The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences is home to two robust research labs that partner with undergraduate and graduate students to offer firsthand research experience. Located in the Interprofessional Community Clinic, the labs allow the students to deepen their understanding of the nutritional health field of study.

The Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health/Obesity (NACHO) Lab is led by Dr. Bryant Keirns, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics and graduate program director of nutrition and dietetics. The Behavior and Cardiometabolic Health (BEACH) Lab is led by Dr. Natalie Keirns, assistant professor of public health.

The labs specialize in researching metabolic diseases and cardiometabolic diseases. While each lab has its own focus, the teams work together to collect and analyze the data and understand their findings, offering the students an opportunity to work collaboratively between the two labs.

“I never would have expected myself to be doing something like this, but it’s really expanded what I already knew about nutrition,” said Brooklyn Cline, a graduate student working with the labs. “I’ve been able to work with the NACHO Lab that focuses more on the metabolic side of things and in the BEACH Lab focuses on the psychological side.”

The students get hands-on experience, from working with volunteer patients and conducting work in the wet-lab to helping analyze data and training new students joining the team. Students also bring fresh perspectives to the research, helping to streamline the process and find aspects of research that need to be explored.

“This is an environment where you can ask so many questions,” Jenna Schiffer, a graduate student working with the labs, said, “And I love asking questions and being able to try to find answers.”