Jayna Markand Dave

Jayna Markand Dave, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics-Nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine, with appointments as a Member at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health. She also serves as a Faculty Affiliate at the Kinder Institute of Urban Health at Rice University and a Faculty Member at the Baylor Diabetes Research Center. Her research focuses on addressing health disparities through population health interventions targeting obesity and chronic disease prevention, particularly among low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations.

Dr. Dave holds a PhD from the University of South Carolina (2007) and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Children's Nutrition Research Center (2010). Her Honors include the 2020/2021 TCH/BCM Young Investigator Award.

Her research interests span food and nutrition security, social determinants of health, and community-engaged interventions. Key projects include evaluating food assistance programs (e.g., SNAP), hydroponic farming in urban food deserts, and integrating Food is Medicine strategies into clinical care. She leads federally funded grants exploring rural-urban disparities in food security and childhood obesity prevention.

Dr. Dave has mentored numerous students and researchers, including PhD candidates Deepali Ernest and Bipin Singh. Her lab collaborates with institutions like Texas Children’s Hospital and the Houston Food Bank to advance equitable health outcomes.