Garcia, M. Consumption of Dairy and Metabolic Syndrome Risk in a Convenient Sample of Mexican College Applicants. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2013, 4, 56-65.
- Teran-Garcia, M., Andrade, F.C.D., Vazquez-Vidal, I., Mosley, M., Medina-Cerda, E., Aradillas-Garcia, C. FTO genotype is associated with body mass index and waist circumference in Mexican young adults. Open Journal of Genetics, 2013, 3, 44-48.
David E. St-Jules, RDN, PhD
Title & Employer
Assistant Professor in Nutrition at the University of Nevada, Reno
Dissertation Topic
Association of Fish and Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Pediatric Liver Diseases
Academic Highlights
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St-Jules DE, Marinaro M, Goldfarb DS, Byham-Gray LD, Wilund KR. Managing Hyperkalemia: Another Benefit of Exercise in People With Chronic Kidney Disease? [published online ahead of print, 2019 Nov 22]. J Ren Nutr. 2019;S1051-2276(19)30355-3. doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2019.10.001
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St-Jules DE, Goldfarb DS, Popp CJ, Pompeii ML, Liebman SE. Managing protein-energy wasting in hemodialysis patients: A comparison of animal- and plant-based protein foods. Semin Dial. 2019;32(1):41-46. doi:10.1111/sdi.12737
- St-Jules, David E; Goldfarb, David S; Pompeii, Mary Lou; Liebman, Scott E; Sherman, Richard A. Assessment and misassessment of potassium, phosphorus, and protein in the hemodialysis diet. Seminars in dialysis. 2018:31(5):479-486.
- St-Jules, David E; Goldfarb, David S; Pompeii, Mary Lou; Sevick, Mary Ann. Phosphate Additive Avoidance in Chronic Kidney Disease. Diabetes spectrum. 2017:30(2):101-106.
- St-Jules, David E; Jagannathan, Ram; Gutekunst, Lisa; Kalantar-Zadeh, Kamyar; Sevick, Mary Ann. Examining the Proportion of Dietary Phosphorus From Plants, Animals, and Food Additives Excreted in Urine. Journal of renal nutrition. 2016:27(2):78-83.
- St-Jules DE, Goldfarb DS, Sevick MA. Nutrient Non-equivalence: Does Restricting High-Potassium Plant Foods Help to Prevent Hyperkalemia in Hemodialysis Patients? [published correction appears in J Ren Nutr. 2016 Nov;26(6):416]. J Ren Nutr. 2016;26(5):282-287. doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2016.02.005
U.S. Army Dietitian, Army Medical Specialist Corps
Dissertation Topic
Improving Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Social Cognitive and Behavior Variables in Filipino Adolescents in Hawai’i: The Waipahu Action Research and Training (HART) Project
Academic Highlights
- Fleary S, Nigg C, Kim S, Tagorda M, Rathke M. Validating stages of change for obesogenic behaviors across Filipino and Other Asian American and Pacific Islander adolescents. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.2017. doi:10.1007/s40615-017-0392-7.
- Rathke M, Tagorda M,Nigg C R. Predicting fruit and vegetable intake in Asian American & Pacific Islander adolescents via knowledge, self-efficacy and stage of change. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2016; 50: S308.
- Wing D, McClintock R, Plumlee D, Rathke M, Burnett T, Lyons B, Buono M. Does anticipatory sweating occur prior to fluid consumption? International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology. 2012;4:45-50.
Amit Kumar Singh, Phd, BVSc & A.H
Title & Employer: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Georgia
Dissertation Topic
Effect of exogenous enzymes and probiotics on digestibility and fiber utilization in chickens
Academic Highlights
- D. Bhuminand, B. Tapendra Prasad, S. Amit Kumar, M. Motozumi, M. Yoh-Ichi. 2009. Ovarian status, uterine pathology and physical condition of anoestrus and culled buffaloes in Chitwan, Nepal. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science Annual Conference in Southport, UK, 30 March- 1 April 2009.
Utsav Prakash Tiwari, PhD, B.V.Sc. & A.H.
Title & Employer
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dissertation Topic
Use of porcine in vivo, in vitro model and microscopy to see the effect of exogenous enzymes on degradation of fiber-starch-protein matrix
Academic Highlights
- Utsav P. Tiwari, H. Chen, S. W. Kim and R. Jha. Supplemental effect of xylanase and mannanase on non-starch polysaccharide digestibility and gut health of nursery pigs studied using both in vitro and in vitro model. Animal Feed Science and Technology. (Accepted manuscript)
- P. Tiwari, and R. Jha (2017). Nutrients, amino acid, fatty acid and non-starch polysaccharide profile and in vitro digestibility of macadamia nut cake in swine. Animal Science Journal, 88:1093-1099.
- P. Tiwari, and R. Jha (2016). Nutrient profile and digestibility of tubers and agro-industrial coproducts determined using an in vitro model of swine. Animal Nutrition, 2:357-360.
- Turano, U. P. Tiwari, and R. Jha (2016). Growth and nutritional evaluation of napier grass hybrids as forage for ruminants. Tropical Grasslands, 4(3):168-178.
- U.P. Tiwari, B. Turano, andR. Jha (2014). Nutritional characteristics and in vitro digestibility by near-infrared spectroscopy of local and hybrid napiergrass varieties grown in rain-fed and irrigated conditions. Animal Production Science, 54:1775-1778.
Chloe Panizza, PhD, MHlthProm, PostgradDip Dietetics, BSc Nutrition
Title & Employer
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center.
Dissertation Topic
Exploring the influence of diet quality on visceral adiposity and risk of mortality from non-communicable diseases among adults in the US.
Academic Highlights
- Panizza, C.E.; Wong, M.C.; Kelly, N.; Liu, Y.E.; Shvetsov, Y.B.; Lowe, D.A.; Weiss, E.J.; Heymsfield, S.B.; Kennedy, S.; Boushey, C.J.; Maskarinec, G.; Shepherd, J.A. Diet Quality and Visceral Adiposity among a Multiethnic Population of Young, Middle, and Older Aged Adults. CDN (in press).
- Panizza, C.E.; Lim, U.; Yonemori, K.M.; Cassel, K.D.; Wilkens, L.R.; Harvie, M.N.; Maskarinec, G.; Delp, E.J.; Lampe, J.W.; Shepherd, J.A.; Le Marchand, L.; Boushey, C.J. Effects of Intermittent Energy Restriction Combined with a Mediterranean Diet on Reducing Visceral Adiposity: A Randomized Active Comparator Pilot Study. Nutrients 2019, 11, 1386.
- Zhao, C.; Panizza, C. Fox, K.; Boushey, C.J.; Byker Shanks, C.; Ahmed, S.; Chen, S.; Serrano, E.L.; Zee, J.; Fialkowski, M.K.; Banna, J. Plate Waste in School Lunch: Barriers, Motivators, and Perspectives of SNAP-Eligibile Early Adolescents in the US. J Nutr Educ Behav 2019, 51, 967-975.
- Panizza, C.E.; Shvetsov, Y.B.; Harmon, B.E.;Wilkens, L.R.; Le Marchand, L.; Haiman, C.; Reedy, J.; Boushey, C.J. Testing the Predictive Validity of the Healthy Eating Index-2015 in the Multiethnic Cohort: Is the Score Associated with a Reduced Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality? Nutrients 2018, 10, 452.
- Banna, J.C.; Panizza, C.E.; Boushey, C.J.; Delp, E.J.; Lim, E. Association between Cognitive Restraint, Uncontrolled Eating, Emotional Eating and BMI and the Amount of Food Wasted in Early Adolescent Girls. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1279.
- Panizza, C.E.; Boushey, C.J.; Delp, E.J.; Kerr, D.A.; Lim, E.; Gandhi, K.; Banna, J.C. Characterizing Early Adolescent Plate Waste Using the Mobile Food Record. Nutrients 2017, 9, 93.
- Harray, A. J.; Boushey, C. J.; Pollard, C. M.; Panizza, C. E.; Delp, E. J.; Dhaliwal, S. S.; Kerr, D. A. Perception v. Actual Intakes of Junk Food and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Australian Young Adults: Assessed Using the Mobile Food Record. Public Health Nutrition 2017, 20(13), 2300–2307.
Michael Cen Wong, PhD
Title & Employer
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Dr. John Shepherd
Dissertation Topic
Using body shape from 3D optical imaging for health assessment
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
After spending a year working after college, I soon realized it would be difficult to get where I want to be without further education. When the opportunity came to pursue my PhD at UH Manoa, I left my life behind in California to follow my dreams and start a new life. Fortunately for me, things have fallen in place. I enjoy the work I’m doing, I have a great mentor, I made wonderful friends, and I have no regrets.
Academic Highlights
- Wong MC, Ng BK, Kennedy SF, Hwaung P, Liu E, Kelly N, Pagano I, Garber AK, Chow D, Heymsfield SB, Shepherd JA. Children and Adolescent’s Anthropometrics Body Composition from 3D Optical Surface Scans. OBESITY. Accepted, 2019. (top 5 manuscript and will be featured in the 7th annual OBESITY Symposium)
- Bennett K. Ng, Markus J. Sommer, Michael C. Wong, Ian Pagano, Yilin Nie, Bo Fan, Samantha Kennedy, Brianna Bourgeois, Nisa Kelly, Yong E. Liu, Phoenix Hwaung, Andrea K. Garber, Dominic Chow, Christian Vaisse, Brian Curless, Steven B. Heymsfield, John A. Shepherd. Detailed 3D Body Shape Features Predict Body Composition, Blood Metabolites, and Functional Strength: The Shape Up Studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Accepted, 2019.
Jessie Kai, PhD
Title & Employer
Training and Extension Coordinator, Children’s Healthy Living Center, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
I wanted to learn from and share with my community.
Academic Highlights
ARCS scholar
Lianger “Felix” Dong, PhD, MS
Dissertation Topic
I am interested in health benefits of probiotic foods and their effects on human gut.
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
My research during M.S. studying was involved with lactase treated dairy products using nanotechnology which is beneficial for lactose-intolerant costumers. This experience encourages me to focus on practical research based on an interdisciplinary knowledge of biological, physicochemical, and engineering science to improve the quality, nutritional profiles and safety of foods. Dr. Yong Li’s research projects discover potential antimicrobial, anticancer, or nutraceutical properties of local fruits, investigation of the effects of food derived bioactives on gut microbiota, and development of novel fast detecting techniques of food born pathogens. His research is very intriguing to me and matches my academic goal of providing potential solutions addressing food safety and human health problems. In addition, the courses and resources provided by the Nutrition PhD program at UHM are diverse and advanced. I chose UHM to continue my education in food science because I believe this is a great opportunity to gain professional knowledge and skills for my career and explore microbials, food, and their relationship to overall wellbeing.
Academic Highlights
- Dong JL, Yu X, Dong LE, Shen RL. In vitro fermentation of oat β-glucan and hydrolysates by fecal microbiota and selected probiotic strains. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2017 Sep;97(12):4198-203.
Michelle Blas Laguana, PhD, MS
Dissertation Topic
Dietary Assessment of Children in Guam
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa?
While living and working on Guam, I’ve been fortunate to work with faculty from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) and the University of Hawaii’s Cancer Center in various research and extension capacities, so to be able to further my studies and career at UHM felt like the natural choice. I’ve enjoyed the various courses the intercollege PhD program has allows me to explore as well as the opportunities and support I’ve been given working in small class sizes with my peers and faculty. The mentorship and experience I have gained thus far has been very rewarding and I feel blessed to be in such a great learning environment! I believe the knowledge and faculty mentorships I have gained here at UHM will help provide me with the tools to go back home and continue nutrition education and research with the ethnic populations of Guam.
Tharindu Malintha Gardi-Hewage, PhD, MS
Dissertation Topic
Environmentally sensitive transcription factors in the prolactin cell, gill and kidney of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
During my Master’s degree, I studied marine life sciences and biomedical sciences. I was specialized in aquafeeds and nutrition. Therefore, the Ph.D. Nutrition program was most suited to me. It is an honor for me to be a part of HNFAS and work in a friendly environment. I work in the Laboratory of Fish Endocrinology and Environmental Physiology, where I will conduct experiments in understanding the effects of temperature on osmoreception using tilapia as a model animal and develop aquafeeds using locally available ingredients. I believe that the knowledge and experiences I gain from UH and the help and guidance from the faculty would make this work successful.
Academic Highlights
- Seale, Malintha, G. H. T., Celino‐Brady, F. T., Head, T., Belcaid, M., Yamaguchi, Y., Lerner, D. T., Baltzegar, D. A., Borski, R. J., Stoytcheva, Z. R., & Breves, J. P. (2020). Transcriptional regulation of prolactin in a euryhaline teleost: Characterisation of gene promoters through in silico and transcriptome analyses. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 32(11), e12905–n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12905
- Woo, Malintha, G. H. T., Celino-Brady, F. T., Yamaguchi, Y., Breves, J. P., & Seale, A. P. (2022). Tilapia prolactin cells are thermosensitive osmoreceptors. American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 322(6), R609–R619. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00027.2022
Jonathan Bennett, PhD, MS
Dissertation Topic
Assessment of Hydration via Five Compartment Body Composition Methods
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
Working with John Shepherd and Steve Heymsfield (Pennington Biomedical Research Center, LA) provides invaluable experience and opportunities for us to develop research that further advances the understanding of body composition and its role in health and disease risk.
Academic Highlights
- Heymsfield SB, Smith B, Wong M, Bennett JP, Ebbeling C, Wong J M, … & Shepherd JA (2021). Multicomponent density models for body composition: Review of the dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry volume approach. Obesity Reviews, e13274.
- Bennett JP, Liu YE, Quon BK, Kelly NN, Wong MC, Kennedy SF, … & Shepherd JA (2022). Assessment of clinical measures of total and regional body composition from a commercial 3-dimensional optical body scanner. Clinical Nutrition.
- Bennett JP, Liu YE, Quon BK, Kelly NN, Wong MC, Leong L, … & Shepherd JA (2022). Three-dimensional optical body shape and features improve prediction of metabolic disease risk in a diverse cross-sectional sample of adults. Obesity.
- Cataldi D, Bennett JP, Quon BK, Liu YE, Heymsfield SB, Kelly TK, & Shepherd JA (2022). Agreement and precision of deuterium dilution for total body water and multicompartment body composition assessment in collegiate athletes. Journal of Nutrition.
- Bennett JP, Wong MC, McCarthy C, Fearnbach N, Queen K, Shepherd JA, & Heymsfield SB (2022). Emergence of the adolescent obesity epidemic: five-decade visualization with humanoid avatars. International Journal of Obesity.
MS Alumni
Sydney Lofquist
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. MJ Lee
Dissertation Topic
The impact of Transforming Growth Factor Beta on adipose tissue biology.
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Bernice ChristineDelos Reyes
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Dr. Monica Esquivel
MS Alumni
Amanda Dentinger
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla
Thesis Topic
Shae Foudy
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Monica Esquivel
Thesis Topic
Jillian Baverstock
MS, Nutritional Sciences
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Monica Esquivel
Thesis Topic
PhD Alumni
Razib Das
PostDoc, University of Maryland
Nutrition PhD
Department Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Rajesh Jha
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
I completed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and then MS in Microbiology from Sylhet Agricultural University in Bangladesh. The master’s program encouraged me to learn more about the effect of gut microbiota on nutrition. I found the Intercollegiate PhD Nutrition program of UHM is a nice blending of different fields and planned to pursue my higher study in this great educational atmosphere. My major determinant for choosing this program was Jha’s lab. The Jha’s Lab works with different alternative feed additives, their effect on the gut microbiome, nutrition and health of the monogastric animals. I consider this lab is an opportunity to know more about the nutritional sciences.
Brittany Russell, MS
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Animal Science Track
Department Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Mark Thorne
Dissertation Topic
The Effects of Parasitism on Grazing Preferences of Small Ruminants on Hawaii Rangeland
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
After finishing my B.S. at Virginia Tech, I was drawn to UH Manoa because of their extension program. I completed my Masters in the Animal Sciences program working with pig farmers across the state, and it was an easy decision to continue my education in the Nutritional Sciences PhD program here at UH. The strong support network both within my department and across campus were huge factors in my decision.
Academic Highlights
- Castle, B.A.*, Odani, J., Jha, R., Ogasawara, N., & Zaleski, H.M. 2018. Survey of disease, management and biosecurity practices of Hawai‘i swine farmers. Poster session presented at the Annual American Society of Animal Science and Canadian Society of Animal Science Joint Conference, Vancouver, Canada, July 8-12, 2018.
- Castle, B.A. Primavera, T.G., Odani, J., Heskett, T.W., and Zaleski, H.M. 2018. Biosecurity procedures for visits to swine farms. University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension, Livestock Management LM-33.
- Odani, J.*, Zaleski, H., Ogasawara, N., Castle, B., Vannucci, F., and Heskett, T. 2017. Swine serosurveillance in Hawaii. Poster presented at the 60th Annual American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians Conference, San Diego, CA, Oct. 12-18, 2017.
- Castle, B.A.* 2017. Swine Diseases Cause Significant Production Loss in Hawaii. Lecture presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Hawai‘i Veterinary Medical Association, Honolulu, HI, Oct 26-27, 2017.
Sadid Al Amaz, DVM, MS
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Animal Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Birendra Mishra
Dissertation Topic
Pre-hatch thermal manipulation of chicks’ embryo: a novel strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
It’s my pleasure to be a part of The University of Hawaii at Manoa through the Ph.D. in Nutrition program. The beautiful life in Hawaii and the lively campus of UHM are absolutely gorgeous. The nature here is act as caffeine without the morning coffee. It feels like I’m always on vacation. This is the life you could dream of. The departments and the professor’s support are awesome. I’m glad to join Dr. Mishra’s lab. He is an amazing person as well as a great researcher. I’m continuously learning from him. I choose to come here because I aspire to a career as a researcher. Studying Nutritional Sciences will enable me to experience a stellar academic environment full of veritable leaders and scholarly peers.
Academic Highlights
- Al Amaz S, and Mishra B. Embryonic thermal manipulation: a potential strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens, J Anim Sci Biotechnol, 2024. doi: 10.1186/s40104-024-01028-1.
- Amaz SA, Shahid MAH, Chaudhary A, Jha R, Mishra B. Embryonic thermal manipulation reduces hatch time, increases hatchability, thermotolerance, and liver metabolism in broiler embryos. Poult Sci. 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103527
- Al Amaz S, Chaudhary A, Mahato PL, Jha R, Mishra B. Pre-hatch thermal manipulation of embryos and post-hatch baicalein supplementation mitigated heat stress in broiler chickens. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2024. doi: 10.1186/s40104-023-00966-6.
- Chaudhary A, Mishra P, Amaz SA, Mahato PL, Das R, Jha R, Mishra B. Dietary supplementation of microalgae mitigates the negative effects of heat stress in broilers. Poult Sci. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102958.
- Katherine Bazore Gruelle and Nobue Nishimura Scholarship Fund. 2022-24.
- Dr. Allen Y. Miyahara Scholarship Fund. 2024
Pauline M. McFall, MPH
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Rachel Novotny
Dissertation Topic
Assessment of Dietary Intake of American Samoan children
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
Growing up in American Samoa, we were not afforded a lot of opportunities for internships and experiential learning. I was fortunate to have been awarded a National Science Foundation young scholar opportunity to the University of Hawaii at Manoa under the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources department. That was many years ago, but it certainly sparked my interest in the field and in research. Even though it is rather ironic that I am now here working towards the culmination of my education at the exact place where it all began – I would not have had it any other way. The Intercollegiate PhD program here at the UH Manoa, HNFAS department provides me with the perfect blend of academics, research, professional development, and support towards my educational and research goals. The program also gives me the opportunity to study and work with my own Samoan culture and community to address specific health and nutrition disparities and issues that they and other US Affiliated Pacific Islands face. It is certainly a blessing to be here and to be a part of this program, and would highly recommend to other students who wish to pursue a career in nutritional sciences.
Academic Highlights
Dustin Valdez
Nutrition PhD
Department Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. John Shepherd
Dissertation Topic
Accessible early breast cancer detection technologies for women in the Pacific
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
After completing my Bachelor’s degree at UCLA I decided I wanted to further my education back at home in Hawaii. I felt that I would be able to make more of a difference for the people of Hawaii if studied at UH Manoa. Since coming to UH Manoa I have been working on various research projects such as working with WIC (Women Infant & Children) with gestational weight-gain and testing portable ultrasound devices for use in early detection of breast cancer. I have been learning a great deal about research from my mentor and looking forward to learning more.
Academic Highlights
- Valdez D, Bunnell A, Lim SY, Sadowski P, Shepherd JA. Performance of progressive generations of GPT on an exam designed for certifying physicians as Certified Clinical Densitometrist. Journal of Clinical Densitometry. 2024; 27 (2).
- Valdez D, Cruz T, Rania S, Badowski G, Cassel K, Wolfruber T, Grosskreutz S, Dulana L, Adonay R, Maskarinec G, Shepherd JA. Low clinical efficacy, but good acceptability of a point-of-care electronic palpation device for breast cancer screening for a lower middle-income environment. Medical Physics. 2021; 49 (4): 2663-2671.
- R01 Diversity Supplement (University of Hawaii)
- NIH AIM Ahead Heart Fellow (University of Hawaii)
- NIH MHRT Fellow (University of Hawaii)
Cherese Shelton, CLC
Nutritional Sciences PhD – Human Nutrition Track
Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Chair: Dr. Monica K. Esquivel
Dissertation Topic
Food and Activity Bag Kits for Pediatric Nutrition Interventions
Why did you choose the PhD Nutrition Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa?
I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). In this time, I found my passion for the college atmosphere and students. I realized that the most fulfilling career would be one where I can educate students about nutrition, while also conducting research that can benefit Hawaii. As an undergraduate student, I received a tremendous amount of support and opportunities that I believe are unique to UHM. I chose to pursue this Ph.D. Nutrition program because there is no other university that can provide more preparation in my pursuit to one day teach and conduct research as a professor at UHM.
Academic Highlights
- Carey D. Miller Memorial Scholarship, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, 2018-2019.