Petra Rust

Petra Rust is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Vienna’s Faculty of Life Sciences. Her research focuses on public health nutrition, obesity epidemiology, diabetes trends, and the role of taste receptors in clinical settings. She has led projects like NUTGECS (2010–2015) and Chance (2009), addressing early childhood nutrition and health disparities. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being (SDG 3) and climate action (SDG 13), particularly through studies on dietary sustainability in Tyrol, Austria.

Rust’s research integrates global health data, such as pooled analyses of millions of participants to assess adiposity, diabetes prevalence, and hypertension trends. Collaborations span international institutions, yielding high-impact publications in The Lancet and Chemical Senses. She investigates innovative solutions like Homoeriodictyol to mitigate chemotherapy-induced bitterness and studies the effects of dietary interventions on metabolic health. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges clinical nutrition, epidemiology, and policy, emphasizing actionable insights for population health.

Rust has been cited in over 130 media outlets and contributed to policy discussions, such as dietary guidelines and salt reduction strategies. Her lab’s activities include posters and oral presentations on topics like taste perception and pandemic-related nutrition challenges.