Research
Faculty and staff in Dietetics and Human Nutrition encourage students to become involved in undergraduate research and appreciate the support of undergraduate students in many of their research projects.
Undergraduate students have research opportunities to prepare them for graduate and professional schools. They learn about the full process of research through a class project where they select their own research topic, develop a grant and appropriate study tools, complete the research and data analysis, and prepare a 15-page journal article and professional poster. Additionally, students have opportunities to gain research experience by working with faculty members in state-of-the-art food and nutrition assessment labs and in the community. In some cases, students may earn research course credit (1-3 credit hours) for DHN 591: Special Topics in Dietetics and Human Nutrition.
We have received funding awards from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension; Livestock Conservancy; and Centers for Disease Control. We have gained notoriety with programs such as Food Accessibility; Plate It Up Kentucky Proud; Children, Youth and Families at Risk; Home-based Microprocessors; Superfund Community Engagement Core; and Nutrition Outreach and Behavioral Internet Weight Loss.
Research Opportunities
Explore the opportunities to work with faculty researchers in Dietetics and Human Nutrition.
Explore OpportunitiesFaculty Publications
Explore DHN research collections, including faculty publications, theses and dissertations.
Read PublicationsShowcase of Scholars
See the undergraduate research experience our Human Nutrition students complete.
See the Showcase
DHN Student Research Travel Award
The DHN Student Research Travel Award is available to UK DHN students presenting their DHN and nutrition-related work at an academic professional conference. Awards are limited. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from July 1st through March 1st, and applications received first will be given preference.
Students may apply for a DHN Student Travel Award up to $500. Awards in excess of $500 may be considered for international conferences. Awards may cover costs including travel, lodging, registration and any other appropriate costs associated with travel to a professional conference.
- Travel-related expenses must be in accordance with the University of Kentucky's current travel guidelines.
- Students must complete a budget request.
- Students will be reimbursed for actual allowable expenses, up to the amount awarded.
- Students receiving a travel award will be contacted by the DHN business office regarding required documentation and deadlines for submitting receipts for reimbursement.
- With submission of the application, be prepared to upload:
- the completed budget request,
- proof of conference acceptance, and
- a screenshot of an acceptance email, preliminary program including your presentation/poster, or other proof of an accepted oral or poster presentation.
See What's Wildly Possible
Discover how our students are making the world a better place through their Dietetics and Human Nutrition research.
Community Engagement Core Student Researcher
“Through my human nutrition classes, I have been able to learn about the importance of a good diet, and by working with the Community Engagement Core, I have learned more about the effects of nutrition on the body,” Lucinda Smith said. “I have also had the opportunity to shadow a family doctor who specializes in chronic care to see how diet has contributed to her patients’ chronic diseases.”
Sustainability Summer Research Fellow
“I never thought that I would do research, but this is so exciting, and I love it,” Kaela Jackson said. “It’s getting out there and seeing things for what they are, like the collaboration of community during times of crisis. I’ve seen how much this pandemic has brought people together to achieve the same goals."
ACTION Program Student Researcher
“My research requires a lot of advanced molecular biology,” Susanna Goggans said. “Already having the biochemical background from my human nutrition classes helped me to better understand how the fatty acid pathway was working.”
Connect With Us
Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition
204 Funkhouser Building
Lexington, KY 40506
859-257-3800
dhn@uky.edu
