Ceren Gezer

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ceren Gezer is a faculty member in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU). She holds a PhD from Near East University and has extensive research experience in nutrition science, focusing on obesity, dietary patterns, and functional foods. Her work bridges clinical nutrition, public health, and molecular mechanisms. She has supervised numerous graduate theses and actively participates in research projects on diet-related health outcomes.

Education:

• PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics (Near East University, 2014)
• MS in Medical Nutrition Therapy (Near East University, 2011)
• BS in Nutrition and Dietetics (Hacettepe University, 2009)

Research Interests:

• Obesity prevention and mechanisms
• Diet quality and cardiometabolic health
• Functional food components (e.g., polyphenols, capsaicin)
• Food addiction and disordered eating
• Anti-inflammatory diets in aging

Publications reflect her focus on translational nutrition research, including studies on Mediterranean diet adherence, dark chocolate’s lipid effects, and gut microbiota interactions with obesity. Awards include multiple EMU Research Incentive Awards (2020–2023) and DAÜ Publication Excellence Awards.

Advising: Supervised 25+ graduate students in nutrition-related topics (e.g., capsaicin metabolism, milk metal residues, orthorexia nervosa). Active in grants investigating dietary patterns and health outcomes in Northern Cyprus populations.

Labs: Involved with EMU’s Healthy Life Practice and Research Center (EMU-SAYMER) and the Nutrition and Diet Polyclinic Lab.