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Andrea N. Robinson is a PhD candidate in the Nutritional Sciences with concentrations in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology and Epidemiology at Cornell University. Her research investigations how improved maternal and child nutrition can improve child health outcomes, especially for children living in low resource settings. Prior to Cornell, she was a National Cancer Institute Post-baccalaureate at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she studied multi-drug resistance in cancer cells. Andrea is a first-generation

Colette Strathman is a second year M.S. student in Nutrition, completing the combined Dietetic Internship program. She earned a B.S. in Nutrition Sciences from Cornell University. She is working with Dr. Angela Poole to research fiber and the gut microbiome with a focus on precision nutrition. Colette is excited to become a Registered Dietitian. She aspires to work in nutrition policy to improve equitable healthcare outcomes and nutrition access. 

Ashley is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Nutrition working with Dr. Shu-Bing Qian. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacology from China Pharmaceutical University, followed by a master’s degree in Cancer Biology from University College London. Her doctoral research in the Qian Lab focuses on mechanisms of mRNA translation regulation, nutrient-sensing signaling pathways, and cellular stress responses.

Elena Runfeldt is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in International Nutrition, working with Dr. John Hoddinott. She earned a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University in 2021. In 2023, she rejoined the Division of Nutritional Sciences after completing a Fulbright award in Barbados, where she designed, implemented, and evaluated a nutrition education program for the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s childhood obesity management initiative. Her current research centers on incorporating novel foods into school meals to

Lisa is a former professional ballet dancer who earned her Bsc. in Clinical Nutrition from New York University, summa cum laude. While there, she engaged in the research and public health communities of New York City-- she spent time working in an eating disorder research unit at Columbia University, as well as working on nutrition education initiatives and harm reduction strategies for formerly homeless new yorkers living with HIV. She subsequently also worked at Columbia

Jingjie joined the Ph.D. program in Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in January 2023. She works in Dr. Xin-Gen Lei’s group, where she studies phytases as both animal feed additives and soil fertilizers using computational biology and enzyme engineering. Her work focuses on uncovering the evolutionary diversity and catalytic mechanisms of phosphorus-mobilizing enzymes and developing soil-compatible biocatalysts to reduce fertilizer dependence and environmental impact. Motivated by the potential of biotechnology to address global challenges in