Alison Coates

Professor Alison Coates is Dean of Research in Allied Health and Human Performance at the University of South Australia. Her multidisciplinary research investigates nutritional physiology, bioactive nutrients, and dietary strategies for cardiometabolic and cognitive health, with projects on nut consumption, shift worker nutrition, and dementia prevention.

She holds a B.Sc. (Hons) and Ph.D. in Nutritional Physiology from the University of Adelaide, completed postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado, and is a Nutrition Society of Australia Registered Nutritionist. Current projects examine almond consumption effects on weight management, dietary patterns in shift workers, and diet-cognition relationships.

Research demonstrates how meal timing and specific nutrients influence metabolic health, cardiovascular risk factors, and cognitive performance in diverse populations. As NSA President (2020-2021) and award recipient, she advances nutrition science education and competency standards.

Honors include the Australian Nutrition Trust Travelling Fellowship and international recognition for contributions to nut research and chrononutrition science.