Sarah Waleryszak | Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hometown: Newmarket, New Hampshire
Major: Nutritional Sciences What made you choose your major? I chose to study Nutritional Sciences while at UNH because it combines my passion for the health field with a focus in nutrition. With this major, it has allowed me to expand my knowledge of these topics, while understanding the deeper connections between nutrition and a wide variety of diseases, such as Chronic Kidney Disease. Through my experience in the program thusfar, I have grown to love the hands-on, clinical aspects of the health field; therefore, inspiring me to continue my education after undergrad to become a Physician Assistant. Why did you want to get involved with research? I never truly understood the impact that nutrition had in the prevention and treatment of disease until I saw the treatment methods my loved-ones were given once diagnosed with life-altering diseases. These experiences caused me to become interested in the nutrition research side of the health field, as it is not only critical to understand the connections between food and disease, but also the socioeconomic factors that can prevent individuals from obtaining proper nutritents. |
Laura Elise Lynch | Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hometown: Franklin, Massachusetts
Major: Dietetics What made you choose your major? I chose dietetics because of the numerous opportunities available for both in the patient care setting and with research. As a hands-on learner with a passion for the chemical and biological sciences, dietetics combines all my favorite topics into one specialty. With the field of nutrition is constantly growing and the Academy encouraging to continue professional education, I will have opportunities to continuously learn new an innovative practices and information throughout my future endeavors. Why did you want to get involved with research? I was diagnosed with Celiac disease at the age of 9, so from my early childhood on I have focused on maintaining safe, nutritious foods to stay healthy. Conducting nutrition research is crucial to determine the epidemiology and pathophysiology of diseases, such as Celiac disease and Diabetes Mellitus, as well as to identify socioeconomic factors contributing to food insecurity and subsequent adverse health complications. |
Brittney Nalesnick | Honors Undergraduate Student
Hometown: Salisbury, Massachusetts
Major: Biomedical Science: Medical & Veterinary Sciences; Minor: Psychology What made you choose your major? I chose my major because I am on a pre-health track and have always been interested in medicine. I love learning about how the human body works and what factors can impact our health. Why did you want to get involved with research? I wanted to get involved with research because my Sigma Alpha sisters doing research at UNH loved it and motivated me to try it. I also think that it is amazing to come up with your own scientific question that will contribute to the community and help individuals in the future. As the research I have been involved with has been focused on analyzing the health of UNH students, I believe that this research will benefit my future career goals in the healthcare field since I have developed transferable hands-on skills. What is the focus of your thesis? My thesis focuses on the prevalence of e-cigarettes at UNH and how its use effects various components of college-aged students health, such as metabolism and other biometric measurements. |