Training the next generation of nutrition researchers

    Nutrition and Metabolism PhD Program

    Nutrition researchers are a critical part of our society as they examine the complex interplay between nutrients, health, and disease spanning from the individual to large populations. The researchers within the Nutrition and Metabolism (N&M) Graduate Program are at the forefront of research and making important contributions to the scientific community and the everyday person.

    Research

    58 faculty trainers across 19 departments provide extensive interdisciplinary training opportunities in molecular, human and animal nutrition research.

    Program Requirements

    Our flexible curriculum provides core nutrition and metabolism coursework, with ample opportunities for elective coursework and minors.

    Student Life

    Gain a world-class education in a world-class city. Madison is a vibrant and inclusive community, and is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. for quality of life.

    News & Events

    • MANTP alum Lauren Lucas awarded F32 fellowship

      Metabolism and Nutrition Training Program (MANTP) postdoctoral trainee Lauren Lucas was awarded an F32 fellowship from the National Health Institute for her project, “Impact of environmental factors on bacterial bile acid transforming activity” Congratulations, Lauren! “I am very grateful to MANTP for helping me secure an F32! The mock study sections provided invaluable feedback that helped…

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    • N&M students present at 2025 Diabetes Research Day

      Congrats to N&M PhD student Hoang Bui who presented at this year’s Diabetes Research Day, along with Fan Xiao and Nicolas Pintozzi who presented posters! Hoang’s talk was entitled, “White and Brown Adipose Tissue Share a Common Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitor Population.” Fan presented her poster, “Sex- and Strain-Specific Roles of FGF21 in Modulating Metabolic Responses to…

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    • Kevin Shih awarded AOAC INTERNATIONAL/Herbalife Scholarship

      N&M grad student Kevin Shih was awarded a 2025 AOAC INTERNATIONAL/Herbalife Scholarship to attend the AOAC Annual Meeting in San Diego! This competitive worldwide scholarship is awarded to two students per year and supports researchers advancing analytical or molecular testing with emphasis in botanicals, macro- or micro-nutrients, or contaminants. At the AOAC Annual Meeting, Kevin…

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    • Juyeong Cho awarded Korean Honor Scholarship

      N&M PhD student Juyeong Cho was awarded the highly competitive Korean Honor Scholarship! This is Juyeong’s second recognition this summer after winning the Graduate Women in Science’s 2025-26 Ruth Dickie Research Scholarship. Congrats, Juyeong! “I’m honored to win this award because it recognizes my journey as a Korean researcher abroad and the support of my…

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    Recent Publications

    Hermanson JB, Tolba SA, Gazi MA, Chrisler EA, Kaur M, Sidebottom AM, Liu Y, Martinez-Boggio G, Lucas LN, Amador-Noguez D, Rey FE, Leone VA. Gut microbes mediate the synergistic effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat in driving fibrosing MASH. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jul 21:2025.07.16.665145. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.16.665145. PMID: 40777228; PMCID: PMC12330582.

    Elliehausen CJ, Olszewski SS, Minton DM, Shult CG, Ailiani AR, Trautman ME, Babygirija R, Lamming DW, Hornberger TA, Konopka AR. Rapamycin Does Not Compromise Exercise-Induced Muscular Adaptations in Female Mice. Aging Cell. 2025 Jul 24:e70183. doi: 10.1111/acel.70183. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40704394.

    Bui H, Hansen JK, Lo Sardo V, Galmozzi A. White and Brown Adipose Tissue Share a Common Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitor Population. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 May 30:2025.05.28.656577. doi: 10.1101/2025.05.28.656577. PMID: 40501707; PMCID: PMC12154837.

    Lee SM, Cichanski SR, Pintozzi NG, Kaufmann M, Jones G, Meyer MB. Kidney deletions of Cyp27b1 fail to reduce serum 1,25(OH)2D3. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2025 Jun;250:106734. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2025.106734. Epub 2025 Mar 15. PMID: 40096920.

    Willis NB, Mims T, Antunes K, Peng H, Yen CE, Pierre JF. Intermittent Parenteral Nutrition Reduces Peroxisomal Lipid Oxidation Pathway Transcripts Compared to Continuous Isocaloric Infusion. Physiology. 2025;40(S1):1225. doi:10.1152/physiol.2025.40.S1.1225

    McGregor ER, Lasky DJ, Rippentrop OJ, Clark JP, Wright S, Jones MV, Anderson RM. Reversal of neuronal tau pathology via adiponectin receptor activation. Commun Biol. 2025 Jan 4;8(1):8. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-07391-z. PMID: 39755746; PMCID: PMC11700159.

    Antunes K, Leathem C, Mims T, Willis N, Pierre J. (2024). Colostrum Supplementation to Rescue Antibiotic-Induced Dysbiosis and Reduce Long-Term Obesity Risk. Physiology, 39(Suppl 1), Abstract 2180.

    Hermanson JB, Tolba SA, Chrisler EA, Leone VAGut microbes, diet, and genetics as drivers of metabolic liver disease: a narrative review outlining implications for precision medicine. J Nutr Biochem. 2024 Nov;133:109704. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109704. Epub 2024 Jul 17. PMID: 39029595; PMCID: PMC11480923.

    Phiri CB, Davis CR, Grahn M, Gannon BM, Kokinos BPCrenshaw TDTanumihardjo SAVitamin D Maintains Growth and Bone Mineral Density against a Background of Severe Vitamin A Deficiency and Moderate Toxicity in a Swine Model. Nutrients. 2024 Jun 27;16(13):2037. doi: 10.3390/nu16132037. PMID: 38999785; PMCID: PMC11243655.