Gabriele Karner

Gabriele Karner serves as Professor, Academic Director of Dietetics (BA), and Course Director of Applied Nutritional Therapy at the Department of Health Sciences within the Institute of Health Sciences at St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences. With extensive experience in both academic and clinical settings, she combines theoretical knowledge with practical application in dietetics and nutritional medicine. Her professional journey includes roles as Deputy Head of Study Program in Dietetics, Lecturer at the Austrian Academic Institute for Nutritional Medicine Vienna, and clinical positions at various healthcare institutions including St. Pölten State Hospital.

Dr. Karner's research interests focus on clinical nutrition, dietetics, and nutritional therapy with particular emphasis on specialized dietary approaches including vegan and vegetarian nutrition, bariatric nutrition, and climate-friendly eating patterns. Her work bridges the gap between scientific research and practical application, developing assessment tools like the Bariatric Nutritional Assessment (BNA) and exploring innovative educational methods such as game-based learning for nutrition education. She has made significant contributions to understanding nutrient requirements across different populations, from children to elderly patients, and has developed practical resources for everyday healthy eating that also consider environmental sustainability.

Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward integrating environmental considerations with nutritional science, exemplified by her 2024 work on climate-friendly recipes and the 2023 BMSGPK recommendations for a healthy and climate-friendly plate for Austria. She has also maintained consistent research on specialized dietary needs, including vegan nutrition for children, bariatric nutritional assessment, and eating disorder screening in obese adults. Her methodological contributions to nutrition research and education, particularly through game-based learning approaches, show her commitment to innovative knowledge transfer.

As Academic Director of Dietetics, Professor Karner oversees the development and implementation of curriculum for dietetics education, ensuring alignment with current scientific evidence and professional practice standards. She has contributed to numerous educational resources and tools for both students and practitioners in the field of dietetics. Her leadership extends to developing assessment frameworks like the Bariatric Nutritional Assessment and screening tools for eating disorders in obese adults, demonstrating her commitment to evidence-based practice in clinical nutrition.

Professor Karner's work spans multiple settings including academic instruction, clinical practice, research, and public health initiatives. She has collaborated extensively with government agencies like the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) and has contributed to national dietary guidelines. Her research often involves interdisciplinary teams, reflecting the complex nature of nutrition science that intersects with medicine, psychology, environmental science, and public policy.