UC Davis Nutrition, Meyer Hall, Davis, CA (2026)

06/04/2026

New research on microplastics from the UC Davis Department of Nutrition and Department of Chemistry explores how microplastics may interact with biological systems at the molecular level.

In a mice model, researchers examined oral exposure to polystyrene (a common plastic that can break down into micro- and nanoplastics) and used advanced imaging tools (MALDI MSI + TIMS) to track where these particles go and how organs and tissues respond.

Findings show distinct, organ-specific changes in lipid metabolism:
• Stomach showed signs of epithelial stress
• Liver had altered lipid processing and indications of adjustments to maintain stability
• Heart exhibited disrupted membrane-related lipid pathways

Together, the results suggest microplastics may influence biological systems in more complex and tissue-specific ways than previously understood.

Learn more: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.6528604

College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis
UC Davis Health

Image description: Stacks of white styrofoam takeout containers on a brown surface. Image text: Microplastics don’t just pass through. They may change how our organs function.

06/01/2026

Dr. Debbie Fetter recently contributed her expertise to a national discussion on dietary protein sources and evidence-based nutrition guidance.

Dr. Fetter emphasized the importance of considering overall dietary patterns and the role a variety of protein sources can play in supporting health. Her insights help provide science-based context on topics, including plant and animal source proteins, protein quality, and the growing interest in protein-focused products and supplements.

Read the full article in The Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2026/may/19/pros-cons-popular-protein-sources

Image description: A close-up shot shows three vertical sections: marbled raw meat on the left, a pile of lentils in the center, and a pile of light-colored powder on the right. Image text: “There’s a time and place for all proteins,” says Fetter. What’s best depends on the individual and their dietary needs and preferences.

05/28/2026

Picnic Day brought nutrition science to life !

From nutrition trivia and grip strength testing to nutrition science questions and hands-on learning, it was incredible to welcome 400+ community members to Meyer Hall!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special ✨

Read more at the link in bio!

Video description: Various photos of community members at Meyer Hall on Picnic Day 2026.

05/21/2026

Congratulations to UC Davis Department of Nutrition faculty members Drs. Lauren Au, Gerardo Mackenzie, and Reina Engle-Stone on being recognized as 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellows by American Society for Nutrition!

This recognition reflects outstanding contributions to nutrition research, education, mentorship, and public health impact. This honor highlights the strength of the UC Davis nutrition community and its commitment to advancing science that improves human health worldwide.

Read more: https://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-faculty-honored-excellence-nutrition-fellows

Image description: 1. A woman with dark bobbed hair smiles, wearing a floral print dress and a decorative necklace. 2. A man wearing glasses and a blue plaid shirt smiles at the camera. 3. A woman with long, dark, wavy hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a pink V-neck shirt with a repeating pattern. Image text: UC Davis Faculty Honored as Excellence in Nutrition Fellows by American Society for Nutrition Lauren Au, Associate Professor, Gerardo Mackenzie, Department Chair and Professor, Reina Engle-Stone Associate Professor

05/20/2026

New blog alert 💫
How does nutrition shape women’s health from puberty to menopause?

Dr. Amy Nichols explores how key life stages influence long-term health—and why women’s health research needs a stronger lifecourse lens.

Read the full article here: https://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/news/advancing-womens-health-across-lifecourse

Image description: A pregnant person in a yellow cardigan slices a hard-boiled egg on a cutting board next to a bowl of salad. Image text: Women’s Health Across the Lifecourse: How nutrition shapes lifelong health.

05/19/2026

UC Davis Nutrition Graduate Student Spotlight

Meet Shannon Trinh, a UC Davis Nutritional Biology Ph.D. student whose journey connects physiology, nutrition science, and a passion for education and research.

💡 What inspired her path into nutrition?
Her interest began during an undergraduate seminar that highlighted how underprioritized prevention, such as nutrition, can be in healthcare. Another course on science in the media led her to explore nutrition misinformation, which sparked a deeper interest in how nutrition science is communicated and understood.

📚 Favorite UC Davis courses:
• NPB 114 — GI Physiology (Dr. Bautista)
• FST 230 — Food and Gut Microbiota (Dr. Mills)

🔬 Current research:
The effects of grapes on the gut microbiome and vascular health.

🤝 Involvement:
Graduate student leader in GGNB GradSAC (Treasurer and Assorted Development, Mentorship, and Exploration (ADME) peer mentoring Program Coordinator).

🌱 Most rewarding part of nutrition:
Using her background in physiology to better understand and explain emerging findings in nutrition research.

🎯 Career goal:
To pursue a career in academia as a professor to teach and mentor future dietetics and nutrition students.

We are proud of students like Shannon whose experience reflects the UC Davis Nutrition vision of transforming lives through nutrition discovery and education.

Interested in our graduate degrees? Learn more about the GGNB at: https://ggnb.ucdavis.edu/

Image description: A person with dark hair, wearing a black sleeveless turtleneck and a silver necklace, with arms crossed and smiling. Image text: Shannon Trinh, Ph.D. student. A UC Davis Nutritional Biology Ph.D. student whose journey connects physiology, nutrition science, and a passion for education and research.

05/14/2026

Proud to spotlight undergraduate research in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition

At this year’s Annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference, fifteen students showcased projects ranging from food fortification and vitamin deficiency to precision nutrition and disease prevention. Their work reflects the power of mentorship and hands-on research experiences in shaping future leaders in nutrition science.

Read more in our latest blog + explore the abstracts here: https://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/news/celebrating-undergraduate-research-nutrition-uc-davis

UC Davis Undergraduate Research Center - URC

Image descriptions: A close-up of a digitally created person with colorful splashes on a blue background /A person stands next to a poster presentation/ A person stands in front of a research poster /Two people stand in front of a blue and yellow banner that reads "UC Davis Undergraduate Research Center." The person on the left holds a certificate /A person holds a certificate & stands in front of a research poster/ Two people stand with awards & bouquets in front of an Undergraduate Research Center Banner /A person holds a certificate & stands in front of a research poster /A person smiles & holds a certificate in front of a research poster Image text: Swipe to see featured work from undergraduate researchers /Evaluation of dietary switch interventions in obesity-induced hepatic steatosis in mice Ananya Narke, Nutrition Science /Pharmacological Inhibition of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases as a Potential Novel Therapeutic Intervention for Diabetic Kidney Disease Ayaka Sonehara, Nutrition Science /Evaluating Factors Associated with Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ghanaian Children Aged 2-5 Years Carol Georgies, Clinical Nutrition /Evaluating Lactoferrin Supplementation on Intestinal Development in Early Life Using a Lactoferrin Knock-out Mouse Model Esther Louie, Nutrition Science /Validating an Innovative AI Dietary App at UC Davis: Lessons and Future Directions Nicole Omori, Clinical Nutrition, & Maggie Peña, Molecular and Medical Microbiology /Evaluating Sodium Levels in Chips and Prepackaged Sandwiches at Two UC Davis Campus Markets Qilin Guan, Clinical Nutrition /An in Vitro Model to Evaluate the Capacity of Phthalates to Promote an Acute Phase Response Shayla Nguyen, Biochemistry, Minor in Environmental Toxicology

05/13/2026

The preconception and prenatal periods are critical windows for infant development and long-term health outcomes. Yet, it’s estimated that nearly half of pregnancies are unplanned. New research highlights an important knowledge gap on nutrition leading up to and throughout pregnancy.

A recent study conducted by Drs. Debbie Fetter and Jennifer Smilowitz, along with UC Davis alumni, Keila Estrada, and UC Davis student, Candice Chan, found that most college students lack knowledge about most pregnancy-related nutrition recommendations. While most knew the recommendations to avoid alcohol, many didn’t know how various nutrient needs change during pregnancy.

This research reinforces the Department of Nutrition’s mission to address complex nutrition challenges beyond the laboratory and into the community, helping educators, policymakers, and community leaders identify knowledge gaps and design more effective educational programs.

Find the full article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07448481.2026.2645896

Image description: Slide 1: A pregnant person sits cross-legged with their eyes closed and hands resting on their belly. Slide 2: A pregnant person smiles and holds their belly, wearing a mint green long-sleeved shirt.

Image text: Slide 1: Did you know that nearly half of pregnancies are unplanned? Nutrition during pregnancy influences maternal health and infant development, yet many don’t know how dietary recommendations change during pregnancy.
Slide 2: “Most programs and public health campaigns focus on recommendations for people who are planning on becoming pregnant or who are already pregnant. However, most pregnancies are not planned. Targeting non-pregnant populations with educational materials about how dietary recommendations change during pregnancy could help improve health outcomes.” -Dr. Debbie Fetter, Associate Professor of Teaching

05/11/2026

Meet Shawna Wyatt, a UC Davis Nutrition graduate student whose journey blends culinary arts, clinical nutrition, and research-driven practice.

Her path into nutrition began in an unexpected place: the restaurant kitchen. She loved the energy of the kitchen and watching people eat the food she prepared, but the industry often lacked a culture that supported feeding oneself. This realization made nutrition and health a priority for her.

At UC Davis, she has found strong mentorship and intellectual growth through courses and research opportunities. She is currently collaborating on a pilot study exploring the impact of a well-balanced diet on psoriasis outcomes, which is a chronic, auto-immune condition that affects more than 8 million Americans.

Her long-term goal is to become a Registered Dietitian and integrate her culinary background into clinical practice with a focus on medically tailored meals to support diabetes care, bariatric nutrition, and weight management. She is especially passionate about helping individuals build sustainable eating patterns that fit into everyday life.

At UC Davis, she has found the space to connect her identity as a chef with her evolving role as a clinician and researcher, thus transforming a passion for food into a career dedicated to improving health outcomes.

Learn more about the Graduate Group in Nutrition Biology here: https://ggnb.ucdavis.edu/

Image description: A smiling person with glasses and dark hair wearing a sleeveless mauve top with arms crossed, against a white background.
Image text:
Slide 1: Student Spotlight Shawna Wyatt
Slide 2: After graduating from The Culinary Institute of America, she worked in Napa Valley restaurants. She loved food and cooking, but noticed an overemphasis on culinary culture and a lack of focus on nutrition and self-care within the industry.
Slide 3: She is currently collaborating on a pilot study exploring the impact of a well-balanced diet on psoriasis outcomes using the Total Body PET/CT Explorer.
Slide 4: At UC Davis, she’s connecting food, science, and care turning a passion for cooking into a career improving health outcomes.

05/04/2026

School gardens do more than grow plants, they grow nutrition knowledge 🌱

A new study piloted a tool to better measure how farm-to-school programs shape students’:
🥕 food preferences
🥬 attitudes toward fruits & veggies
🍎 eating behaviors
🌿 hands-on gardening skills

Why it matters: strong and consistent evaluation enables us to understand the program impact.

Better evaluation = better programs = better nutrition outcomes for kids.

Learn more about how schools can measure and improve garden-based nutrition education: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2882/4/2/14

Image description: Three children filling a wooden crate with fresh vegetables in a garden setting. Image text: School gardens do more than grow plants, they grow nutrition knowledge

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