Q: What are you currently doing❓

👧: I am currently a Ph.D. candidate studying Behavioral Nutrition at Columbia University.

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Q: Where were you before the Ph.D. program❓

👧: I completed the dietetic internship at Cornell University and became a registered dietitian. I got my Master of Education in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard Graduate School of Education. I hold a dual degree in Clinical Nutrition and Psychology (B.S.) at the University of California, Davis.

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Q: Why do you study nutrition❓

👧: Growing up in Suzhou, China, where food and wellness are highly praised as part of the culture and identity, I became very interested in nutrition and its role in our health. Yet, being surrounded by mass social media messaging on the ultimate "beauty standards," my family members and friends became victims of misinformation about body image and fad diets. Strict food rituals at home have significantly impacted my relationship with food. I believe we are what we consume, whether it is food or information.

Being in the dietetic field is a career that can genuinely help people live happier and healthier lives. I seek to live a meaningful life and found that the value would be in the lives I have touched and the difference I have made in other people's lives. I am committed to building a more inclusive, equitable, sustainable world where children can grow up healthily with the needed mental and nutrition support and women can feel empowered to navigate the societal impact on weight, food, and self-image by translating nutrition science and psychology into practice, conducting research, developing innovative products, or providing services.

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Q: What are your research experiences❓

👧: I have worked in several research labs focusing on the intersection of nutrition, developmental psychology, and education starting in my undergraduate years. Projects span from cross-cultural research in infant cognitive and motor development, nutrition, gut microbiome, a meta-analysis on nutrition interventions in low and middle-income countries, clinical trials on non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, and eating disorders in adolescents, to a qualitative study on teachers' attitudes in school nutrition. Currently, I am working with Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center on the quality of life in patients with Celiac Disease.

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Q: Enough about research, what have you done outside of research❓

👧: I had experience in nutrition counseling, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and food service management. Currently, I help startups in the nutrition and health sectors grow with my nutrition expertise. Out of interest, I am also an influencer disseminating nutrition and education content to K-12 students with 100k followers in China starting in 2020. You can find my posts on TikTok (China) or Xiaohongshu.

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Q: What have you learned over the years❓

👧: Be respectful, non-judgmental, open, and authentic to myself.

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Q: What do you believe in❓

👧: I fully embrace the ups and downs in every life moment.

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Q: How do others view you❓

👧: Kindly refer to the word cloud below. 😊