Auburn University Department of Nutritional Sciences

08/26/2026

The Department of Nutritional Sciences is pleased to welcome
Assistant Professors, Dr. Shirley Arbizu (middle) and Dr. Laura Coats (left).

Dr. Arbizu's research explores how dietary bioactive compounds interact with the gut microbiome and influence human health. Her work also examines how food processing affects nutrient composition, bioavailability, metabolism, and absorption, helping advance evidence-based and personalized nutrition strategies.

Originally from Peru, Dr. Arbizu earned her B.S. in Food Industrial Engineering from La Molina Agrarian University before becoming a Fulbright Scholar and completing her M.S. and Ph.D. at Texas A&M University.

With experience in both academia and the food industry, she brings valuable expertise in food product development, including cereals, hydration beverages, energy drinks, isotonic beverages, and ready-to-drink teas.



Dr. Laura Coats brings a strong background in nutrition, physiology, and maternal health research to Auburn University. A native of South Louisiana who grew up in Starkville, Mississippi, she earned her bachelor's degree in Secondary Biology Education and master's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion from Mississippi State University. After completing a dietetic internship at the University of Southern Mississippi, she became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Dr. Coats earned her PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), where her research focused on how the maternal and placental environment during pregnancy affects fetal development and long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health. She later served as Assistant Professor and Director of Research in UMMC's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, expanding her research on maternal nutrition, cardiovascular health, and pregnancy outcomes.

Now an Assistant Professor in Auburn University's Department of Nutritional Sciences, Dr. Coats is excited to build collaborations, advance research initiatives, mentor students, and contribute to Auburn's academic community.

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Kyle, a dietetic intern from Auburn University, put together a fantastic meal using items from our inventory, featuring bok choy, skirt steak, and basmati rice. The dish was a wonderful example of how simple ingredients can be transformed into a flavorful and nutritious meal. Shoppers and volunteers alike enjoyed the opportunity to sample his creation. Thank you, Kyle, for sharing your talent and inspiring others with your cooking!

05/08/2026

🎉 Let's give a warm welcome to Dr. Muhammad G. Khodary Omar, our newest postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Nutritional Sciences.

He earned his Ph.D. in Integrative Biomedical Sciences from Tuskegee University, where his research focused on developing targeted immunotherapies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Dr. Omar holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a master’s in virology, reflecting his multidisciplinary background in translational biomedical research.

His work integrates molecular biology, immunology, and cancer therapeutics, including CAR-T cell engineering and phage display technologies to identify novel tumor-specific targets. At Auburn University, his research expands into the role of obesity and metabolic dysfunction in colorectal cancer progression, with a particular focus on how nutritional and inflammatory cues shape tumor behavior and therapeutic response. He is actively involved in developing and utilizing advanced 3D cancer models to better recapitulate the tumor microenvironment, enabling more physiologically relevant studies of cancer–immune interactions and treatment efficacy. His work aims to bridge nutrition, metabolism, and immunotherapy to inform more precise and effective strategies for cancer prevention and treatment, particularly in high-risk and underserved populations.

Auburn University College of Human Sciences
Auburn University

05/08/2026

Congratulations to all of our College of Human Sciences 2026 Spring graduates! 🎓🦅🐅

The College of Human Sciences commends you on your milestone achievement and we are excited to see where your degree takes you as you make the world a better, brighter place for all!

03/17/2026

03/17/2026

Nutritional Sciences and Dr. Rushing are leading the charge in online learning and accessibility standards!

“Having a clear, built-in framework allowed me to focus on creating engaging content rather than worrying about layout, navigation or accessibility from scratch,” Rushing said.

https://wire.auburn.edu/content/announcements/2026/03/05145301-announcement.php

Auburn University College of Human Sciences
Auburn University

Faculty at Auburn University are exploring new approaches to course design that support student learning through clarity, consistency and accessibility.

03/03/2026

Happy National Nutrition Month and Discover the Power of Nutrition!!

02/20/2026

On January 27, we celebrated a remarkable achievement for the Department of Nutritional Sciences for receiving the Academic Program Improvement Award at The Provost Academic Improvement Excellence Awards on . This award recognizes an academic department or program that demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement through meaningful partnership with the Office of Academic Insight.

“Being recognized for the quality of the assessment of student learning demonstrates the department’s ongoing commitment to excellence in our academic programs. I cannot express how much I appreciate how the entire Nutritional Sciences faculty came together, shared thoughtful input and created three outstanding assessment plans. The award was a testament to their hard work and dedication, and it was well deserved.”— Dr. Elaine Molaison, nutritional sciences department head

https://wire.auburn.edu/content/provost/2026/02/143726-academic-improvement-excellence-awards.php

02/19/2026

Nikol and Sarah, Dietetic Interns from Auburn University, prepared fresh fruit kabobs for our shoppers using Community Market items, including canary melon, apples, and peaches.