Penn State Nutritional Sciences

05/29/2026

Undergraduate student Cara Morrison’s research experience is helping prepare her for a future as a physician assistant.

By strengthening her ability to think critically and evaluate scientific evidence, she’s building skills that directly translate into patient-centered care.

Opportunities like these position our nutritional sciences students for success in healthcare and beyond.

05/27/2026

What if blood sugar levels below the gestational diabetes threshold still matter?

A new study from Alison Gernand and Amrita Arcot found that elevated glucose during pregnancy, even without a gestational diabetes diagnosis, may be linked to poorer birth outcomes.

Find out what this could mean for maternal and infant health: https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/elevated-blood-sugar-levels-during-pregnancy-may-result-poorer

05/21/2026

The newly released dietary recommendations from the American Heart Association do not feature many changes because the research evidence about what is heart-healthy has been clear and consistent, according to researcher Kristina Petersen.

Learn more in this recent Q&A with Petersen:

Diet is the most effective way to reduce the risk of heart disease, according to Kristina Petersen, associate professor of nutritional sciences, who contributed to the new dietary recommendations from the American Heart Association.

05/20/2026

Feon Cheng, a doctoral alumna of Penn State Nutritional Sciences, is helping advance nutrition science through her work in epidemiology at the Avocado Nutrition Center.

She analyzes large datasets to better understand how diet influences health, helping translate research into practical insights for healthcare professionals and researchers.

Read more about Cheng’s work at the link in the comments ⬇️

05/13/2026

Many pregnant women are aware of the risks of gestational diabetes, but high blood sugar may affect a pregnancy, even if the mother does not have gestational diabetes.

See the specifics of what our researchers Alison Gernand and Amrita Arcot discovered in their recent study.

Higher blood sugar levels may lead to negative outcomes for a baby, even when the mother is not diagnosed with gestational diabetes, according to a new study from Penn State researchers.

05/12/2026

Undergraduate research builds more than knowledge, it also builds essential skills.

Through her lab experience, junior Cara Morrison has developed strengths in collaboration, problem-solving, and scientific inquiry while working alongside peers and mentor Travis Masterson.

Experiences like this underscore the impact of mentorship and hands-on learning in student success.

05/11/2026

Join us in congratulating Rita Castro on receiving the University's Opportunity Grant Award for 2026–27!

The grant will support her project, “Sustaining Preclinical Research and Undergraduate Mentorship through Strategic Time Release and Laboratory Support.”

We are excited to see the impact of Castro’s work on both research and student success. https://bit.ly/42lQixB

05/08/2026

As graduation approaches, our seniors are reflecting on what mattered most during their time as nutritional sciences students 🎓

Ana, Faith, and Nicole share their advice for students: put yourself out there, advocate for yourself with confidence, and build meaningful relationships with faculty.

Join us in congratulating all of our graduating seniors!

05/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Annual Alumni Reception! It was wonderful to celebrate together and recognize our outstanding award recipients:

Gillian Hotaling — John E. Smith Outstanding Senior in Nutrition Award
Kyle Hallisky — Future Leader in Nutrition Award
Liz Ruder — Outstanding Nutrition Alumni Award

We appreciate your continued support of our community 💙

05/06/2026

We are proud to feature Cara Morrison as our May Student Spotlight.

A junior in nutritional sciences and Schreyer Honors Scholar, Cara is conducting undergraduate research in Travis Masterson's Health, Ingestive Behavior, and Technology (HIT) Lab, exploring the intersection of nutrition, social media, and behavior.

Her work highlights how our students are engaging with timely, real-world topics and contributing to meaningful conversations in health and science.