Directory
Leadership
Deborah Tate, PhD
Interim Director, Professor of Nutrition
Deborah Tate is a professor in the Department of Nutrition. She holds a joint appointment in the Department of Health Behavior and a faculty appointment at the Nutrition Research Institute. Dr. Tate is a behavioral scientist, receiving her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her research focuses on two main areas: (a) strategies for improving both short and long-term body weight regulation to reduce disease risks and (b) the development and translation of programs as alternatives to clinic-based care using digital and wearable technologies.
Brandi Childers
Assistant Director for Training, Programs and Partnerships
In April 2018, Brandi was promoted to the new position of Assistant Director for Training, Programs and Partnerships. She brings to her new position more than eight years experience in administration and community partnership management, and 11 years of experience at the NRI. She assists Eddie Serrano, Deputy Director of Research Administration, with Institute operations, oversee HR and administrative functions, plan and implement research-related programming, and continue to be the NRI liaison with the NCRC. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Brandi is a native of Kannapolis, where she has chosen to raise her family.
Ryan Dayvault
Associate Director of Planning and Operations
Ryan Dayvault joined the NRI in May 2008, where he serves as the Assistant to the Deputy Director and Special Projects Coordinator. A native of Kannapolis and 2008 graduate of Catawba College, Ryan holds a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in public administration and a minor in business administration. An avid supporter of the efforts at the North Carolina Research Campus, Ryan has served in various capacities throughout the development of this project while in college and maintaining his residency in Kannapolis.
Brooke Giles
Director of Marketing, Communications, and External Affairs
Brooke Giles is a 2011 graduate of Campbell University. She was promoted in July 2024 to Director of Marketing, Communications, and External Affairs. She previously served the NRI as a Communications Specialist from 2014-2017 and as Marketing Asset Manager from 2022-2024. Brooke manages a team that is responsible for a variety of communication media to stimulate interest in research, programs, events, and activities conducted by the NRI. She develops original content and suggests creative ways to attract more audiences and supporters, and promotes our brand with the goal of increasing traffic to NRI digital properties for public and donor engagement and event attendance. Brooke is the liaison to the NRI's Board of Advisors and the primary fundraising officer.
Faculty
Carol L. Cheatham, PhD
Associate Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience
Dr. Carol L. Cheatham earned her PhD in child psychology and neuroscience in 2004 at the University of Minnesota. She is part of the Institute's brain research team. In addition to her appointment with the NRI, Dr. Cheatham holds an appointment as an associate professor in UNC's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. She has published research on memory recall in pre-term infants, the role of fatty acids in neonatal brains and how stress impacts brain development, as well as other topics. Learn More. Lab Website
Rachel Goode, PhD, MPH, LCSW
Associate Professor of Social Work and Psychiatry
Rachel W. Goode is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Goode received her PhD, MPH, and MSW from the University of Pittsburgh. Her research interests include developing, implementing, and evaluating equitable and community-engaged interventions to treat obesity and eating disorders. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Health, National Eating Disorders Association, Magee Womens Research Institute, and the University Research Council at UNC-Chapel Hill. Learn more.
Stephen D. Hursting, PhD, MPH
Professor of Nutrition
Dr. Hursting is a Professor of Nutrition at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis, NC. He is also Professor in the Department of Nutrition and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An international leader in the area of nutrition, obesity, metabolism and cancer, his lab focuses on the molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying obesity-cancer associations, and the impact of obesity- energy balance modulation (eg, calorie restriction and exercise) or pharmacologic agents on cancer development, progression, and responses to chemotherapy. Learn More
Natalia Krupenko, PhD
Associate Professor of Nutrition
Natalia Krupenko, PhD, joined the UNC Nutrition Research Institute in April 2014 as Assistant Professor of Nutrition. She was promoted to Associate Professor of Nutrition with tenure in April 2020. Dr. Krupenko’s research is focuses on the role of folate (vitamin B9) in promoting health and preventing disease in humans. Folate deficiency has been connected with increased risk for neural tube defects, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Recently, however, concerns have been raised regarding the adverse effects of over-supplementation with the vitamin. Dr. Krupenko’s goal is to determine the best ways to utilize health-protective properties of folate and prevent the possibility of its adverse effects in humans. Learn more
Sergey A. Krupenko, PhD
Professor of Nutrition
Sergey A. Krupenko, PhD, joined the UNC Nutrition Research Institute in 2014. Dr. Krupenko’s research focuses on vitamin folate and its role in liver function and cancer disease. His goal is to understand how we can fight cancer by controlling the diet and nutrient supplements. “There are molecular strings in the human organism, which can be pulled by right combinations of nutrients to activate resistance to tumor formation or to slow down cancer development. We have to identify these links and make them work,” he said. Learn more
Katie Meyer, ScD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Dr. Katie Meyer is a nutritional and cardiovascular disease epidemiologist. Her research focuses on diet-related health behaviors and nutritional risk factors for cardiometabolic disease. She is a recent recipient of a Research Scientist Development Award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to study the gut microbiome, nutrient metabolites, and cardiovascular disease in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA). Learn more.
Sandra M. Mooney, PhD
Associate Professor of Nutrition
Sandra Mooney, PhD joined the UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute in August 2018 as an Associate Professor of Nutrition. Her research program investigates the effect(s) of environment and genes on brain development, with a focus on prenatal alcohol exposure. Current studies use animal models to understand how nutritional needs change after alcohol exposure, thereby increasing the chances that modifying (or personalizing) nutrition will optimize growth and development. Learn more.
Wimal Pathmasiri, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Wimal Pathmasiri, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI). An overarching goal of Dr. Pathmasiri’ s research includes understanding the links between exposures (diet, constituents in natural projects, environmental chemicals, drugs), microbial metabolism, and human health. He was worked with the Sumner-Lab for over 12 years, as the director of a technology core for the NIH Common Fund Eastern Regional Comprehensive Metabolomics Resource Core (ERCMRC), and as a co-investigator in the North Carolina Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource Untargeted Analysis Laboratory (NC HHEAR UAL). Learn more.
Blake Rushing, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Blake Rushing, PhD, is an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI). Dr. Rushing’s is trained in pharmacology and toxicology, and has experience using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, in vitro model systems, and various biochemical assays to study the interactions between small molecule toxins/drugs with macromolecular targets such as proteins and DNA. He is well versed in using analytical instrumentation to study metabolic products of exogenous small molecule agents and their biological effects. Learn more.
Nipun Saini, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Nipun Saini was promoted to Assistant Professor of Nutrition in December 2023. She joined the NRI in the summer of 2017 for her second postdoctoral position working with Dr. Smith on fetal alcohol syndrome. She completed her PhD. in Biochemistry from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where her dissertation was focused on the characterization of inhibitors of fatty acid transport protein-2 in cell and animal models to reduce obesity, lipotoxicity and related diseases. After earning her PhD, she moved to the North Carolina Research Campus as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at North Carolina Central University and worked on understanding the mechanism of microRNA-mediated regulation in metformin treated breast cancer cells. Saini’s research interest is to understand the metabolic adaptations that occur in the mother and fetus to support a healthy pregnancy, and how maladaptation to stressors such as alcohol, malnutrition, obesity, and diabetes impairs fetal growth and brain development. Eventually, she would like to translate this mechanistic understanding to the development of nutrition-based interventions for at-risk pregnancies.
Susan M. Smith, PhD
Dickson Foundation – Harris Teeter Distinguished Professor of Nutrition
Susan Smith joined the NRI in July 2016 after a long career as Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from UW-Madison and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School in developmental biology. Her research investigates how genes and dietary factors interact to direct fetal outcome in alcohol-exposed pregnancies, and her work uses both animal models and clinical populations. Her work is supported by the National Institutes of Health, where she was a MERIT recipient and currently sits on the NIAAA Advisory Council. Learn More.
Susan Sumner, PhD
Professor of Nutrition and Pharmacology
Susan Sumner, PhD is a Professor of Nutrition at UNC Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI), and the Director of the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory (MEL) at UNC Chapel Hill. Dr. Sumner is working to make personalized medicine and precision nutrition a reality. Using state-of-the-art metabolomics and exposome technologies, Dr. Sumner’s team determines how molecules that are present in our tissues and biological fluids are associated with states of health and wellness. Learn more.
Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Saroja Voruganti, PhD
Professor of Nutrition
Dr. Saroja Voruganti, Professor of Nutrition, is working on building a nationally and internationally recognized research program in nutritional genomics at UNC. A unique field, nutritional genomics seeks to identify genetic susceptibility to diseases, effect of genetic variation on nutrient metabolism and the effect of nutrients on gene expression. She has extensively investigated the interplay between nutritional and genetic factors influencing disease risk in ethnically diverse populations. Learn more.
Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Pediatrics, Founding Director of the NRI
Dr. Zeisel is recognized as an international leader in nutrition research. His team's work established the requirement for choline, a newly recognized essential part of our diet. His work on nutrition and brain development, genetic variation and diet requirements, environment and nutrition, and medical education are supported by grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Zeisel directs one of the NIH national centers of excellence in human nutrition research. Learn More. Lab Website
Staff
Amira Abdellatef, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, S. Krupenko Lab
Amira A. Abdellatef is currently working as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Sergey A. Krupenko Lab, Nutrition Research Institute (NRI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Amira completed her Ph.D. in cancer biology and immunology from the Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Toyama, Japan in 2021, under the supervision of Prof. Yoshihiro Hayakawa. Before joining NRI, she completed her Research Scholar training at the University of Toyama, Japan, and a postdoctoral appointment at Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute (BBRI), North Carolina Central University (NCCU), under the mentorship of Prof. Xiaohe Yang. She is a recent recipient of the Award of Female Researchers of the University of Toyama, Japan. Her research project focuses on the function of folate enzymes ALDH1L1 and ALDH1L2 in cellular metabolism and their association with human diseases. Her project utilizes cell culture and mouse models to answer questions about the role of folate metabolizing enzymes and dietary folate in liver and brain functions, tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and metastasis. She has co-authored many peer-reviewed articles and had several poster/oral presentations at international and local conferences. Outside of the academia, she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, walking, swimming, and cooking.
Ramine Alexander, PhD, MPH
Research Project Manager, Goode Lab
Ramine Alexander joined the UNC Nutrition Research Institute as Research Project Manager. Dr. Alexander received her Ph.D. and MPH, from Virginia Tech. As an intervention scientist, her research interest includes utilizing Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to improve lifestyle risk factors (i.e., diet and physical activity) that have a direct relevance to obesity and chronic disease. Through CBPR approaches a primary goal of her work is to involve the voice of the community in the research process to promote intervention sustainability. Dr. Alexander has a passion for building health equity, conducting research on the social determinants of health, and using innovative approaches to communicate science.
Jenna Baker
Executive Assistant to the Director
Jenna Baker joined the Nutrition Research Institute in June 2018. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Communication Studies. Jenna joined us from UNC Charlotte where she served as administrative staff for five years within academic departments. She is a native of Concord and currently lives in Kannapolis with her husband. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, traveling or anything outdoors.
Jamie Beach
Property Security Officer
Jamie joined the NRI as the Property Security Officer in September 2021, and is the person who welcomes our employees and visitors as they enter the building. In his Property Security Officer role, Jamie is tasked with building security, directing human study participants to the appropriate locations, and the central contact for our delivery vendors. Jamie will also assist Facilities with special projects on occasion, and will partner with NCRC Security, NCRC EHS, Kannapolis Police Department, and University resources on campus safety initiatives. Jamie is a retired sergeant from the Kannapolis Police Department, where he served in the Patrol, Criminal Investigation, and Vice Narcotics divisions. Additionally, he served on the agency’s Honor Guard Team and as a negotiator for their Special Response Team. He received numerous commendations and awards during his 30-year career in law enforcement.
Reilly Becker
Research Assistant, Tate Lab
Reilly Becker joined the NRI in 2024 with Dr. Tate's Lab. Reilly's passion for science started with his Biology BS undergraduate at UNC Charlotte. He later obtained his graduate degree in Bioinformatics & Genomics from UNC Charlotte. Reilly wishes to use his skill set to benefit the field of human health in clinical research. He enjoys physical exercise, playing chess, and playing piano.
Sandy Boucher-Bessent
Dental Hygienist
Sandra Boucher-Bessent joins the NRI as part of the dental research study being led by the Kohlmeier Team. Sandra graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene and also holds a Master’s Degree in Family and Youth Ministry. She has worked in private dental practices, a naval dental clinic, a hospital dental clinic for indigent and medically compromised populations, Duke University Medical Center’s pediatric dental clinic. She served as the dental program manager for the Cabarrus Health Alliance and was the National Program Director for the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation. She has served as a clinical adjunct professor for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and also worked in oral health research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Dr. Steven Offenbacher in the oral-systemic health link studies for cardiovascular disease and pre-term low birth-weight babies She looks forward to returning to research with the Kohlmeier study.
Leah Bouk
Clinical Site Coordinator, Tate Lab
A native of Salisbury, North Carolina, Mrs. Bouk has 17 years of experience in the clinical research industry, supporting a wide range of clinical and translational research projects. Her expertise spans phase II-IV industry-sponsored clinical trials, as well as federally-funded and investigator-initiated research studies. With over 14 years supporting the Duke University research office on the North Carolina Research Campus, Mrs. Bouk worked to engage healthcare practices and local communities to enroll large-scale, longitudinal, community research studies including the MURDOCK Study and the Project Baseline Health Study. Throughout her career, Mrs. Bouk has managed cross-functional study teams across various phases of the clinical trial lifecycle. This includes handling study contracts and budgets, regulatory submissions, patient recruitment plans, primary data collection, and implementing QC and QA practices. Recently, Mrs. Bouk supported a start-up company by developing a program to identify patients through an AI-powered patient matching solution for sponsors and clinical research sites. Mrs. Bouk graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Nutrition, and earned an MBA from Wingate University in Corporate Innovation.
Emily Brasseur
Research Technician, Sumner Lab
Emily graduated from Catawba College with a Bachelors in Biochemistry and a minor in History in 2023. She is excited to be with the Sumner Lab and looks forward to learning everything that she can. She is a Michigan native that misses the snow but does not miss the cold. In her down time, Emily loves to read, play games, and crochet many different things.
Kalli Brock
Accounting Technician
Kalli Brock joined the NRI as part of the Finance Team in 2023. She brings financial and administrative experience from her past position in administration at a local Charlotte eye doctor. Kalli is inspired by the NRI's mission and thrilled to be a valuable part of our team. Outside of work, Kalli is passionate about music and art.
Ana Paola Campos, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Goode Lab
Paola completed her PhD in Social Work at Boston College and a Master in Nutrition at Iberoamericana University in Mexico City. Her research examines risk and protective factors for child malnutrition, and the impact of the social determinants of health on health disparities among underserved populations. Her current research interests have been shaped by a gradual evolution of professional experiences from diverse clinic- and community-based research projects in Mexico, Guatemala, and the U.S. A more recent area of her research focuses on adapting and testing a parenting intervention to prevent child obesity among Hispanic families.
Daniella Carballo
Research Assistant, Cheatham Lab
Daniella, a graduate from the University of Oregon, holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology. Driven by a profound passion for psychiatric research, she aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Neuroscience. Her goal is to conduct groundbreaking research and educate future generations in higher education, contributing significantly to the field.
Samantha Carroll, BSN
Human Research Core Lab Manager
Sam has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years, mostly in pediatrics, but most recently in public health. She received an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South University. Sam has lived in Cabarrus County for 15 years, is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves traveling to find new things to eat! She also enjoys cold weather, spending time outdoors with her family, and taking care of her family’s farm animals - alpacas, goats, and chickens.
Walden Cash
Technology Support Technician
Walden joined the NRI in September 2015, in the role of Technology Support Technician. He has a passion for all things technology related, and enjoys tinkering and learning about new tech. He comes to the NRI after serving T-Mobile, AT&T, and CompUSA. He is excited to bring that knowledge and passion, as well as a strong desire to help people, to the NRI. Walden is currently attending UNC-Charlotte, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Software, Systems, and Networks.
Madeline Hall Childress
Graduate Student, N. Krupenko Lab
Madeline joined the NRI in March 2019 and began her doctoral studies in fall 2020. She completed her undergraduate program at the University of Alabama, where she graduated in 2018 with a major in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Spanish. Madeline works with Dr. Natalia Krupenko to research the role of folate in promoting human healthy and preventing disease.
Mansi Choudhari
Student Research Assistant, Sumner Lab
Mansi Choudhari is a Summer intern at the Sumner Lab. She is a BSPH Nutrition student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is also pursuing a minor in Medicine, Literature, and Culture. She is interested in preventative medicine and looks forward to learning from the NRI team. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes and spending time with friends.
Angela Clontz
Graduate Research Assistant, Hursting and Voruganti Labs
Angela joined the NRI in August 2022 after graduating from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, in May 2022 with a Master of Science in Nutrition. Her master’s degree focused on dietetics to become a future registered dietitian. Before completing her graduate studies, Angela gained 20 years of research experience in the pharmaceutical industry by managing first-in-class and first-in-human clinical trials, especially in immuno-oncology therapies. Angela is co-mentored at NRI by Dr. Hursting Dr. Voruganti where her focus is to expand nutrition research into human clinical trials and focus on identifying nutritional and genetic factors that can aid in early disease detection and using the mechanisms of metabolomics for adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment.
Brendon Coats
Research Technician, Smith Lab
Brendon Coats is currently pursuing a BS in Biology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He started at the NRI as an intern in January of 2022, and now is a Research Technician in the Smith Lab where is excited to gain experience in the research field. He hopes to enroll into graduate school and earn his masters after UNC Charlotte.
Rachel Coble, MS
Assistant Laboratory Manager, Sumner Lab
Rachel Joined the UNC Chapel Hill NRI in August 2020 as a Research Technician in the Sumner Lab. As a local of Rowan County, specifically China Grove, she graduated from Catawba College in 2020 with a B.S. in Biochemistry. She has always wanted to have some kind of involvement at the NCRC ever since she saw the campus being built as a little girl. Since joining Sumner’s lab, Coble returned to school to further her education. Pursuing her Master's degree in Informatics and Analytics with a Bioinformatics concentration has been a transformative journey, significantly enhancing her expertise in handling and interpreting complex data sets. By learning analytical techniques and informatics tools, she is equipped to process vast amounts of metabolomic data with greater accuracy and efficiency. The skills and knowledge gained through her Master's program enable her to contribute more to her metabolomics research, drive impactful data-driven insights, and support the NRI's goals in advancing metabolomics.
Melissa Cole
Digital Media Designer, Institutional Advancement
Melissa Cole began her tenure at the NRI in early July 2024. She brings with her 20 years of experience in graphic design and marketing across various industries. A resident of the Concord area for over a decade, Melissa enjoys traveling and spending time with her family in her free time.
Shena Cunningham
Personnel Administrator
In 2009, Shena joined the North Carolina Research Campus as a member of Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute. In 2011, she began her professional career in higher education at NRI. Since then, Shena has served at UNC Charlotte and the Town of Davidson. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the College of New Jersey. In 2022, Shena rejoined NRI as Personnel Administrator.
Lydia Goss Dooley, RD
Graduate Student, Voruganti Lab
Lydia joined the NRI with Dr. Voruganti’s lab in August 2022 and is looking forward to contributing to the body of knowledge in the field of nutrition. Lydia graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BS in Nutrition in 2017. She completed a Dietetic Internship with Lenoir-Rhyne University and earned her RD credential in the summer of 2019. Lydia worked as a clinical dietitian while pursuing her MS in Nutrition, graduating from the University of Alabama in the summer of 2021. In her spare time, Lydia enjoys spending time with her husband and dog in the great outdoors.
Camila Espasandin
Visiting Scholar, Trujillo Lab
Camila Espasandin is a Visiting Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI). She is a PhD student and her research is focused on mechanisms of one carbon metabolism in thermogenesis in mice. She joined the NRI in 2024 to conduct a collaboration with Dr. Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez within the academic framework of her PhD studies. She earned her MSc. in Biological Sciences from the University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay (UDELAR).
Isabella Falcone
Student Research Assistant, Sumner Lab
Isabella joined the Sumner Lab as a student intern in 2023. She is an undergraduate student pursuing a BSPH in the Nutrition program through the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, as well as a minor in Chemistry. As Isabella aims to attend medical school following her undergraduate career, she is eager to learn from Dr. Sumner and her team. In Isabella’s free time she enjoys running, baking, and crafting
George Flentke, PhD
Research Scientist, Smith Lab
George Flentke received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his dissertation focused on the structure and catalytic activity of the enzyme UDP-galactose-4-epimerase, which is crucial for galactose metabolism. His postdoctoral research in Biochemistry and Pharmacology at Tufts University / New England Medical School focused on the design of inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase enzymes, which control immune function and HIV infection. After returning to UW-Madison he continued working with the immunosupressives cyclosporine and rapamycin. He is an experienced enzymologist/protein chemist and synthetic organic chemist. Currently, he manages Dr. Smith’s lab, where he investigates the mechanism by which alcohol alters ribosomal signaling and mTOR activity in alcohol-exposed neural crest.
Halle Fogle
Graduate Student, S. Krupenko Lab
Halle earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and Minor in Anthropology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in May 2020. After moving to Charlotte, Halle joined the NRI in August 2020 as a Research Technician in Dr. Sergey Krupenko’s Lab, where she studies the role of folate in liver function and cancer disease. Halle plans to further her education in the research field within the next couple of years.
Walter Friday
Research Specialist, Trujillo and Saini Labs
Walter Friday, a Kannapolis native, recently returned to Cabarrus County to get married. He is a 2010 graduate of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with an AAS in Biotechnology. He is pleased to be working at the Nutrition Research Institute as a research technician. He enjoys spending time with his wife, reading, and traveling.
Grace Fu
Graduate Assistant, Sumner Lab
Grace joined NRI and began her MS program in June 2024. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in May 2024 with a BSPH in Nutrition and minors in Chemistry and Studio Art. Her research involves integrating multi-omics data to compare individuals with healthy lifestyles versus unhealthy lifestyles and looking for associations with cancer. She wishes to use the knowledge she gains this year in her future medical career. Outside of academics, Grace enjoys reading, discussing her faith, and playing volleyball, basketball, and guitar.
Emilio Salazar Garduno
Clinical Research Coordinator, Voruganti Lab
Emilio graduated from UNC Charlotte with a BA in Biology in 2023. He has worked as a phlebotomist for two years. He passionate about bridging healthcare gaps and expanding medical access to underrepresented communities (sexual/ethnic minorities). He also an advocate and promoter of higher education. He volunteers for RAO Community Health in Charlotte, NC (a non-profit committed to providing support and prevention services for those living with HIV) and the Rowan County Literacy Council (works to enhance literacy and life skills of adults, youth, and families). He hopes to become a PA, interested in the fields of infectious diseases, internal medicine, and dermatology. In his free time, I enjoy, running, traveling, and trying new foods!
Jose Luis Garduno-Hernandez
Research Technician, Trujillo Lab
Jose Luis holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His professional journey has led him to serve as a Research Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry in the Lab of Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Medicine, National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico City. His research interests span a wide spectrum, encompassing neurodegenerative diseases, microbial infections, hypertension, and cancer. In addition to his research endeavors, Jose Luis is dedicated to education, having taught various subjects including pharmacology, physiology, and advanced biochemistry. With a passion for both research and teaching, he brings to the Trujillo Lab a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of biomedical sciences.
Elaine (Elle) Glenny, PhD
Research Associate, Hursting Lab - Chapel Hill
Elle completed her PhD at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill under the supervision of Dr. Ian Carroll where she investigated the consequences of severe calorie restriction on intestinal stem cell function and potential interactions of the gut microbiota. To further delineate dietary regulation of intestinal epithelial cell function, Elle has remained at UNC-Chapel Hill where she is now working with Drs. Stephen Hursting and Jatin Roper (Duke University) to investigate adipose-derived inflammatory factors that may drive colorectal tumor progression in obesity.
Aaliyah Goodman, BA
Graduate Research Assistant, Goode Lab
Aaliyah is a first-year graduate student pursuing her MPH in Applied Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. After earning her undergraduate degree from UNC in Global Studies and Public Policy, she worked to administer digital health interventions aimed toward health behavior change and improving chronic disease outcomes. Prior to joining the Living F.R.E.E. Lab, Aaliyah worked in research analyzing and evaluating issues and trends that impact U.S. health policy and health care delivery. She hopes to bring her studies and work with the Lab together to advance her knowledge in improving health outcomes in communities of color.
Neplus Hall
Research Dental Hygienist, Kohlmeier Lab
Neplus Hall joined the NRI in February 2022 as part of a new dental research study being led by the Kohlmeier Team. She has her dental assisting certification, is a certified emergency medical technician, and has an AAS in dental hygiene. She enjoys serving her dental community through prevention, dental therapy, and maintaining exceptional oral care. She is excited to embrace her journey into research. Neplus is very active in her church, enjoys teaching CPR, kayaking, and gardening.
Tyisha Harper
Project Coordinator, Goode Lab
Tyisha Harper joined UNC Nutrition Research Institute in December 2021 as a Project Coordinator in the Goode Lab. She is originally for Milwaukee, WI and relocated to the Charlotte area with her new husband. She is excited to learn and develop her research career here. Tyisha likes to travel, go bowling, and spend lots of quality time with her family. Tyisha is motivated by spiritual affirmations and her favorite one is Psalm 46:5, “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Carolyn Harris
Special Assistant
Carolyn Harris rejoined the NRI on November 8, 2022 as Special Assistant with NRI’s Human Resources. In 2007, she joined the NRI as executive assistant to Institute Director, Steven Zeisel . She retired in 2018. Her previous work experience includes office management/administration and human resources within the Department of Defense and private sector organizations. In addition to her part-time employment, Carolyn spends her time traveling, trying various exercise programs, reading and volunteering with non-profit organizations. She is a graduate of Montreat College.
Julie Hasken, PhD, MPH
Research Associate, May Lab
Julie joined the NRI in 2012 as a Project Manager for Dr. Philip May focusing on the prevalence, child characteristics, and maternal risk factors of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in the United States and South Africa. She earned her doctorate from the UNC-CH Department of Nutrition in 2021 and is now a postdoctoral research associate with Dr. May. Julie earned her BS in Health Science from Truman State University and a Masters in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Education and Health Behavior, from UNC-CH. Julie is also a Certified Health Education Specialist.
David Horita, PhD
Scientific Grant Writer
David Horita joined the NRI in 2013 as a grant writer. He assists faculty by identifying funding opportunities and writing/editing research proposals. David developed research and writing experience in metabolism and cell signaling during his 13 years as a faculty member in Biochemistry at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He did postdoctoral work at the NCI/NIH and obtained a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin and a BA in chemistry from Carleton College.
Yanping Huang, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Smith Lab
Yanping Huang is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Dr. Susan Smith’s Lab. She is from China where she earned her PhD degree. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and running.
Christopher Hughes
Research Project Manager, Kohlmeier Lab
Chris joined the Nutrition Research Institute as a research assistant in February 2022 and brings over 20 years of professional experience to the NRI team. He holds degrees in Project Management and Software Development and is a U.S. Army veteran. As a native of Kannapolis, Chris strives to make a difference in his community. He has a deep appreciation for the city’s roots and is excited to be part of its future growth.
Joshua Hyatt
Facility Maintenance Supervisor
Joshua Hyatt is the dedicated Maintenance Supervisor here at the NCRC. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Joshua moved to Kannapolis in 1991 to attend A.L. Brown High School. Since then, Kannapolis has become his home, and he is committed to giving back to the community.
Joshua's involvement in local activities extends beyond his professional life. He has spent over a decade on the HS football sidelines as a valued member of the “Chain Crew” and has been engaged in the Middle School Running Club. His passion for community service and youth development reflects his deep-rooted connection to Kannapolis.
In his spare time, Joshua enjoys a range of hobbies, including playing golf, tinkering with vintage electronics, and collecting radio-controlled trucks and cars. His diverse interests and commitment to his community make him a well-rounded and valued member of the NCRC team.
Sherry Irvin, LPN
Medical Laboratory Technician
Sherry has worked in the healthcare field for over 25 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Most of that time was spent in Internal Medicine. She is a graduate of Rowan Cabarrus Community College. She has lived in Kannapolis most of her adult life. She enjoys vacationing with her family and spending time outside.
Scott Jaworski
Applications Analyst
Scott Jaworski joined the NRI in May 2008, where he serves as the Applications Analyst and IT Consultant. Scott brings years of experience in the University IT field, having worked in the IT Technical Support field both as a student and staff member at UNC Charlotte, where he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science in 2001.
Faustina Jeyaraj
Graduate Student, Voruganti Lab
Faustina hails from south India. She completed her BS, in plant biotechnology from Stella Maris College in Chennai, India and her MS in biotechnology from Sathyabama University in Chennai, India. She eventually moved to US for her husband’s job and joined Rowan Cabarrus Community College to find a door that would lead to a career in research. She joined the Voruganti lab as an intern from RCCC in January 2019 and is now a PhD candidate in the same lab. Faustina is excited to be a part of NRI and the remarkable research that is happening here. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the beaches and mountains of the Carolinas with her husband and kids.
Ketan Joglekar
Research Technician, Voruganti Lab
Ketan went to school at East Carolina University, but grew up nearby in Concord, NC. He majored in Neuroscience and has previously worked in microbiology labs at ECU’s Dental School. Ketan wants to pursue a career in academia and perhaps pharmaceuticals. He loves working in labs and in his time at NRI he hopes to pick up new techniques and expand his repertoire. In the near future, he also hopes to learn more about genetic data analytics, artificial intelligence, and the cognitive processes that power them. In his free time, Ketan enjoys exploring Charlotte, which he describes as a vibrant city.
Martin Jordan
Shuttle Driver, Facilities Team
Martin grew up in Kannapolis and fell in love with this community, graduating from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with an associate’s degree in science with a concentration in environmental biology. His interests include philosophy, history, cooking, video games. And raising his hens! As a local, Martin’s also an expert in the great debate between Sun Drop and Cheerwine! When you see him, ask which he prefers!
Kevin Kimrey
Facility Maintenance Technician
Kevin started working with the state 5 years ago with UNC Charlotte and recently transferred to UNC Chapel Hill. When he's not at work, he can be found working on their small farm. Kevin enjoys pretty much anything outdoors.
Myneesha King
Community Health Outreach Coordinator, Goode Lab
Myneesha King is excited to join the team as the new Social/Clinical Research Specialist. Myneesha is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University’s Professional Theatre Department. Her background includes Education, Social Services, Pilot Program Management and Human Resources. Myneesha taught middle and high school theatre in both Charlotte Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County Schools. Her passion remains for community outreach and the development of underserved populations. Myneesha enjoys spending time with her family and exploring cultural events in her spare time.
Addison Lewis
Research Assistant, Tate Lab
Addison joined the NRI in December 2023 as a research technician for All of Us (AoU) and Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH). While growing up in Hickory, NC, Addison developed a love for science in medicine, leading her to graduate from NCSU in 2023 with a BS in Human Biology. Addison hopes to continue onto PA school one day but is excited to gain clinical lab experience at NRI. Outside of work and school, Addison enjoys playing with her schnauzer, crocheting, and cooking.
Monia Logan
Accounting Technician
Monia joined the NRI in September 2021 as a member of the Finance and Grants team. She graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a bachelor of science degree in Marketing. Monia is excited to be part of the team at NRI. In her spare time, Monia enjoys reading, photography, and painting.
Christopher Lowder, BS
Facility Maintenance Technician
Christopher was hired on the NRI maintenance team through UNC Charlotte in March 2023, and transitioned to UNC Chapel Hill in August 2024. He is a 2002 graduate of Catawba College where he received his B.S. in Information Systems with a concentration in computer programming and a minor in business administration. He also obtained his North Carolina Structural Pest Control License in 2018. Christopher is a native of China Grove where he currently lives with his wife and 3 daughters. In his spare time, he likes hunting, fishing, and working on and driving his old cars!
Anju Lulla, PhD
Research Associate, Meyer Lab
Anju Lulla, PhD joined the NRI as a Research Associate in August 2018. She received her Phd from St. John’s University, NY, in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a focus in pharmacology. Prior to joining NRI, Anju was a research assistant at UNC Charlotte in the Bioinformatics Department. She brings with her expertise in bioinformatics and statistical analyses of genomic and microbiome data. She is working with Dr. Katie Meyer to study associations between nutritional metabolites, gut microbiome and cardiovascular health.
Kate Machen
Research Assistant, Tate Lab
Katherine "Kate" Machen received her Bachelor of Science degree with a Cell and Molecular Biology concentration and a Chemistry minor from Appalachian State University in 2019. The following fall, her studies continued with neurobiology research as a master's student at Appalachian State University. In May 2022, Kate graduated from the graduate program, receiving a Master of Science degree. As a constant learner, she has recently taken a research assistant position at the NRI to expand her knowledge and interest in all things biological.
Chrysa Mahoney, MS, RD, LDN
Research Assistant, Tate Lab
Chrysa Mahoney is a Research Assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI). She joined the NRI in 2023 to work with Dr. Tate on the All of Us (AoU) Research Program and the Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH) study supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). Chrysa has 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in a variety of therapeutic areas and especially enjoyed working on therapies for T2DM and obesity.
Baba Mass
Research Specialist, Voruganti Lab
Baba graduated from Gambia College School of Education with an AS in science and mathematics. He taught Junior Secondary School science for three years before migrating to the U.S. to pursue higher education. Baba joined the Voruganti lab as a student intern from RCCC before officially joining the team as research technician in July 2015.
Katherine Matthes
Research Assistant, Goode Lab
Katherine is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University, where she studied social work. As an undergraduate, she engaged in research surrounding burnout and vicarious trauma; she is excited to join Dr. Goode’s lab as a research assistant. Katherine is passionate about increasing healthcare equity, social justice, and individual and community well-being, and she hopes to pursue a career engaging in research around disordered eating. In her free time, Katherine enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and playing guitar.
Jonathan McCormac
Accounting Technician
Jonathan, a local resident, joined the NRI in late July 2021. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry and a Minor in Health and Society from UNC Chapel Hill in May 2021.
Susan McRitchie, MA, MS
Program Manager, Sumner Lab
Susan McRitchie, MA/MS has over 10 years of experience conducting biostatistics in the field of metabolomics, and has over 15 years of experience using biostatistics in clinical and epidemiology investigations. She is the lead biostatistician and program manager for the NIH Common Fund Metabolomics and Clinical Assay Center (PI, Susan Sumner) for the Nutrition for Precision Health study, for the NIEHS Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource program (MPI, Sumner/Du/Fennell), and for the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory at the UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute (Director, Sumner). In these roles, she participates in working groups of the NIH consortium involving data management, data quality, and omics analysis, and leads data analysis. She has trained over 20 students, postdoctoral fellows, early career and senior faculty to conduct statistical and multivariate analysis in metabolomics investigations. Susan McRitchie earned a MA in mathematics from UCLA and a MS in Biostatistics from UNC Chapel Hill.
Tim Mills
Food Services Supervisor, Café
Tim is currently the Research Chef for the University of North Carolina metabolic kitchen in Kannapolis. He also is the Food Service Supervisor for the Lettuce Eat Café at the Nutrition Research Institute. He brings more than 30 years’ experience in food service and nutrition to our team. Tim is a local resident who relocated to the area after a successful career in the resort hospitality industry. Since returning to the area, he has been the Executive Chef of The Club at Irish Creek and was the owner of Chef’s Choice Gourmet Pastries. In 2014 he was provided the opportunity to work with the University of North Carolina to offer personalized nutrition. His passion for nutrition is evident in the food he creates.
Sabrina Molina
Assistant Laboratory Manager, Sumner Lab
Sabrina graduated from UNC Charlotte with a degree in biology, working in a bioinformatics lab during her time there. She began as a student intern in the Sumner lab and is now working as the Assistant Laboratory Manager. She is very excited to continue working with all the amazing people at the NRI. In her spare time, Sabrina enjoys cooking, kayaking, fishing, and dirt biking.
Bryan Munoz, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, S. Krupenko Lab
Bryan Munoz joined the S. Krupenko lab in February 2022 as a postdoctoral research associate. Dr. Munoz attended EARTH University in Costa Rica majoring in Agricultural Sciences, then continued his graduate career at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and North Carolina State University, where he earned his doctoral degree in Nutrition and Horticultural Sciences. Dr. Munoz has worked with plants his entire life, and is interested in learning new techniques in molecular biology and animal models in his appointment in the S. Krupenko lab.
Carolyn Munson
Research Specialist, Mooney Lab
Carolyn Munson graduated in 2015 from Rowan Cabarrus Community College with an AAS in biotechnology. She is working as a research technician in the Surzenko Lab at the NRI. Much of her work is directed by Dr. Natalia Surzenko performing immunohistochemistry work.
Michelle Nanney
Policy and Procedure Writer, HRC
Michelle Nanney joined the Human Research Core of the NRI in 2023 as a Policy and Procedure Writer. Her past experience includes clinical trial process improvement, manufacturing process management & operations, ISO 9001 quality development, and technical writing. Her educational background includes a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University along with an MBA and MS in Strategic Management from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Wehazit Mussie
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Goode Lab
Wehazit is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Medical Anthropology on a Pre-Dental track in hopes of becoming a pediatric dentist. She serves as a Research Assistant in Dr. Goode’s lab where she can contribute to research that she is truly passionate about regarding issues that have long been underrepresented for people of color. Wehazit enjoys making pottery, practicing yoga, and reading in her spare time.
Dwight Nealey
Facility Maintenance Technician
Dwight was born and raised in Thomasville, N.C. He is an outdoorsman that loves to hunt and fish. He is the youngest of 4 kids. He love music, his kids, and his grandson. He also loves spending time with his beautiful wife! They love to travel and do all kinds of activities together.
Kendra Lynn Nelson, MPH, RD
Graduate Student, Voruganti Lab
Kendra joined the Voruganti Lab at the NRI in August 2019 where they focus on the role of nutrition and genetics in obesity and cognitive decline. In May 2016 they received their undergraduate degree in Nutrition from Southern Utah University. There they conducted research focusing on the accuracy of consumer fitness trackers and their value as an assessment tool in dietetics practice and future nutrition research. Kendra worked as a public health sanitarian prior to attending UNC's MPH/RD program from which they graduated in December 2019, earning their registered dietitian credentials shortly afterward.
Brent Offenberger
Lead Facility Maintenance Technician
Brent joined the NRI maintenance team in 2009. Originally from Ohio, Brent moved to North Carolina in 1984. He is a NC licensed master plumber. Brent's hobbies include fishing, flying airplanes, and woodworking.
Carsyn Patton
Events and Programs Coordinator
Carsyn graduated from Wingate University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. After returning to North Carolina, she joined the NRI as a Lab Animal Coordinator in the Cheatham Lab. She conducted research on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure when coupled with choline and DHA supplementation. Now Carsyn is the NRI's Event and Programs Coordinator working closely with the Advancement team.
Evan Paules, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Hursting Lab
Evan Paules joined the NRI in August 2016 as a doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Zeisel. Following his graduation, Evan joined the lab of Dr. Hursting where he is now a postdoctoral researcher. Evan is currently investigating the determinants of heterogenic responses to dietary interventions in individuals. Evan attended Rider University where he graduated with a double major in Biochemistry and Behavioral Neuroscience. He was also a member of Rider University’s Division 1 swim team for all four years while he attended Rider.
Betty Peterson
Cashier, Café
Betty has served Lettuce Eat Café customers with a positive attitude and a smile since joining the NRI in 2016! She is a career service industry professional. Betty is a North Carolina native, growing up in the eastern part of the state, then raising her family locally. In her spare time, Betty enjoys classic titles from her extensive movie collection, and enjoying time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
Hannah Petry
Graduate Student, Mooney Lab
Hannah obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics in May 2022 from Texas Tech University. She joined the NRI and began her doctoral studies in Fall 2022. She works in the Mooney Lab to research fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Nathan Pressley
Research Technician, Mooney Lab
Nathan graduated from UNC at Greensboro in May 2023 with a BS in Psychology and a Minor in Statistics. He is from Gold Hill, NC and has family from Kannapolis. Nathan is excited to join Dr. Mooney’s lab and to learn all that he can during his time at the NRI. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, spending time with his dogs, and kayaking.
David Raines
Research Technician, S. Krupenko Lab
David Raines graduated from The College of Wooster in May 2014 with a bachelor’s in biology. He’s very excited to be working as a laboratory technician in Sergery Krupenko’s lab. David enjoys spending his free time outdoors herping for reptiles and amphibians; hiking, and backpacking.
Molly Reese
Recruitment Assistant/Chamber Monitor
Molly has many interests. She is a foodie and enjoy trying new dishes. She likes to travel and tends to focus on the museums, architecture, and of course the food. Molly's hobby umbrella covers things she can create using fabric, yarn, embroidery floss, or paint. She also loves reading and watching movies. Her Netflix watch list is a mile long and her Kindle queue stays full!
Erika Rezeli
Lab Manager, Hursting Lab - Chapel Hill
Mandi Rider
Research Assistant, Cheatham Lab
Mandi graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY in May 2023 with a BA in Neuroscience with a Biology Emphasis and a Minor in Sociology. Originally from New Holland, PA, she is excited to be living in warmer weather and to have the opportunity to work in the Cheatham Lab. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, staying in touch with her friends and family, and is learning to crochet.
Julian Robles
Research Technician, Goode Lab
Julian is a Kannapolis native who is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Religious Studies. He is a Chancellor's Science Scholar and worked at the NRI as an undergraduate. Julian is a research assistant in Dr. Goode's lab where he is engaging in qualitative research around eating disorders and engaging in the community. He is interested in exploring a possible career in research, but would like to go to medical school to become a pediatric oncologist. Some of Julian's interests include reading, riding motorcycles, hiking, and being a positive impact.
Tim Roth
Shuttle Driver
Tim joined the NRI as our Morning Shuttle Driver after retiring from a 26-year career at the Kannapolis Police Department. He worked in community policing, vice narcotics, and criminal investigations during his tenure there. As a native of Columbia, Missouri, Tim has lived in Kannapolis for 28 years. He served our country in the US Navy for 11 years including deployment to Beirut, and in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In his spare time, Tim runs an average of 3-4 miles every day. He works part time at the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Stadium, greeting guests and providing customer service to all who attend games, he is excited about serving our community at the NRI as well!
Hansuk Ryu, MD, PhD
Visiting Scholar, S. Krupenko Lab
Hansuk Ryu joined the S. Krupenko lab in September 2023 as a visiting scholar. Dr Hansuk earned a Bachelor of Medicine at Hanyang University in South Korea. He received his doctoral degree from Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea. He is a pathologist and plans to work with cancer and metabolism in Dr. Sergey Krupenko’s Lab
Thomas Sawyer
Clinical Study Coordinator
Tom Sawyer joined the CRC in May 2023 as a Clinical Study Coordinator. He earned an AAS in Medical Laboratory Technology from Central Piedmont Community College and worked for 5 years in immunotherapy cancer research. He is excited to move into nutrition research and gain new experiences.
Jon Shea
Budget Analyst
Jon Shea joined the Nutrition Research Institute in the summer of 2017. He is a graduate of UNC Charlotte’s Bioinformatics Master's program. He has worked in several areas in the NRI including project manager, study coordinator, lab manager, and research core administration before settling into the Finance team as a Budget Analyst.
George Slebioda
Shuttle Driver
George Slebioda, a resident of North Carolina since 1989, moved here to work for Turf Grass Construction and Management for River Run C.C. in Davidson, NC. Retiring from sales in 2019, George has been working part-time for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers as the mower operator for their ballfield. He also works part-time for the Swanee Theater in downtown Kannapolis. He enjoys casual bike riding several days a week, along with the outdoors, old cars, and old music.
Julie Stegall
Project Manager, Tate Lab
Julie joined the NRI in 2009 with Dr. Carol Cheatham’s Nutrition & Cognition Lab where she helped launch some of the first human studies completed on the NCRC. In her time with the NRI, she has had the pleasure of working with Dr. Philip May on his Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) research and founding director, Dr. Steven Zeisel, on his choline biomarker study. She has coordinated studies with babies, toddlers, school age children, and adults. Julie earned a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a Masters in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Julie is currently working on multiple projects, including the Nutrition for Precision Health study. After living in Chapel Hill, Boston, Niger, and Asheville, Julie is a returned Kannapolis native who has enjoyed watching the area’s residents grow and learn in partnership with the research being conducted.
Trilla Teague
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Goode Lab
Trilla joined Dr. Goode’s Living FREE Lab in January 2024 as a student intern. She is a current undergraduate senior at UNC Chapel Hill pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Spanish for the Medical Professions. Trilla is planning to attend medical school in the future with hopes of becoming a pediatric oncologist. She is passionate about relational and holistic medicine and is eager to learn about the multidimensional view towards patient care in Dr. Goode’s lab.
Sai Sravani Vennam
Research Associate, Voruganti Lab
Sai Sravani Vennam is from the southern part of India. She joined the Voruganti Lab in March 2023. She completed her master's degree in bioinformatics and genomics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which has provided her with a deep understanding of biological systems and their complexities. She is currently working as a Research Associate in the Voruganti Lab at NRI, where she is able to put her knowledge into practice. Her work involves utilizing computational tools and techniques to analyze and interpret complex biological data, with a focus on understanding disease mechanisms and developing innovative treatment strategies. She describes herself as a committed and passionate professional who is determined to enhance the fields of bioinformatics and genomics through cutting-edge research and innovative concepts.
Thomas Wilkie
Research Technician, Smith and Saini Labs
Thomas is from Chattanooga, TN. He graduated in May 2022 from Grove City College with a BS in Biochemistry.
Rebecca Witkowski, RN
Medical Laboratory Specialist
Rebecca is an RN with almost 30 years of experience in nursing, including 13 years coordinating and managing clinical trials for a community cancer center, and six years of performing quality assurance for cancer registry data submitted to the state registry. She is excited to be a part of the research going on at the NRI and to work with participants in the Human Research Core.
Braden Yorke
Student Research Assistant, Sumner Lab
Braden Yorke is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, pursuing a degree in Nutrition Science and Research. Braden is an intern in Dr. Sumner’s lab at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute where he hopes to explore the field and learn as much as possible.