Rita S. Strakovsky

Rita S. Strakovsky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University, affiliated with the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Her research bridges environmental toxicology and maternal-child health, focusing on how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interact with maternal diet to influence fetal development and long-term health outcomes.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology (2005)
  • R.D. in Registered Dietitian (2011)
  • Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences (2011)
• Research Themes:
  • Epigenetic regulation of energy metabolism
  • EDC-diet interactions in pregnancy
  • Maternal adiposity and placental function
  • Environmental impacts on women's health
  • Lipidomic and hormonal biomarkers
• Key Collaborations:
  • Illinois Kids Development Study (I-KIDS)
  • Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes cohort (ECHO)
  • National Institutes of Health-funded projects

Scientific Contributions: Her work has established mechanistic links between phthalate exposure, maternal obesity, and fetal epigenetic programming. Current studies examine chemical mixtures and racial disparities in environmental exposures via the ECHO program.