IHN Travel Award Recipients Present Research Worldwide
Each year, the Institute of Human Nutrition selects students and alumni to receive Travel Awards, supporting them as they present their thesis research at national and international meetings. These awards give recipients the opportunity to share their work with the broader scientific community, network with leaders in their field, and gain valuable experience presenting original research.
Congratulations to this year's Travel Award recipients! These Institute of Human Nutrition Master's of Science students and alumni presented their research at conferences around the country and internationally on topics ranging from heart failure to the metal profiles of rice.
Sofia Arashiro-Gracia & Alexandria Lee, current students
International Society for Neuroregulation & Research conference
Evaluating an Integrated Neurofeedback and Lifestyle Intervention for Children and Adolescents with ADHD and Anxiety — A Prospective Pilot Study
Current students Sofia Arashiro-Garcia and Alexandria Lee presented their research at the International Society for Neuroregulation & Research conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their poster, "Evaluating an Integrated Neurofeedback and Lifestyle Intervention for Children and Adolescents with ADHD and Anxiety — A Prospective Pilot Study," was completed under the mentorship of Karen McKearny, NP, who also gave a talk at the conference. In addition to presenting, both students volunteered throughout the event, helping run sessions and introducing speakers.
“It was truly an unforgettable experience getting to present to practicing neurofeedback clinicians and experts who taught us so much,” Sofia said. Alexandria added that the conference attendees “gave us a great amount of insight into the field of neurofeedback and how it is utilized around the world.”
Taylor Avery, MS '25
NUTRITION 2026
Protocol: Testing the Effects of Hybrid Nutrition Counseling and Education on 30-day Readmission Rates for Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
Taylor presented her work, "Protocol: Testing the Effects of Hybrid Nutrition Counseling and Education on 30-day Readmission Rates for Patients with Congestive Heart Failure," at NUTRITION 2026. Her research was completed under the guidance of Dr. Farbod Raiszadeh, MD, PhD, FACC. Taylor highlighted several conference sessions, including a talk by Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian on GLP-1s and nutrition, and a panel titled "If Science is Clear, Why Aren't We Healthier?" featuring Dr. Joanne Slavin of the University of Minnesota.
"It was a great way to connect with people who had similar interests and learn about their research and what a day in their life looks like," Taylor said of a speed-mentoring session that paired attendees with professionals across academia, industry, and public health.
She also attended a Food is Medicine luncheon on Capitol Hill following the conference, where she connected with a Public Health Advisor from the NIH's Office of Nutrition Research. Taylor hopes to publish her protocol results, whether in a supplement of Current Developments in Nutrition or another journal.
Tamika Gillot, MS '25
ObesityWeek
What is the Impact of Recognized Psychological and Neurological Disorders and Outcomes Following Adolescent Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery?
Tamika presented a poster at ObesityWeek, hosted by The Obesity Society. The conference covered a wide range of topics — from basic and translational research to clinical application and public policy, and from diet, exercise, and psychology to medical and surgical interventions — spanning populations from pediatric to geriatric and underserved communities. Among the sessions Tamika found most compelling were a debate on whether food restrictions should be imposed on SNAP recipients and oral presentations titled "Evaluating the Revised Guiding Stars Labeling System on the Nutritional Quality of Grocery Purchases" and "Structural Drivers of Neighborhood Food Access: Implications for Policy Change." Her own poster explored the potential impact of autism, anxiety, and depression on BMI and weight-loss outcomes following adolescent bariatric surgery, reaching an audience of students, researchers, and providers — some of whom work directly with children with autism.
"I received great feedback, and even some ideas about additional directions our work could move in," Tamika said. Following the conference, her abstract will be published in the Society's journal, Obesity.
Heidi Hannoush, MS '25
American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting
Climate-Driven Shifts in Rice Grain Metal Profiles: Evidence from a Multi-Season Field Observations
Heidi presented a poster at the AGU (American Geophysical Union) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana—the largest gathering of geoscientists worldwide, drawing nearly 20,000 attendees from more than 100 countries. Her poster, titled "Climate-Driven Shifts in Rice Grain Metal Profiles: Evidence from a Multi-Season Field Observations,” was presented during a session on the effects of global environmental change on agriculture.
According to Heidi, "Rising temperatures can impact the bioavailability of elements — both nutritional and toxic — in the soil, which affects plant uptake of those elements." For a widely consumed staple like rice, she explained, such shifts can alter a consumer’s dietary exposure to micronutrients like iron and toxic metals like cadmium, with resulting implications for health.
Heidi is now adapting her thesis into a manuscript for publication, and she credits the conference with valuable feedback on her work—including an unexpected connection with industry representatives exploring how basalt rock dust, used to replenish depleted soils, might also affect rice’s metal profile. Her research was completed under the guidance of Dr. Kathrin Schilling, MSc, PhD.
Emma Helmy, MS '25
Networking & Collaboration Event on Whole-Room Indirect Calorimetry
Evaluating the Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on Energy Metabolism Under Controlled-Feeding Conditions
Emma presented her research, "Evaluating the Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on Energy Metabolism Under Controlled-Feeding Conditions," at the Networking & Collaboration Event on Whole-Room Indirect Calorimetry (WRIC), held at Aarhus University Hospital's Steno Diabetes Center in Aarhus, Denmark. The presentation summarized research she conducted under the supervision of Dr. Kathryn Whyte, RD, PhD, and Dr. Faris Zuraikat, PhD, examining how ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption affects energy balance through its effects on resting energy expenditure, digestive efficiency, and body composition. Using tightly controlled feeding protocols that match energy intake, macronutrient composition, and energy density, the study aims to isolate the effects of food processing itself from closely related dietary factors, combining whole-room indirect calorimetry with body composition assessments and fecal energy loss measurements. The meeting drew an international audience of researchers, clinicians, and physicians specializing in metabolism, nutrition, and calorimetry methodology, and featured keynote talks from leading scientists in the field, including Anja Bosy-Westphal of Kiel University, Kong Chen of the National Institutes of Health, and Bret H. Goodpaster of AdventHealth's Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes. The research is part of an ongoing clinical trial conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, with a methodological paper and primary findings both expected in peer-reviewed journals.
Peter Nam, MS '25
NUTRITION 2026
Association of Creatinine and Cystatin C-Derived Indices with Clinician-Assessed Muscle Loss in Hospitalized Adults
Peter also presented his research at NUTRITION 2026, the American Society for Nutrition's annual flagship meeting, in National Harbor, Maryland. His poster, "Association of Creatinine and Cystatin C-Derived Indices with Clinician-Assessed Muscle Loss in Hospitalized Adults," showcased how serum biomarkers may be useful in assessing muscle loss. He completed the project under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Owen-Michaane, MD, MA, SNSC. Peter described the study's goal as working "to contribute to the development of a more convenient and accessible method of muscle measurement" in hospitalized adults. At the conference, he presented to graduate and medical students as well as more senior researchers, and attended a talk on the state of "Food is Medicine" initiatives in academia and medical education.
Peter said the experience helped him "develop confidence in speaking about my research" and think critically about his own work, and he plans to continue making research a core part of his medical education and future career as a physician.
Simran Rijhwani, MS '24
American Heart Association Scientific Sessions
The Obesity Paradox in Heart Failure: Exploring the Impact of BMI on 30-day Readmission Rates in a Community Safety-Net Hospital
Simran presented her research on heart failure at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her research, "The Obesity Paradox in Heart Failure: Exploring the Impact of BMI on 30-day Readmission Rates in a Community Safety-Net Hospital," was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Farbod Raiszadeh, MD, PhD, FACC. This will be my first opportunity to attend a medical conference and present my research — both invaluable experiences as a medical student," Simran said of the travel grant. Highlights of her day included hearing results from the DECAF (Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation) study and a talk by Nobel laureate Dr. Ardem Patapoutian on his discovery of the PIEZO ion channels, where he shared advice for early-career researchers, including the importance of leaving room for imagination rather than overfilling one's schedule. During her poster session, Simran discussed her findings with a range of attendees — including a pharmacist, a PhD student researching heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and a moderating physician — who offered new angles on her data.
"I learned so much, and this was such a great experience, especially as a current medical student," she said of the conference overall.
Congratulations again to all of the 2025-2026 IHN Travel Award recipients!