Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits. Kriza Faye Calumba, a PhD student in food science, is engaged in research that focuses on developing advanced delivery systems to ensure that these beneficial microorganisms can survive the harsh conditions of food processing, storage, and digestion to reach the colon where they can be effective. Her work involves preparing probiotic powders by spray drying using materials like shellac, which can protect the probiotics until they reach the colon. This research aims to enhance the effectiveness of probiotics in functional foods by improving cell survivability and targeted delivery.

A history of exploitative political and economic structures in Appalachia has led to disproportionate health disparities among its communities. Caroline Znachko, a PhD student in anthropology, is exploring how early life stress and adversity impact health outcomes in Appalachian communities through biological modifications that can be influenced by environmental factors which impact the structure of DNA without altering its sequence, affecting how genes are expressed. Her study focuses on understanding how these changes correlate with childhood residence and socioeconomic status (SES). By analyzing DNA from blood samples, her work aims to uncover the broader health disparities caused by structural violence and adversity in this region, ultimately informing future research and interventions to improve health outcomes. 

Human fungal pathogens cause over one billion infections and ~1.5 million deaths annually. Research by Christopher Cotter, a PhD student in chemical and biomolecular engineering, focuses on developing advanced genetic tools to combat drug-resistant fungal pathogens, particularly Candida albicans. His work addresses significant gaps in our understanding of fungal genetics and the limitations of current high-throughput techniques. By leveraging CRISPR-Cas systems, his lab aims to create innovative methods for large-scale genetic screening, which could identify new targets for antifungal drugs. This research is crucial due to the rising prevalence of fungal infections and the increasing resistance to existing treatments, posing a serious public health threat. 

Pickleball, often described as a combination of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, is emerging as an important injury topic due to its ease of play, exercise benefits, and rapid growth among seniors. Thomas Young, a master’s student in kinesiology, wants to understand how stretching affects the risk of ankle injuries, particularly Achilles tendon ruptures, during pickleball. He aims to determine if a specific type of stretching, called static stretching, which involves holding a stretch for a set period without movement, can improve ankle flexibility and speed without harming overall ankle function. His study involves 27 participants who will undergo an 8-minute stretching routine targeting key leg muscles. By analyzing movements using advanced 3D motion capture technology, he hopes to identify ways to reduce injury risks while maintaining performance levels. This research is essential as pickleball gains popularity and injury prevention becomes increasingly important.  

Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions, and processes. Inadequate access to and use of reproductive healthcare services contributes to adverse outcomes including unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections. Despite the availability of reproductive healthcare services, only 42% of women use them, with disparities influenced by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and immigration status. These challenges are particularly pronounced for international students who face additional barriers such as cultural differences and unfamiliarity with the U.S. healthcare system. Sompa Reza, a PhD student in public health sciences, seeks to understand the reproductive health service-seeking behaviors of international female graduate students at UT. through an online survey and to gain deeper insights into these students’ experiences via qualitative interviews. Reza hopes to contribute to the larger goal of improving reproductive health outcomes and access to services for all individuals. 

Fitspiration typically includes “before and after” images related to exercise, diet, or other behaviors. While it promotes self-care, nutritious diets, and fitness, it also presents risks, by showcasing ideal body images, often leading to negative body image and mood. Qinran Li, a PhD student in communication and information, studies the effectiveness of fear appeals and source credibility in improving mental health literacy around eating disorders and combatting misleading fitness advice on social media. By examining how varying levels of fear in messaging influence behavior change and applying source credibility theory, the study aims to determine the impact of warning labels on reducing body dissatisfaction caused by fitspiration content. The findings could inform social media platforms on implementing more effective verification labels to help users critically evaluate health advice online and promote healthier behaviors. 

The threat of obesity and its associated metabolic diseases reached a global scale nearly 30 years ago. However, numerous attempts over the years to combat this epidemic have encountered significant limitations. Presley Dowker-Key, a PhD student in nutrition, is exploring a method of combating obesity through the potential of brown fat, which burns energy and promotes leanness. The study investigates a natural polyherbal blend (PHB) that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a protein that helps maintain cellular energy balance. When AMPK is activated in brown fat, it breaks down stored fats and increases energy expenditure. Dowker-Key’s approach uses lipid-based nanoparticles to deliver PHB directly to brown fat precursor cells, aiming to enhance brown fat development and activity, thereby offering a novel strategy to fight obesity.