Undergraduate Research
Human Biology, Health & Society (HBHS)
Nutritional Sciences - CALS (NS-CALS)
Nutritional Sciences-CHE (NS-CHE)
A variety of opportunities exist for undergraduates to become involved in research in the Division of Nutritional Sciences.
OPTION 1: NS 401, Empirical Research:
Students identify the kind of research they are interested in pursuing and contact faculty members with relevant types of research to see if and how they may become involved in a project. The student and faculty member complete a special studies form (obtained in either B21 Savage Hall or the registrar of the College of Human Ecology) that outlines the agreement between the faculty member and the student. The form is signed by the student, the faculty member and the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in DNS. 3 credit maximum per semester and S/U only.
OPTION 2: NS 499 Honors Research Program:
Students with very strong academic records are invited to apply to the honors program the fall of the junior year.
This structured research experience is for students who are highly interested in research and willing to commit substantial time and intellectual energy to a project that will span semesters. For more information see the detailed information sheet, Honors Research Program (gold pages).OPTION 3: Student Employment:
A few opportunities may exist for students to assist with a research project as an employee during the academic year and/or summer. The number and nature of the opportunities vary. To identify such opportunities, students contact faculty members directly.
Process for Exploring Research Opportunities:
• Find out about the types of research being conducted in the Division.
Beginning on the next page is a list of names of faculty members in DNS whom students may contact regarding research opportunities. Review the list and identify those faculties with whom you wish to speak. Your method of selecting faculty members may include the type of research methods you wish to learn about (e.g., social science methods or lab methods) or the problem you wish to investigate (e.g., infant nutrition or lipid metabolism). Your faculty adviser will help you identify appropriate people to contact.
• Suggestions for contacting faculty members.
Speak to faculty members at least a semester in advance of the time when you would like to get a research experience. Make an appointment to see a faculty member by speaking with his/her secretary, signing up for office hours, sending an e-mail message, or another method. Before meeting, prepare a copy of the application for undergraduate research (available in B21 Savage) or bring a copy of your resume to give the faculty member. Be prepared to discuss why you are interested in research, how much time per semester and/or how many semesters you wish to be involved in research, and previous work and research-related experiences. Ask the faculty member about their current/future research projects and their expectations for undergraduates who work with them in research. The extent to which a faculty member can involve students in his/her research program will vary according to the size and scope of various projects, the faculty member’s other commitments, and the skills/abilities of individual students.
• Remember:
Be prepared, but do not be scared to ask faculty members about research. All faculty members were undergraduates at some time, and many of them arranged their first research experience through this process. Faculty members like to talk about their research!
• Assistance with Statistics:
Students doing research projects are encouraged to seek assistance with statistical design and analysis from the Cornell Statistical Consulting Unit. You may contact either: Francoise Vermeylen (B-11 Savage Hall, 5-8211, fmv1@cornell.edu) or Simona Despa (B-13 Savage Hall, 5-7278, sd249@cornell.edu). You may also take advantage of the walk-in consulting hours daily from 1:30-2:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Brief Description of DNS Faculty Research Interests. For more information, check faculty websites at
http://www.nutrition.cornell.edu/dns7_facultybyprogram.html
DALE BAUMAN, Ph.D., Prof. and L. H. Bailey Professor in Animal Science, Jointly appointed in animal Science and Nutritional Sciences (262 Morrison Hall, 5-2262, deb6@cornell.edu). Nutritional biochemistry, metabolic regulation, lactation, pregnancy, growth, functional foods.
CAROLE BISOGNI, Ph.D., Prof. (328 MVR Hall, 5-1127, cab20@cornell.edu). Social, cultural, and environmental influences on food choice; how individuals construct personal systems for food choice; applications of food choice research to nutrition practice. (ON LEAVE 1/06-7/06)
THOMAS BRENNA, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. and Director of Undergraduate Studies (B38 Kinzelberg Hall, 5-9182, jtb4@cornell.edu). Applications of mass spectroscopy to stable isotopes and lipid nutrition.
RICHARD CANFIELD, Ph.D., Senior Research Assoc. (B09 Savage Hall, 5-3229, rlc5@cornell.edu). Intellectual development during infancy and early childhood, including cognitive development, and the effects of low-level lead (Pb) exposure on intellectual development.
PATRICIA A. CASSANO, Ph.D., Assist. Prof. (209 Savage Hall, 5-7551, pac6@cornell.edu). Nutritional epidemiology of chronic disease, anti-oxidants and disease risk, role of folate-dependent one carbon metabolism in chronic disease risk.
CAROL DEVINE, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. and Division Extension Leader. (377 MVR Hall, 5-2142, cmd10@cornell.edu). Women’s perceptions and behavior related to food, nutrition and health over the life course, breast cancer and diet.
JAMIE DOLLAHITE, Ph.D., R.D, Assoc. Prof. (3M24 MVR Hall, 5-7715, jsd13@cornell.edu). Nutrition education for low-income audiences, including methods of program evaluation; barriers to changes in dietary behavior among low-income populations; nutrition education for individuals with chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease.
ARDYTH GILLESPIE, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (375 MVR Hall, 5-2143, ahg2@cornell.edu). Community Nutrition, research methodology, integrating research, education and action, family and community food decision-making.
JERE HAAS, Ph.D., Nancy Schlegel Meining Professor of Maternal and Child Nutrition. (220 Savage Hall, 5-2665, jdh12@cornell.edu). Functional consequences of undernutrition; nutrition effects on fetal and postnatal growth, work capacity and reproduction; iron deficiency; international nutrition, particularly in Latin America.MICHAEL KAZARINOFF, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (230 Savage Hall, 5-2680, mnk1@cornell.edu). Nutritional biochemistry, molecular and cell biology; translational regulation; nutrition and cancer.
DAVID LEVITSKY, Ph.D., Prof. (112 Savage Hall, 5-3263, dal4@cornell.edu). Effects of early biological disturbances on brain biochemistry and cognition; obesity; energy balance.
CHARLES McCORMICK, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (223 Savage Hall, 5-2063, ccm3@cornell.edu). Nutritional control of gene expression. Studies in both cell culture and the whole animal are aimed at understanding the molecular processes which regulate the synthesis of nitric oxide.
DENNIS MILLER, Ph.D., Prof., Jointly appointed in Food Science and Nutritional Sciences (106 Stocking Hall, 5-7900, ddm2@cornell.edu). Iron bioavailability; regulation of iron absorption.
NOA NOY, Ph.D., Prof. (222 Savage Hall, 5-2490, nn14@ cornell.edu). Transport of vitamin A derivatives (retinoids); physiological roles of retinoid-binding proteins; transcriptional regulation by hydrophobic hormones and their nuclear receptors.
KIMBERLY O'BRIEN, Ph.D., Assoc Prof. (340 MVR, 5-3743, koo4@cornell.edu). Mineral metabolism using stable isotopes and mass spectrometry (focus on calcium and iron), adolescent pregnancy, chronic diseases and bone health, nutrient bioavailability and maternal/fetal nutrient partitioning.
CHRISTINE OLSON, Ph.D., Prof. (376 MVR Hall, 5-2634, cmo3@cornell.edu). Childbearing and the development of obesity in women; risk factors for and consequences of food insecurity for women and children; professional development and continuing education for nutrition practitioners.
ROBERT PARKER, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (226 Savage Hall, 5-2661, rsp3@cornell.edu). Carotenoid and vitamin E metabolism; bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids from foods.
DAVID PELLETIER, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (378 MVR Hall, 5-1086, dlp5@cornell.edu). Nutrition policy development; regulation of dietary supplements and genetically-engineered foods; malnutrition and child mortality; community-based planning.
PER PINSTRUP-ANDERSEN, Ph.D., H. E. Babcock Professor of Food, Nutrition and Public Policy. (305 Savage Hall, 5-9429, pp94@cornell.edu). Food and nutrition policy for developing countries; globalization and food security; economic development
KATHLEEN RASMUSSEN, Sc.D., Prof. (111 Savage Hall, 5-2290, kmr5@cornell.edu). Role of nutrition in reproduction, particularly the effects of malnutrition on pregnancy outcome and lactational performance; maternal and infant nutrition.
DAVID SAHN, Ph.D., Prof. and Director, Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program (CFNPP) (3M12 MVR Hall, 5-8093, des16@cornell.edu). Effect of government policies on economic performance, poverty and living standards. Modeling the links between macro-policy and household-level outcomes, with particular attention on the impact on poverty.
JEFFERY SOBAL, M.P.H., Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (303 MVR Hall, 5-6015, js57@cornell.edu). Sociological aspects of food and nutrition; social patterns of obesity; food choice commensality; food and nutrition systems.
PAUL SOLOWAY, Ph.D., Assoc Prof. (108 Savage Hall, 4-6444, pds28@cornell.edu). Regulation of epigenetic phenomena and immune response mechanisms through studies involving genetically modified mice.
MARTHA STIPANUK, Ph.D., Prof. (227 Savage Hall, 5-2683, mhs6@cornell.edu). Sulfur amino acid metabolism, regulation of intermediary metabolism of cysteine and methionine; molecular regulation of enzymes of cysteine metabolism and glutathione and taurine synthesis; protective roles of cysteine and its metabolites; cysteine dioxygenase transgenic/knockout mouse models.
REBECCA STOLTZFUS, M.S, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (120 Savage Hall, 5-7671). Improving the health and well being of women and children in resource-poor environments by improving their nutritional status. Major research themes: Vitamin A interventions for breastfeeding mothers and infants; Helminth infections and malnutrition; and micronutrients and child development.
PATRICK STOVER, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (315 Savage Hall, 5-9751, pjs13@cornell.edu). Regulation of Folate
mediated-metabolism one carbon metabolism; metabolic regulation of cellular methylation reactions; mechanisms of folate-related pathologies; interaction of metabolism with genome stability and gene expression.
BARBARA STRUPP, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (also Adjunct Prof., Dept. of Psychology) (109 Savage Hall, 5-2694, bjs13@cornell.edu). Biological influences on behavior, emphasizing the long-term cognitive effects of developmental disturbances (e.g., early malnutrition, nutrient deficiencies, PKU); nutrition and behavior; behavioral teratology and toxicology (prenatal exposure to drugs and environmental toxins).
JOY SWANSON, Ph.D., Research Assoc. (145 Savage Hall, 5-8799, jes21@cornell.edu). Bioavailability of fat soluble micronutrients, effects of aging on nutrient bioavailability, mathematical modeling of carotenoid and retinoid absorption kinetics using computer software modeling programs.
SUSAN TRAVIS, M.S., Lecturer and Dietetic Internship Director (373 MVR, 5-2613, set6@cornell.edu). Adolescent Nutrition, mother /daughter communication regarding food and eating, mothers’ food management systems, adolescent nutrition, sports nutrition, eating disorders.
VIRGINIA UTERMOHLEN, M.D., Assoc. Prof. (314 Savage Hall, 5-7730, vu10@cornell.edu). Clinical nutrition; eating behavior, taste ability, and personality.
JENNIFER WILKINS, Ph.D., R.D., Senior Ext. Assoc. (305 MVR Hall, 5-2142, jlw15@cornell.edu). Community food systems; Regional dietary guidance; Food security; Public issues education on genetically engineered foods.
Note: NS-CHE, NS-CALS and HBHS majors may also find research experiences with faculty members in other departments. To find research experiences in other departments
1. speak with instructors of courses that interest you, and with your faculty adviser,
2. speak with undergraduate students in other majors,
3. contact the department offices for lists of faculty research areas, and
4. explore the faculty pages of department web sites.