Find Academic Supervisors

Claire O'Brien is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Science (Virology) at the University of Canberra, leading the Host-Microbe Interactions research group. Previously, she held positions at the Australian National University (ANU) Medical School as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. She earned her PhD from ANU in 2012, focusing on microbiological aspects of Crohn's disease. Her research investigates gut microbiome dysbiosis in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), using in vitro co-cultures of bacteria and macrophages. Key projects include studying antimicrobial resistance in retail meat and microbial resilience in IBD patients. Dr. O'Brien has received prestigious awards, including the Australian Academy of Science France-Australia Fellowship and NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Research Fellowship. Her work spans translational research, such as the 'GUTSY' project addressing sarcopenia in Crohn’s disease, and collaborations on microbiome dynamics. She actively supervises Honours and higher-degree research students in IBD and microbiome-related fields. Research interests include host-microbe interactions, Crohn's disease pathogenesis, and the role of the microbiome in health. Her lab employs genomic, transcriptomic, and microbiological techniques to uncover mechanisms linking microbial imbalances to disease. She is also engaged in public health initiatives, such as optimizing preconception care and reducing pregnancy complications in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Gut Microbiome
• Host-Microbe Interactions
• +3 more

Dr. Angela Flynn is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health at RCSI. She holds a BSc in Pharmacy from Trinity College Dublin, an MSc in Nutrition, and a PhD in maternal health from King's College London. Her academic career includes a Lecturer position at King's College London (2021–2023) before moving to RCSI in 2023. Her research focuses on optimizing pregnancy preparation, improving outcomes for women at metabolic risk, and leveraging community pharmacies for public health interventions. Key themes include gestational diabetes prevention, postpartum care for pregnancy complications, and intergenerational health patterns. She employs large datasets and qualitative methods to inform policy and clinical practice. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and targets vulnerable populations through innovative interventions. Recent studies investigate preconception health behaviors, maternal obesity outcomes, and the role of AI in nutritional assessment. Publications span peer-reviewed journals like BJOG , Nutrients , and Public Library of Science , with a focus on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trial insights. Her research emphasizes translational healthcare solutions and community engagement.

• Women’s Health
• Maternal Health
• Preconception and Pregnancy Care
• +7 more

Dr. Jessica Grieger is a Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide, affiliated with the Adelaide Medical School under the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on maternal diet, metabolic health, and reproductive outcomes, with a particular emphasis on gestational diabetes, fertility, and developmental origins of disease. Her research program includes systematic reviews and meta-analyses on gestational diabetes prevention, intervention components, and the impact of preconception diet on fertility. She has contributed to high-impact studies in journals like Communications Medicine and Human Reproduction Update . Dr. Grieger's scientific work has been recognized through her NHMRC Externally-Funded Research Fellow position, and her findings have informed clinical guidelines and public health strategies. She supervises honors and higher degree research students in dietary analysis, qualitative methods, and metabolic syndrome studies. Her collaborations span institutions like the Australian Pathogen Genomics Program and involve developing genomic tools for pathogen tracking. She also explores telomere biology in offspring and the implementation of precision medicine approaches for maternal health.

• Nutrition
• Metabolic Health
• Reproductive Health
• +9 more

Professor Deborah Loxton is a leading academic at the University of Newcastle , serving as Director of the Centre for Women's Health Research (CWHR) and the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) . Her work bridges quantitative and qualitative research in women's health, with a focus on reproductive health, domestic violence impacts, and social determinants of wellbeing. PhD in Health (University of New England, 2003) Bachelor of Psychology (Honours, University of New England) Loxton’s research examines lifelong health impacts of trauma, particularly domestic violence, and maternal/infant health disparities. She has pioneered the WWOMB program to reduce global maternal mortality and co-authored the #EndGenderBias survey report on healthcare discrimination. Her recent publications address topics like intimate partner violence in twin studies, contraceptive use among women with chronic diseases, and WASH services in Nepal. Awards include the CAPHIA Team Award (2015) and University of Newcastle Faculty Research Award (2008) . Secured over $50 million in grant funding Collaborated with WHO, USA Academy of Violence and Abuse, and Korean Women’s Development Institute She leads the HMRI Women’s Health Program , focusing on violence prevention, maternal health, and healthy aging. Her work has shaped Australia’s National Women’s Health Strategy and National Plan to End Violence policy.

• Women's Health
• Public Health
• Domestic Violence
• +6 more

Sylvia H. Ley, PhD, RD, serves as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Tulane University's Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She teaches Epidemiologic Methods I and III while mentoring PhD and MS students in chronic disease research. Her educational background includes: Postdoctoral training at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health focusing on large-scale cohort studies Doctoral studies in maternal and infant nutrition and clinical epidemiology at University of Toronto Registered Dietitian certification from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Dr. Ley's research centers on life-course strategies for chronic disease prevention , with emphasis on nutrition , diabetes progression , and cardiovascular risk in women. Her work investigates how reproductive factors (menarche timing, lactation, gestational diabetes), sleep patterns , and dietary behaviors influence long-term metabolic outcomes across the lifespan. She employs advanced epidemiological methods in major cohort studies including NHANES and the Bogalusa Heart Study. Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on sex-specific disease pathways and developmental origins of health , particularly examining how early-life exposures manifest as cardiometabolic disorders decades later. Her work bridges clinical epidemiology with nutritional science to identify modifiable risk factors. Dr. Ley actively mentors graduate students including Santos MP, Mullen AJ, and Siebach MK. Her research receives continuous funding from major agencies including NIH, NSF, and CIHR, supporting her 80+ peer-reviewed publications that have accumulated over 14,000 citations. She serves in leadership roles as Past-Chair of Nutritional Epidemiology for the American Society for Nutrition, Associate Editor for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and co-Chair of the Women's Interprofessional Network for the American Diabetes Association.

• Nutrition
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular Disease
• +2 more

Prof. Annemieke Hoek is a Professor in Reproductive Medicine at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), affiliated with the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Her primary role is Head of the Reproductive Medicine section within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She also serves as a medical advisor for the MijnFertiCoach app and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Her research focuses on infertility treatment, lifestyle interventions for obese women, ovarian reserve, and reproductive outcomes. Notably, she leads a nationwide randomized clinical trial evaluating lifestyle interventions in subfertile women, involving 580 participants across 23 Dutch hospitals. Education: Graduated cum laude from VU Amsterdam (1988), completed a PhD in immunology-related premature ovarian failure (2006), and held a clinical fellowship in reproductive medicine at VU Medical Center (1997–1999). She became an associate professor in 2011 and full professor later. Research Themes: Cost-effectiveness of interventions, ovarian reserve impact on pregnancy outcomes, role of body weight reduction in anovulatory infertility, and psychosocial factors in fertility treatment. Publications: Over 200 peer-reviewed articles, including work on oxidative stress in granulosa cells, diet quality in IVF outcomes, and mental health in infertile women. Active in supervising PhD students and mentoring junior researchers. Awards: Nominated for 'Docent van het jaar G2020' (2018). Labs/Teams: Initiator of the Research Group Reproductive Origin of Adult Health and Disease (ROAHD), contributing to the GECKO Drenthe birth cohort study.

• Reproductive Medicine
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Infertility Treatment
• +7 more

Dr. Laura McGowan is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences , Queen's University Belfast. As a health psychologist, her research focuses on theory-based behaviour change interventions to improve diet, nutrition, and obesity prevention across diverse populations including preconception, pregnancy, and aging groups. Affiliated with the Centre for Public Health and Institute for Global Food Security Regional Lead for the Association for the Study of Obesity Northern Ireland Network Member of the Obesity Prevention Steering Group at the Department of Health NI Co-Chair of the UK Preconception Early and Mid-Career Researcher Network Her work integrates habit formation , peer support , and whole systems approaches to address obesity and dietary behaviour change. Recent publications (2024-2025) examine integrated care models, preconception health policies, and interventions for severe disadvantage groups. Scientific awards include: Ambassador for Belfast (2021) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2020) Chair of British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology NI (2019) She actively contributes to public engagement through media appearances and policy advisory roles, with research aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals for health and wellbeing.

• Behaviour change interventions
• Diet and nutrition
• Obesity prevention and management
• +10 more

Julia L. Finkelstein, MS, MPH, ScD, is Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology and concurrently Associate Professor of Epidemiology in the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is the Follett Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellow , Director of the Maternal and Child Nutrition Program , and co-Director of the Joan Klein Jacobs Center for Precision Nutrition and Health , the Cochrane Center , and the WHO Collaborating Centre at Cornell. She also holds an adjunct Associate Professor appointment at St. John’s Research Institute, Bengaluru, India . Education Bachelor of Science – McGill University, Montréal, Canada Master of Public Health – Brown University, USA Master of Science – Harvard University (Epidemiology and Nutrition) Doctor of Science – Harvard University (Epidemiology and Nutrition) Research Focus Dr. Finkelstein is an epidemiologist whose laboratory centers on one-carbon metabolism and its role in women’s health across the lifespan—from preconception through pregnancy and postpartum. She designs and conducts large-scale randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, and surveillance programs in resource-limited settings in India, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the United States . Her work integrates precision nutrition, mobile point-of-care diagnostics, and AI-driven analytics to improve maternal, neonatal, and child health outcomes. Scientific Awards & Honors NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge Prize – Innovative Global Health Diagnostics SUNY Chancellor Award for Scholarship & Creative Activities International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Award – Leadership in Nutrition Chair, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) One-Carbon Metabolism Research Interest Group (recently elected) Grants & Leadership Roles Dr. Finkelstein is Program Director of an NIH-funded training program on maternal and child nutrition and leads the Clinical Core of the NIH-funded PORTENT Center (Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Nutrition, Infection, and Cancer) within the NIH POCTRN network. She is a Global Public Voices Fellow (2021–22) through Cornell’s Einaudi Center, advocating for social and health equity in vulnerable populations. Laboratory & Teams The Finkelstein Laboratory at Cornell focuses on mechanistic and translational research in one-carbon metabolism, leveraging state-of-the-art biomarker assays, body-composition analyses, and microbiome profiling to develop and test precision nutrition interventions for women and children globally.

• Epidemiology and Nutrition
• One-carbon metabolism
• Maternal and child health
• +3 more

İrem ÖZKORKUT serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics within the Health Sciences School at Beykent University since 2019. She is also an active member of the Turkish Dietetics Association since 2020. Her teaching portfolio spans clinical nutrition, community health, and specialized dietary applications across undergraduate programs. Her academic qualifications include: Doctorate (2020) from Başkent University, Institute of Health Sciences Degree (2017) from Halic University, Institute of Health Sciences; Thesis: "Comparison of eating patterns and psychological trauma histories in type 2 diabetic/obese patients with a control group in a public university hospital" Licence (2012) from Istanbul Science University, Health School Dr. ÖZKORKUT's research focuses on critical intersections of nutrition science: Clinical Nutrition : Pediatric/adult clinical practice, obesity management, eating disorders, and diabetes interventions including dietary supplements like apple cider vinegar Life-Stage Nutrition : Pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, lactation, and adolescent nutrition literacy with emphasis on physiological and psychological factors Public Health Challenges : Weight stigma, pandemic-related micronutrient requirements, and palliative care nutrition within community health frameworks Her publication trajectory reveals urgent engagement with contemporary health crises. Recent works analyze micronutrient roles during Covid-19, maternal-child nutrition dynamics, and societal weight bias, while maintaining clinical focus on diabetes management and adolescent dietary behaviors. This dual emphasis on acute health emergencies and chronic condition management defines her scholarly contribution to nutrition science.

• Nutrition
• Dietetics
• Clinical Nutrition
• +3 more

Jess Haines is a Professor in the Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph, within the College of Social & Applied Human Sciences. Her research focuses on preventing weight-related disorders among children through community and family-based interventions. She leads projects like the Guelph Family Health Study and the NIH-funded 'Father & Families' initiative, examining parental influence on children’s health behaviors. Haines is also Director of the Parent-Child Feeding Laboratory, studying feeding interactions and child eating behaviors. She has received the Danone International Prize for Alimentation and Royal Society of Canada recognition. Haines' work integrates behavioral science, public health, and nutritional research to address obesity and eating disorder prevention. Education: PhD in Epidemiology (University of Minnesota, 2005), MHSc in Community Nutrition (University of Toronto, 2000), BSc in Human Ecology (Western Ontario, 1998). Major grants include funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada for community co-design projects and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation for lab infrastructure. Her interventions target families in the Onward Willow neighborhood and focus on sustainable diet practices.

• Community-based interventions
• Family-based interventions
• Childhood obesity prevention
• +4 more

Elisabet Rudjord Hillesund is Professor and Head of the Department of Nutrition and Public Health at the University of Agder (UiA), Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences. She has held this leadership position since 2020, following her appointment as Associate Professor from 2015-2020. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a Clinical Nutritionist at various healthcare institutions including Sørlandet Hospital HF, Kirkenes Hospital, and in private practice from 1988-2015. Professor Hillesund's research focuses on diet and nutrition during nutritionally vulnerable life stages, including young adulthood/preconception years, pregnancy, infancy and early childhood. She is actively involved in the Priority Research Centre on Lifecourse Nutrition at UiA, where she has analyzed data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Study to investigate associations between maternal diet during pregnancy and measures of pregnancy health, child growth and development, mental health and personality up to 8 years. Her work includes developing e-learning resources targeting specific populations and examining the importance of family meals in early childhood nutrition. Her extensive publication record demonstrates expertise in early-life nutrition interventions, particularly through digital platforms and community-based approaches. Her research has examined dietary patterns in preconception, pregnancy outcomes related to adolescent diet, family meal participation effects on child development, and the implementation of evidence-based nutrition interventions in early childhood education settings. She has contributed significantly to understanding how early nutrition affects long-term health outcomes through the developmental origins of health and disease framework. As Head of Department, Professor Hillesund oversees two Bachelor's programs in Public Health Work and Public Health Nutrition, a Master's program in Public Health Science, and contributes to Teacher's Education with Food and Health (Home Economics) and Early Childhood Education and Care education. She is currently co-supervising two PhD students and is involved in several research projects including the "Next Generation Nordic Diet" project. Her department houses the Priority Research Centre on Lifecourse Nutrition, which develops and evaluates e-learning resources for target groups including pregnant women, parents of infants and toddlers, and young adults. The center's research has demonstrated associations between early family meal participation and measures of diet quality, growth and development.

• Lifecourse Nutrition
• Early-life Nutrition
• Maternal and Child Health
• +5 more

Dr. Elizabeth Dapre is an NIHR In-Practice Fellow at the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, part of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for high-risk pregnancies through interventions targeting diabetes, cardiometabolic factors, and health inequalities. Education: Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Leadership, Edge Hill University (2023-2024) Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, The University of Manchester (2019-2021) MBBS (Distinction), City St George's University of London (2011-2015) MSc in Biological Science (Distinction), The University of Manchester (2008-2009) BSc in Neuroscience (Hons), The University of Manchester (2005-2008) Dr. Dapre specializes in preconception care for marginalized communities, with experience in clinical trials like MIDDAS-GDM and contributions to the Manchester NIHR Maternal Inequalities Challenge. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health equity and quality education. Key Research Contributions: NIHR RfPB-funded MIDDAS-GDM trial Early career researcher on maternal inequalities Advocacy for primary care integration in perinatal services She serves on the board of GPs Championing Perinatal Care, teaches in the Manchester GPST Programme, and has delivered national/international presentations. Her accolades include the NIHR In-Practice Fellowship (2024), Brackenbury Prize (2015), and NIHR Academic GP Training Fellowship (2021).

• Gestational Diabetes
• Cardiometabolic Medicine
• Health Inequalities
• +4 more

Elske Brouwer-Brolsma is an Assistant Professor at the Division of Human Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University & Research. She specializes in innovating dietary assessment methods, particularly during early-life and childhood. Her research integrates epidemiology, food composition analysis, and maternal-child health, with a focus on improving dietary tracking through technological advancements like the Traqq smartphone tool. Education: Elske Brouwer-Brolsma holds a PhD and MSc in Human Nutrition and Health. She teaches courses such as the MSc Internship in Global Nutrition (HNH75724), Exposure Assessment in Nutrition (HNH32806), and Dietary Intake Assessment (HNH34403) at Wageningen University, contributing to training future nutrition professionals. HNH75724: MSc Internship in Global Nutrition HNH32806: Exposure Assessment in Nutrition and Health Research HNH34403: Assessment of Dietary Intake HNH40302: Concepts and Methods in Epidemiology Her research interests encompass dietary assessment innovations, maternal nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding practices, and the impacts of metabolic health interventions. Projects include the EU SWEET initiative analyzing sweetener risks, the Ausnutria Human Milk Project exploring breast milk variability, and the Pride and Prejudice consortium developing digital dietary tools. Notable recent publications focus on dietary biomarkers, maternal-child nutrition dynamics, and tool validation. These studies highlight her work on improving accuracy in dietary reporting and understanding the role of nutrition in pregnancy and early life. Scientific Awards: None explicitly listed. Advising and Grants: She currently supervises 7 PhD candidates and is involved in major funded projects like the SWEET project (EU grant 774293) and the Regiodeal 'Prille Start' initiative. Her research also extends to collaborations with industry partners such as Ausnutria. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Division of Human Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University, where she contributes to interdisciplinary teams focused on dietary assessment and maternal-child health research.

• Dietary Assessment Methodology
• Nutrition during Pregnancy
• Early-Life Nutrition
• +4 more

Amanda Lloyd is a researcher at Aberystwyth University, actively involved in the Metabolomics and Diet and Health Teams. She holds a PhD in Metabolomics and Plant Pathology and has extensive experience in nutritional metabolomics, biomarker discovery, and clinical trial design. Her work spans multiple externally funded projects with UKRI, MRC, Innovate UK, and international collaborators in France, Spain, Canada, and India. Her research focuses on developing and applying metabolomic technologies to identify and validate urinary biomarkers of food intake (BFIs), assess dietary exposure, and link diet to health outcomes. She has developed standardized protocols for nutritional metabolomics and contributed to the chemical phenotyping of plant and animal products. Her expertise includes data integration from dietary self-reports and metabolomic profiles, remote urine sampling, and multivariate modeling. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in functional foods, dietary biomarkers, and metabolic health. Themes include the health effects of tea, ginger, rhubarb, whole grains, and probiotics, assessed through human intervention trials and metabolomic profiling. Research spans cardiometabolic health, gut microbiome, cognitive function, and preconception wellness. She has played leadership roles in major initiatives such as the 'Future Foods' programme and the MRC's 'SODIAT' grant, aimed at creating objective dietary assessment tools. She is Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (CoI) on multiple active projects related to functional foods, food innovation, and health assessment. Co-investigator, MRC Programme Grant 'SODIAT' (2022–2027) PI, 'Better Brain DLS' (Innovate UK, 2023–2026) PI, 'Reformulation of multi-component food-items' (University of Bristol, 2024–2025) PI, 'Academic research development to benefit health teas' (BBSRC, 2024) She has supervised PhD research and contributed to the establishment of the Well-being and Health Assessment Research Unit (WARU) at Aberystwyth University, enabling small-scale clinical trials and community health research. Her work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health, well-being, and sustainable food systems.

• Metabolomics
• Nutritional Biomarkers
• Dietary Assessment
• +7 more

Dr. Kristina Anevska serves as a Casual Academic in the Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology at La Trobe University, specializing in reproductive physiology and developmental origins of health and disease. Her research focuses on maternal exercise interventions, placental adaptations, and transgenerational effects of growth restriction using rat models. Her primary research interests span Reproductive Physiology , Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , and Exercise Physiology , with specific expertise in maternal exercise effects on pregnancy outcomes, placental adaptations to stress, and transgenerational bone and metabolic health. Her work frequently examines sex-specific responses and interactions with high-fat diets in growth-restricted pregnancy models. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on rat pregnancy models investigating how maternal exercise modifies outcomes in growth-restricted pregnancies. Key trends include placental mTOR signaling, IGF-system regulation, microbiome alterations in gestational diabetes, and transgenerational transmission of bone deficits. Her research demonstrates particular attention to sex-specific adaptations and timing of exercise interventions. Dr. Anevska maintains active research collaborations with prominent scientists including Wlodek ME, Briffa JF, Cuffe JSM, and Mangwiro YTM across multiple publications. Her work appears in high-impact journals such as The Journal of Physiology , Placenta , and FASEB Journal , with significant citation impact in developmental physiology fields.

• Reproductive Physiology
• Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
• Exercise Physiology
• +4 more