In June, we completed our fifth annual Virtual Internship Program (VIP), showcasing the outstanding work of 25 high school students from across the country. This program for rising ninth graders to rising college freshman provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn from NRI leading experts and gives students valuable insight into the field of nutrition and research.
Over the four-week program, students participate in lectures, group mentoring sessions, and complete a research paper and presentation. The six sessions are led by NRI faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and staff members.
Distinguished Speakers and Mentors
This year, the sessions were conducted by a diverse group of professionals:
- Deborah Tate, PhD – NRI Interim Director, Professor of Nutrition and Health Behavior
- Jenna Baker – VIP Coordinator
- Ryan Dayvault – Associate Director of Operations and Planning
- Sandra Mooney, PhD – Associate Professor of Nutrition
- Natalia Krupenko, PhD – Associate Professor of Nutrition
- Evan Paules, PhD – Postdoctoral Research Associate, Hursting Lab
- Hannah Petry – Graduate Research Assistant, Mooney Lab
- David Horita, PhD – Scientific Grant Writer
- Tyisha Harper – Project Coordinator, Goode Lab
- Ximena Bustamante-Marin, PhD – Assistant Professor of Nutrition
- Melody Burke – Assistant Director, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Session leaders shared their knowledge on various topics including, precision nutrition, research methods, human subjects in research, and careers in science.
Each student selected a nutrient to investigate and conducted guided research on its importance to human health, how the body processes it, and its dietary sources. The students learned research and writing skills and worked with NRI mentors to produce a research paper on their selected nutrient. In the program’s final week, students presented their findings to peers and NRI scientists, showcasing the culmination of their hard work throughout the program.
We are immensely proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to the field of nutrition in the future. We invite you to read their research papers, available here.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The Virtual Internship Program is a highlight of the NRI’s outreach efforts and consistently attracts abundantly more applicants than available slots each year. Applications for VIP 2025 will open in February. If you or someone you know is interested in participating, be sure to sign up for our e-news, follow our social media accounts, or check our website for more information.
