Alison D. Gernand

Alison D. Gernand serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences within the College of Health and Human Development at Pennsylvania State University. She maintains active affiliations with the Center for Reproductive Biology and Health (CRBH) and the Penn State Center for Women's Health Research, and is currently accepting new graduate students.

Education:

• PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2011)
• MPH, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston (2003)
• RD, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston (2002)

Research Focus: Dr. Gernand's work centers on micronutrient deficiencies—particularly vitamin D—and their impact on pregnancy outcomes. Her investigations span placental vascular development, biomarker concentration dynamics through plasma volume analysis, and adverse outcomes including fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. She maintains a strong emphasis on public health applications in resource-limited settings across low- and middle-income countries.

Scientific Awards: No awards documented in available sources.

Mentorship and Teaching: Actively supervises graduate researchers while teaching core courses including NUTR 451 (Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle), NUTR 456 (Community Nutrition), NUTR 511 (Maternal and Child Nutrition), and NUTR 583 (Nutritional Epidemiology). Her research program addresses critical gaps in maternal micronutrient interventions through ongoing grant-supported projects.

Research Infrastructure: Leads the Micronutrient and Pregnancy Lab, leveraging institutional partnerships with CRBH and the Center for Women's Health Research to advance translational studies from bench to global implementation.