Faculty Directory
![Deborah Tate, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tate_Deborah_400x300.png)
Deborah Tate, PhD
Interim Director, Professor of Nutrition
Behavioral weight management particularly delivered through web and mobile platforms
dtate@unc.edu
(919) 966-7546
![Stephen Hursting, PhD, MPH](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hursting-Stephen_400x300.jpg)
Stephen Hursting, PhD, MPH
Professor of Nutrition
Diet-gene interaction for cancer prevention
hursting@email.unc.edu
(704) 250-5059
![Katie Meyer, ScD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Meyer-Katie_400x300.jpg)
Katie Meyer, ScD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Nutritional and Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiologist
ktmeyer@email.unc.edu
(704) 250-5071
![Blake Rushing, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Rushing-Blake_400x300.jpg)
Blake Rushing, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Nutritional Pharmacology
blake_rushing@unc.edu
(704) 250-5089
![Susan Sumner, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sumner-400x300-8-22.png)
Susan Sumner, PhD
Professor of Nutrition and Pharmacology
Metabolic individuality
susan_sumner@unc.edu
(704) 250-5066
![Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Zeisel-Steve_400x300.jpg)
Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD
Professor of Nutrition and Pediatrics, Founding Director of the NRI
Choline as an essential nutrient
steven_zeisel@unc.edu
(704) 250-5003
![Carol L. Cheatham, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cheatham-Carol_400x300.jpg)
Carol L. Cheatham, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience
Nutrition for memory and attention abilities
carol_cheatham@unc.edu
(704) 250-5010
![Natalia I. Krupenko, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Krupenko-Natalia_400x300.jpg)
Natalia I. Krupenko, PhD
Associate Professor of Nutrition
Role of folate in promoting health and preventing disease
natalia_krupenko@unc.edu
(704) 250-5054
![Sandra Mooney, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Edited2-Mooney-82022-copy.png)
Sandra Mooney, PhD
Associate Professor of Nutrition
Effect(s) of environment and genes on brain development
sandra_mooney@unc.edu
(704) 250-5022
![Nipun Saini, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nipun-4x3-2.jpg)
Nipun Saini, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
How stressors impair fetal growth and brain development
nipun_saini@unc.edu
(704) 250-5065
![Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Trujillo-Isis-2021_400x300.jpg)
Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Mechanisms linking choline status and neurodevelopment in health and disease states.
isis_trujillo@unc.edu
(704) 250-5041
![Rachel Goode, PhD, MPH, LCSW](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Goode-cropped.jpg)
Rachel Goode, PhD, MPH, LCSW
Assistant Professor of Social Work and Psychiatry
Nutrition interventions to promote health equity and to treat obesity
rwgoode@email.unc.edu
(919) 962-6429
![Sergey A. Krupenko, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Krupenko-Sergey_400x300.jpg)
Sergey A. Krupenko, PhD
Professor of Nutrition
Vitamin folate and its role in liver function and cancer
sergey_krupenko@unc.edu
(704) 250-5053
![Wimal Pathmasiri, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Pathmasiri-Wimal_400x300.jpg)
Wimal Pathmasiri, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition
Impact of diet on gut microbiome related metabolism
wimal_pathmasiri@unc.edu
(704) 250-5069
![Susan Smith, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Smith-Susan_400x300.jpg)
Susan Smith, PhD
Professor of Nutrition
Molecular mechanisms by which dietary components affect prenatal development
susan_smith@unc.edu
(704) 250-5065
![Saroja Voruganti, PhD](https://uncnri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Voruganti-Saroja_400x300.jpg)
Saroja Voruganti, PhD
Professor of Nutrition
Impact of nutrient-gene interactions on purine metabolism and related diseases
saroja@unc.edu
(704) 250-5009