Understanding seed oils as part of a healthy diet
Researcher and associate professor Kristina Petersen discusses common misconceptions about seed oils and how they are beneficial to a healthy diet in this Q&A.
June Student Spotlight
Nasser Alnowaif is June's student spotlight! He is a senior who is currently an HHD Ambassador, president of the Penn State Book Club, and a member of a few department-related student organizations. He is also working in the Cardiometabolic Health and Diet Lab to gain experience for his future career.
Graduate student presents at international conference
Doctoral candidate Daisuke Hayashi recently presented his study that investigated the discussion of food noise and links with GLP-1s in TikTok videos at the 2025 European Congress on Obesity.
Earn two degrees in five years
The Master of Public Health program prepares students for impactful careers in public health. This integrated undergraduate-graduate program allows undergraduate students to earn both a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in five years of full-time study.
Start your undergraduate journey
Start your undergraduate journey
Explore this undergraduate degree for students interested in how the human body transforms food into usable energy that fuels our daily lives.
Learn more
Learn about graduate training
Learn about graduate training
Discover how research and graduate training provides students with the knowledge needed to contribute to the field of nutritional sciences.
Learn more
Explore research areas
Explore research areas
Understand the variety of research areas and current projects that push the boundaries of knowledge in the field.
Learn more
The Diet Assessment Center
The Diet Assessment Center
Explore how the department collects and analyzes dietary data to help researchers understand what, how, and when people are eating.
Learn more
Sarah Gebauer, a 2008 Ph.D. graduate, is now a nutrition scientist at the FDA, where she uses her translational research background to develop evidence-based nutrition policies aimed at improving public health, a path shaped by strong mentorship, research opportunities, and networking during her time at Penn State.
