Ziyang Wang
Ziyang Wang is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Nutritional Science working with Dr. Yuhan Wang. He earned a M.S. in Nutrition and Metabolism from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and a B.E. in Food Science and Engineering from South China University of Technology. Ziyang is motivated by how nutrients interact with the central nervous system (CNS). In Dr. Wang's lab, he is researching how vitamin D influences emotional health and
- Jan 23, 2026
Sharat Dhruthi Devulapalli
Sharat Dhruthi Devulapalli is a Ph.D. student in Nutritional Sciences with a concentration in Epidemiology. Her research interests include micronutrient deficiencies, anemia, and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A). She is currently researching sustainable and cost-effective strategies to reduce anemia and improve RMNCH+A outcomes, with a particular emphasis on the nutritional causes of anemia.
Yuke Xie
Yuke is a second-year PhD student 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
Yuan (Karina) Zhang
Karina is a Ph.D. student in Human Nutrition, working with Dr. Kimberly O'Brien. She earned her B.Sc. in Dietetics from McGill University and obtained her Registered Dietitian license in Canada. After completing one year of clinical practice, her strong interest in nutrition and preventative care led her to pursue a thesis-based M.Sc. in Human Nutrition, where she got inspired by the influential role of the gut microbiota in health. In Dr. O’Brien’s lab, Karina investigates
Yue (Elaine) Sha
Elaine Sha, MPH, RD, IBCLC, is a Ph.D. student in Human Nutrition working with Dr. Yarden Golan Maor. Her research focuses on identifying the psychosocial, physiological, and pharmacological factors that influence human milk production and composition. After completing her Registered Dietitian and Pathway 2 Lactation Consultant training during her master’s program at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Elaine spent three years as an adult and pediatric clinical dietitian, an experience that shaped
Zhangfan (Flora) Lyu
Zhangfan Lyu is an M.S. student in Nutritional Sciences on the individualized track, working with Dr. Kimberly O'Brien. She earned her B.S. in Nutrition Sciences from McGill University, with a concentration in Metabolism, Health and Disease. Zhangfan's research focuses on the intersection of trace minerals, gut microbiome composition, and dietary patterns. She is currently working on a secondary analysis using serum and fecal samples from the FeMicrobiome Study to quantify copper concentrations and evaluate how