Yuke is a PhD candidate in Human Nutrition. She earned a B.S. in Clinical Nutrition and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, and completed her M.S. in Human Nutrition at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University. After completing her dietetic internship at the UC Davis Medical Center, she became a Registered Dietitian. She is currently working in Dr. Kimberly O’Brien’s lab, where her research focuses on vitamin D metabolism and differences in vitamin D absorption and utilization across populations. Her work also centers on women’s health, particularly among pregnant women, with an interest in the dynamic physiological changes that occur during this period.

Yuke is currently working with Dr. Kimberly O’Brien on a vitamin D kinetics study in which a deuterated vitamin D tracer is administered to 160 non-pregnant and pregnant women to examine vitamin D absorption and metabolism. The study aims to investigate the influence of several factors—including pregnancy, body adiposity, and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) genotype and concentration—on vitamin D metabolism. The team is currently recruiting non-pregnant women in Ithaca and will soon begin recruiting pregnant women at the University of Rochester. Yuke’s work primarily focuses on the pregnancy arm of the study. In addition to this project, she is interested in exploring the mechanisms and transport of vitamin D and its metabolites in the placenta. She hopes to use her research to foster a better understanding of pregnancy and women’s health and to help inform precision nutrition guidelines for vitamin D.

Yuke is currently working with Dr. Kimberly O’Brien on a vitamin D kinetics study in which a deuterated vitamin D tracer is administered to 160 non-pregnant and pregnant women to examine vitamin D absorption and metabolism. The study aims to investigate the influence of several factors—including pregnancy, body adiposity, and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) genotype and concentration—on vitamin D metabolism. The team is currently recruiting non-pregnant women in Ithaca and will soon begin recruiting pregnant women at the University of Rochester. Yuke’s work primarily focuses on the pregnancy arm of the study. In addition to this project, she is interested in exploring the mechanisms and transport of vitamin D and its metabolites in the placenta. She hopes to use her research to foster a better understanding of pregnancy and women’s health and to help inform precision nutrition guidelines for vitamin D.

  • Xie Y, Kalia S, Ou KJ, Sun T, Bender E, Lin K, et al. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Bioenriched Chicken and Eggs Maintained Vitamin D Status Over the Winter in Healthy Adult Males and Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2026 Sep 9;101519.
  • Gamarra JR, Higuchi S, Yuan TL, Xie Y, Liu C, Shanmugarajah N, et al. Manganese availability determines insulin sensitivity by enhancing Akt activity. bioRxiv; 2026. p. 2026.09.02.746017. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.746017v1 doi:10.64898/2026.09.02.746017
M.S., Human Nutrition, Columbia University
B.S., Clinical Nutrition, University of California, Davis