Postdoctoral Scholars

Biography
Carmen joins the HNRCA with nutrition experience specifically focused on the effects of olive oil and other vegetable oils and their effects on colon cancer, immune response, and inflammatory markers. She recently completed her PhD in Olive Oils at the University of Jaen.

Education

BS, Human Nutrition and Dietics, University of Granada
MS, Human Nutrition, University of Granada
MS, Olive Grove and Olive Oils, University of Jaen
PhD, Olive Oils, University of Jaen

Email

Biography
Chisaka Kuehnemann is a postdoctoral scholar at the HNRCA under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Wiley. She received her PhD in Biology of Aging at University of Southern California’s Buck Institute for research on Aging. Her current research focuses on a basic aging process called cellular senescence, specifically the relationship between metabolism and cellular senescence and how this could impact the lifespan. Her research interests also include drug development, including production of proteins for clinical applications and pre-clinical development of oncology pipeline targets

Education
BS, Biological Science, University of Maryland
MS, Biotechnology, John Hopkins University
PhD, Biology of Aging, University of Southern California – Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Email

Biography
Lei is a microbial ecologist with a focus on host-microbiome interactions in non-model organisms. She recently completed her PhD in Biological Oceanography through a joint MIT-WHOI program.

Education
BS, Biology, Brown University
PhD, Biological Oceanography, MIT-WHOI Joint Program

Email

Biography

Andreia is a postdoctoral fellow at the HNRCA working with Eric Miller, with a joint appointment in the Data Intensive Study Center. Building on her PhD from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, Andreia’s work will focus on ethical issues arising in development and use of technology for problems in precision nutrition. Her professional experience includes three years working as a Senior Consultant, Ethics & Integrity for CVS Health; she is also an advocate for women and served as a project leader in the organization STEM and BITS (Bridging Insularity Through Stem) and was the founder and chair of the Women Success Network CVS/Health chapter in IL.

Education
BSc, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Kakatiya University
MS, Biochemistry, Kakatiya University
PhD, Biochemistry, Osmania University

Email

Biography

Nikita Patil is a postdoctoral scholar at the HNRCA working with Thomas Biederer and the Neuroscience and Aging Team. She received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Her primary research investigates how bioactive dietary compounds impact changes in neuronal connectivity in the aged brain, using the cortex and the retina of mice as models.  

Education
BS, Biomedical Engineering with Nanotechnology Concentration, Boston University
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Email

Area of Study: Nutrition Epidemiology

Biography
Rachel Silver is a postdoctoral scholar at the HNRCA under the supervision of Dr. Susan Roberts. She received her PhD in Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Her primary research interests include identifying modifiable risk factors for age-related chronic disease and determining how these factors might be targeted during mid-adulthood to optimize quality of life. Her work to date has required the use of complex statistical methods and she is experienced in the longitudinal analysis of data collected during observational studies and cluster-randomized trials.

Education
BA, English & American Literature, New York University
MS, Public Health, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Tufts University School of Medicine
PhD, Nutrition Epidemiology & Data Science, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

Email

Biography
Robin joins the HNRCA with over 10 years of research experience; his focus has mainly centered around intermittent fasting and the relationship between various exercise methods and metabolic disease. He completed his PhD at Victoria University in Melbourne.

Education
BS, SCD Government College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
MS, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
PhD, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

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