Yujiao Zu

Yujiao Zu, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor at the Nutrigenomics, Inflammation & Obesity Research (NIOR) Lab within the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Tech University. Her work bridges nutritional science, molecular biology, and nanotechnology to explore how bioactive dietary compounds can mitigate obesity and metabolic disorders.

• Education: B.S. in Biological Engineering, M.S. in Food Sciences (Tianjin University of Science and Technology, China); Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences (Texas Tech University)
• Research Expertise: Molecular and cellular biology, analytical chemistry, cell and animal models

Her research focuses on obesity-associated metabolic diseases, particularly inflammation, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease, with a growing emphasis on how aging exacerbates these conditions. She also investigates nanotechnology applications for targeted delivery of bioactives like omega-3 fatty acids and resveratrol to combat obesity and neuroinflammation.

Recent publications highlight her work on nanoencapsulation of phytochemicals, EPA's neuroprotective mechanisms in Alzheimer’s models, and environmental factors (e.g., temperature) influencing adipose tissue thermogenesis. Her studies span metabolic health, lipid dynamics, and nano-based therapeutic strategies.