Erin Clarke

Dr. Erin Clarke is an early career researcher and Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing at The University of Newcastle. She also serves as a Casual Academic at the same institution and maintains an active clinical role as an Accredited Practising Dietitian. Dr. Clarke holds leadership positions including membership in the leadership group of the Food and Nutrition research program at the Hunter Medical Research Institute and roles within the Nutrition Society of Australia.

Dr. Clarke earned her Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours Class I) in 2016 and completed her PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2021, both from The University of Newcastle. Her educational background has provided the foundation for her research in dietary assessment, biomarkers, and precision nutrition.

Dr. Clarke's research expertise spans three primary areas: Dietary Assessment & Biomarkers, Diet Quality & Health, and Precision & Personalised Nutrition. In the biomarkers field, she focuses on urinary polyphenols, skin carotenoids, and metabolomics to develop objective measures of dietary intake. Her work on diet quality examines how nutrition affects chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Most recently, she has pioneered research in precision nutrition, investigating how genetic factors interact with diet to influence health outcomes, particularly in hypertension management.

Her publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated research in precision nutrition, with recent work focusing on metabolomics, genetic interactions, and personalized dietary interventions. The publications demonstrate strong collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and a growing emphasis on translating research into clinical practice, particularly for cardiovascular disease prevention and diabetes management.

• 2024 HMRI Food and Nutrition Research Program EMCR Industry Engagement Excellence Award
• 2024 HMRI Food and Nutrition Research Program EMCR Community Engagement Award
• 2024 HMRI Food and Nutrition Research Program EMCR Leadership Award
• 2024 HMRI Food and Nutrition Research Program Best Observational Study
• 2021 Healthcare 2020 Best Paper from MDPI
• 2019 2nd Prize for best poster at University of Newcastle Research Day

Dr. Clarke actively supervises both PhD and Honours students, with a focus on precision nutrition, cardiovascular health, and diabetes management. She has secured significant research funding, including a $449,000 NSW Cardiovascular Early-Mid Career Researcher Grant for her work on 'Precision and personalised medical nutrition therapy to improve heart health.' Her collaborative approach is evident in her extensive network of national and international research partnerships across multiple disciplines.

Dr. Clarke's research extends beyond metropolitan areas to include rural and remote populations, reflecting her commitment to addressing health disparities. Her work with the Food and Nutrition research program at HMRI creates connections between students, researchers, and industry stakeholders to advance the field of personalized nutrition.