Alumni Spotlight - Sarah Gebauer

Sarah Gebauer graduated from the Nutritional Sciences department with a doctoral degree in May 2008. She currently lives in the Maryland suburbs outside of Washington, D.C., and is a nutrition scientist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Why did you pursue a degree from Penn State Nutritional Sciences?

During the first year of the Integrative Biosciences (IBIOS) program, students choose multiple lab rotations for three or four months each. My passion has always been in translational research, integrating molecular biology with applied human research. 

When I was researching potential labs for my rotations, it was challenging to find a lab that was the right fit with my interests under the IBIOS Molecular Medicine faculty. Many of the labs focused on the molecular side but did not incorporate the applied side. I eventually came across the work of Penny Kris-Etherton in the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences, which focused on conducting human nutrition intervention studies, but also on understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms that explain responses to different diets. 

After meeting with Dr. Kris-Etherton and realizing it was a great fit, she joined the IBIOS Molecular Medicine faculty and I joined her lab. I conducted my doctoral research in the Nutritional Sciences department using a translational nutrition approach – spanning the spectrum from bench to fork – which I have used throughout my career.

What is your current position and what impact(s) are you seeking to make? 

In my current position, I am at the intersection of nutrition science evaluation and translation of nutrition science to policy and regulations. I evaluate scientific literature and translate the evidence to policy and regulations related to nutrition labeling and label claims (e.g., the Nutrition Facts label, health claims, and nutrient content claims). I aim to develop evidence-based nutrition policies and regulations to beneficially impact public health, such as reducing the risk of chronic disease. For example, through accurate and evidence-based nutrition labeling of foods, consumers can more easily choose foods that can be the building blocks of a healthy dietary pattern.

Prior to my position at the FDA, I worked at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. I started as a post-doctoral research fellow and then worked as the clinical studies coordinator, conducting highly controlled dietary intervention studies that evaluated the effect of diet and dietary components on the risk factors of chronic disease. After switching over to the nutrition policy side of the things at FDA, it quickly became apparent how essential it is to have strong nutrition research to inform the development of evidence-based nutrition policies and regulations.

How did your degree from Penn State help you to get to your current position? 

The training and opportunities I received while pursuing my degrees from Penn State – I also received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Penn State – provided me with a strong scientific background that has been crucial in the positions that I’ve held since graduating.

My post-doctoral fellow position at the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center was a direct result of networking and connections that I built during my time in the Nutritional Sciences department. Also, the strong reputation of the Penn State Nutritional Sciences program, and of Dr. Kris-Etherton’s work, has continued to play a role throughout my career, including in my current position.

What would you describe as the biggest opportunity and the biggest challenge in the field? 

Six out of ten adults in the U.S. have at least one diet-related chronic disease and four out of ten have two or more chronic diseases. Lifestyle factors, such as diet, can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and have a beneficial impact on health and well-being. This provides a big opportunity to use evidence-based nutrition policies and regulations, such as those related to nutrition labeling of foods, to help improve public health and decrease the burden of chronic disease in the U.S. 

A big challenge right now is the amount of misinformation that consumers face and the distrust of scientists and government entities. Consumers are overloaded with information, some of which is not backed by scientific evidence, leading to confusion when trying to decide what foods to eat. This also presents a big opportunity – the need for both strong nutrition science and effective communication and translation of that science.  

What advice do you have for other graduates just starting out? 

Network, network, network. We often hear the recommendation to network, but it can be confusing or overwhelming to know how to effectively network. The Penn State connection is very strong in the nutrition field. Spending time developing your relationships and networks now while you are at Penn State, including with the people in your program or just starting out, is a great first step. 

Attending Penn State alumni events at Penn State and professional meetings is a great way to continue to build your network within the Penn State family. You can then leverage those connections to expand your network based on their connections. Staying in touch via social media (e.g., LinkedIn) can also be a great way to stay connected as you are starting out and while you are trying to grow your network.