Student Association
NSPS Mission
The nutritional sciences and pharmacology students association (NSPS) aims to foster professional development for students, uncover opportunities for service to strengthen our community, promote friendships and facilitate resolution for student concerns and issues in academia.
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NSPS Officers
Please select the year of interest in the panels below.
2024 – 2025 Officers
- Sophiya Sims (President)
Sophiya is a third-year pharmacology student in the Thibault lab. Her thesis project is focused on investigating the bioenergetics of neurons and astrocytes in a mouse model of amyloidosis. She is originally from Florida, and in her free time loves drawing and playing with her black labs, Butters and Kiki. - Kimberly Bretland (Vice President)
- Jimmy Xue (Treasurer)
- Brittney Williams (Secretary)
Brittney is a third year PhD student studying under Dr. Patrick Hannon. She was raised in California before attending Washington State University for her undergraduate degree in animal sciences. Her current research involves studying the effects of environmental toxicants on the female reproductive system. - Noah Leibold (JPNS Managing Editor)
Noah Leibold is a graduate student in the Pharmacology PhD program in the lab of Dr. Florin Despa. His research is focused on delineating the role of amyloidogenic amylin and APOE in neurological and cerebrovascular disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy using humanized rodent models and translating these findings to human clinical samples. His work in the lab also includes assay and diagnostic design. Outside of benchwork, Noah is an avid runner and also enjoys photography, hiking, and spending time with his wife.
2023 – 2024 Officers
- Nermin Ahmed (President)
- Noah Leibold (Vice President)
- Jimmy Xue (Treasurer)
- Kimberly Bretland (Secretary)
- Sophiya Sims (JPNS Managing Editor)
2021 – 2022 Officers
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Aaron Chacon, President
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Kellea Nichols, Vice President
Kellea Nichols is a Nutritional Sciences PhD candidate in Dr. Frederique Yiannikouris’s Lab. Her research is focused on how the soluble prorenin receptor (a component of the renin angiotensin system) plays a role in adipogenesis and blood pressure regulation in a sex-dependent manner. Outside of the lab, Kellea is the Secretary of the Kentucky Advocates for Science Policy and Research. During her free time, Kellea enjoys hiking, yoga, spontaneous traveling, and all movies. -
Lucille Yanckello, Treasurer
Lucy Yanckello is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. Ai-ling Lin. Lucy’s research focuses on ways to prevent aging and age related diseases through dietary modulation of the gut microbiome. In addition to being an officer in NSPS, she is a T32 fellow on the NIDDK training grant. Outside of research, Lucy enjoys going to Orange Theory and binge watching reality TV shows. -
Jackie Leachman, Secretary
Jacqueline Leachman is a 4th year PhD Candidate in Nutritional Sciences from Louisville, KY. She received her Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2017. Shortly after, she began working in her current advisor's lab, Dr. Analia Loria, where she is working to elucidate the mechanisms linking Adverse Childhood Experiences with obesity in women. Her work so far has resulted in her being a 2021 American Physiological Society-Endocrinology & Metabolism Section Predoctoral Research Recognition Award Recipient. Outside of the lab Jacqueline serves as a member of Women in Medicine and Science, Trainee Subcommittee, and board member for Science Sista's, NFP as well as NSPS. On her days off, Jacqueline enjoys being outside in nature and playing with her 2 cats!
2020 – 2021 Officers
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Eleanor Johnson, President
Ellie Johnson is a Pharmacology PhD candidate in Dr. Eric Blalock’s lab. Her research focuses on how RNA degradation impacts gene expression in transcriptional profiling and how progesterone impacts the stress response in rats. Outside of the lab, Ellie is the External Affairs Officer for the Graduate Student Congress, Special Assistant to the Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students, and President of Kentucky Advocates for Science Policy and Research. When she is not on campus, she enjoys practicing martial arts, walking, and listening to podcast and audiobooks. -
Courtney Turpin, Vice-President
Courtney Turpin is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. Brett Spear. Courtney’s research focus is the role of Zinc Fingers and Homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) in obesity-derived fatty liver disease. In addition to being an officer in NSPS, she has also served as a member of the BGSO (Biomedical Graduate Student Organization) Community Outreach committee. Outside of research, Courtney enjoys running, reading, and spoiling her dog. -
Adam Ghoweri, Secretary
Adam Ghoweri is a Pharmacology PhD student in the lab of Dr. Olivier Thibault. His research pertains to the role of calcium dysregulation as a precipitating factor in Alzheimer's disease progression. Using sharp electrode electrophysiology and calcium imaging, he studies neuronal physiology in the hippocampus of aging transgenic mice. He is a trainee on the Sanders Brown TRIAD T32 Training Grant and an active member of multiple organizations on campus such as NSPS, TRAC, a near peer mentor for STEPS, and BGSfN. When Adam isn't in the laboratory, he enjoys fitness, music, photography, and going on spontaneous adventures. - Lucy Yanckello, Treasurer
Lucy Yanckello is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. Ai-ling Lin. Lucy’s research focuses on ways to prevent aging and age related diseases through dietary modulation of the gut microbiome. In addition to being an officer in NSPS, she is a T32 fellow on the NIDDK training grant. Outside of research, Lucy enjoys going to Orange Theory and binge watching reality TV shows
2019 – 2020 Officers
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Courtney Turpin, President
Courtney Turpin is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. Brett Spear. Courtney’s research focus is the role of Zinc Fingers and Homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) in obesity-derived fatty liver disease. In addition to being an officer in NSPS, she has also served as a member of the BGSO (Biomedical Graduate Student Organization) Community Outreach committee. Outside of research, Courtney enjoys running, reading, and spoiling her dog. -
Eleanor Johnson, Vice-President
Ellie Johnson is a Pharmacology PhD candidate in Dr. Eric Blalock’s lab. Her research focuses on how RNA degradation impacts gene expression in transcriptional profiling and how progesterone impacts the stress response in rats. Outside of the lab, Ellie is the External Affairs Officer for the Graduate Student Congress, Special Assistant to the Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students, and President of Kentucky Advocates for Science Policy and Research. When she is not on campus, she enjoys practicing martial arts, walking, and listening to podcast and audiobooks. -
Adam Ghoweri, Secretary
Adam Ghoweri is a Pharmacology PhD student in the lab of Dr. Olivier Thibault. His research pertains to the role of calcium dysregulation as a precipitating factor in Alzheimer's disease progression. Using sharp electrode electrophysiology and calcium imaging, he studies neuronal physiology in the hippocampus of aging transgenic mice. He is a trainee on the Sanders Brown TRIAD T32 Training Grant and an active member of multiple organizations on campus such as NSPS, TRAC, a near peer mentor for STEPS, and BGSfN. When Adam isn't in the laboratory, he enjoys fitness, music, photography, and going on spontaneous adventures. -
Lucy Yanckello, Treasurer
Lucy Yanckello is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. Ai-ling Lin. Lucy’s research focuses on ways to prevent aging and age related diseases through dietary modulation of the gut microbiome. In addition to being an officer in NSPS, she is a T32 fellow on the NIDDK training grant. Outside of research, Lucy enjoys going to Orange Theory and binge watching reality TV shows.
2018 – 2019 Officers
- Kai Zhang, President
Research Interests: Kai Zhang is a third year graduate student attending the Pharmacology PhD program in the college of medicine. Kai is working on EtOH neurotoxicity and trying to develop anti-inflammatory strategies in the prevention or the treatment for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the laboratory of Dr. Jai Luo. Kai is also a graduate student senator at-large in UK Student Government Association (SGA) and a board member at Graduate Student Congress (GSC). Other interests: snowboarding, skateboarding, hiking and fitness. - Shayan Mohammadmoradi, Vice-President
Research Interests: Shayan is a PhD student in Dr. Alan Daugherty's laboratory at the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center. His current research focus is the role of cell-specific toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) in aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis. Shayan is also one of the American Heart Association | American Stroke Association Early Career Spokesperson. Outside the scientific realm, Shayan is a personal trainer, a public speaking coach and an amateur photographer. He tweets @MoradiShayan, blogs at shayanmoradi.com and he is the Winner of World’s Best Husband Award (Category: nagging). - Courtney Turpin, Secretary
Research Interests: Courtney Turpin is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences in the laboratory of Dr. Brett Spear. Courtney’s research focus is the role of Zinc Fingers and Homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) in obesity-derived fatty liver disease. In addition to being an officer in NSPS, she has also served as a member of the BGSO (Biomedical Graduate Student Organization) Community Outreach committee. Outside of research, Courtney enjoys running, reading, and spoiling her dog.
- Jessie Hoffman, Treasurer
Research interests: Atherosclerosis, environmental pollutants, intestinal health, gut microbiome, dietary fiber. Jessie graduated from Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina in 2013 with a B.S. in Biology. She received her M.S. in Nutrition in 2015 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she conducted research regarding the benefits of consuming grapes on attenuating obesity and related health outcomes. She began the Nutritional Sciences PhD program in 2015 in Dr. Bernhard Hennig’s lab as a trainee within the UK Superfund Research Center. Her current research focuses on the way that nutrition can combat the negative health effects associated with exposure to environmental pollutants. She is also a recipient of the NIH T32 Training Grant. Other interests: fitness, cooking, playing soccer, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
2017 – 2018 Officers
- Nika Larian, President
Research Interests: Obesity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), diabetes, adipocyte physiology, inflammasome, SAA. Nika graduated from Transylvania University with B.A.s in Biology and French Language and Literature. She began the Nutritional Sciences Ph.D. program in 2015 in Dr. Lisa Cassis’s lab as a recipient of an NIH T32 Training Grant and the Daniel Reedy Quality Achievement Award. As a Superfund trainee, Nika’s current work focuses on nutritionally-derived endogenous ligands of the AhR that regulate adipocyte differentiation and proliferation and may contribute to the development of obesity. She is also currently taking courses to receive her B.S. in Dietetics and Human Nutrition in order to become a Registered Dietitian. Nika’s other interests include cooking, fitness, playing tennis and flag football, fashion, and spending time with her friends, family, and puppy. - Jessie Hoffman, Vice-President
Research interests: Atherosclerosis, environmental pollutants, intestinal health, gut microbiome, dietary fiber. Jessie graduated from Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina in 2013 with a B.S. in Biology. She received her M.S. in Nutrition in 2015 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she conducted research regarding the benefits of consuming grapes on attenuating obesity and related health outcomes. She began the Nutritional Sciences PhD program in 2015 in Dr. Bernhard Hennig’s lab as a trainee within the UK Superfund Research Center. Her current research focuses on the way that nutrition can combat the negative health effects associated with exposure to environmental pollutants. She is also a recipient of the NIH T32 Training Grant. Other interests: fitness, cooking, playing soccer, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. - Jared Hoffman, Secretary
Research interests: Alzheimer's disease, gut microbiome, nutritional interventions, dietary fiber, improving athletic performance, and MRI. Jared got his BS in Biology from Truman State University and then went on to get his MS in Nutritional Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he also met his beautiful wife Jessie. He is currently a PhD Candidate in his 3rd year in Dr. Ai-Ling Lin's laboratory examining the effects of prebiotics in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. He is also a recipient of the NIH T32 Training Grant. His other interests include tennis, sports, improving his own athletic performance, watching movies, and spending time with his family and friends. - Kai Zhang, Treasurer
Research Interests: Kai Zhang is a third year graduate student attending the Pharmacology PhD program in the college of medicine. Kai is working on EtOH neurotoxicity and trying to develop anti-inflammatory strategies in the prevention or the treatment for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the laboratory of Dr. Jai Luo. Kai is also a graduate student senator at-large in UK Student Government Association (SGA) and a board member at Graduate Student Congress (GSC). Other interests: snowboarding, skateboarding, hiking and fitness.
2016 – 2017 Officers
- Kaia Hampton, President
Research Interest: Insulin Receptor signaling in the brain/adipocytes, S2R(PGRMC1) signaling in cancer. Kaia comes from the sunshine state calling Tallahassee, FL home. She graduated from The University of Tampa with a Biochemistry degree where she was heavily involved in undergraduate research Cancer research and a scholarship student athlete. She entered through the IBS program and is in her third year in the lab of Dr. Rolf Craven. She recently has been awarded a T32 training grant. Other interests: running (5ks to marathons), fitness, cooking healthy (meal prepping!) and animals. - Nika Larian, Vice-President
Research Interests: Obesity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), diabetes, adipocyte physiology, inflammasome, SAA. Nika graduated from Transylvania University with B.A.s in Biology and French Language and Literature. She began the Nutritional Sciences Ph.D. program in 2015 in Dr. Lisa Cassis’s lab as a recipient of an NIH T32 Training Grant and the Daniel Reedy Quality Achievement Award. As a Superfund trainee, Nika’s current work focuses on nutritionally-derived endogenous ligands of the AhR that regulate adipocyte differentiation and proliferation and may contribute to the development of obesity. She is also currently taking courses to receive her B.S. in Dietetics and Human Nutrition in order to become a Registered Dietitian. Nika’s other interests include cooking, fitness, playing tennis and flag football, fashion, and spending time with her friends, family, and puppy. - Dave Schnell, Secretary
Research Interests: Cancer, cell metabolism, free radical/antioxidant biology A West Virginian transplant originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Dave earned his B.S. in exercise physiology from West Virginia University. He is currently in his fourth year as a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences working in the laboratory of Daret St. Clair examining the role of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD/SOD2) in regulating metabolic patterns in pre-tumor cancer development. When not doing science, Dave can generally be found cooking and eating delicious food,riding a bicycle unreasonable distances, or performing some sort of music. - Jessie Hoffman, Treasurer
Research interests: Atherosclerosis, environmental pollutants, intestinal health, gut microbiome, dietary fiber. Jessie graduated from Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina in 2013 with a B.S. in Biology. She received her M.S. in Nutrition in 2015 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she conducted research regarding the benefits of consuming grapes on attenuating obesity and related health outcomes. She began the Nutritional Sciences PhD program in 2015 in Dr. Bernhard Hennig’s lab as a trainee within the UK Superfund Research Center. Her current research focuses on the way that nutrition can combat the negative health effects associated with exposure to environmental pollutants. She is also a recipient of the NIH T32 Training Grant. Other interests: fitness, cooking, playing soccer, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
2015 – 2016 Officers
- Dave Schnell, President
Research Interests: Cancer, cell metabolism, free radical/antioxidant biology A West Virginian transplant originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Dave earned his B.S. in exercise physiology from West Virginia University. He is currently in his fourth year as a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences working in the laboratory of Daret St. Clair examining the role of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD/SOD2) in regulating metabolic patterns in pre-tumor cancer development. When not doing science, Dave can generally be found cooking and eating delicious food,riding a bicycle unreasonable distances, or performing some sort of music. - Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Vice-President
Research Interests: Obesity, adipocyte physiology, brown adipose tissue, metabolic function. Heather graduated from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky in 2011 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. Taught nutrition at the community level for one year, and then joined the doctoral program in the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences in 2012. Currently working in Dr. Shuxia Wang’s lab and funded with an NIH Training Grant. Current work is focusing on a specific cellular membrane receptor and its regulation in adipocyte function. Other Interests: food, playing recreational sports (kickball, soccer), reading, volunteering, spending time with friends and family. - Aida Javidan, Secretary
Research Interests: Obesity, probiotics and diabetes. Aida took her BS in Human Nutrition from Iran. As a second year international graduate student, she is currently enrolled in the Molecular and Biochemical Nutrition program. Out of the academic environment, Aida loves to cook, spend time in gym and have fun with friends - Kaia Hampton, Treasurer
Research Interest: Insulin Receptor signaling in the brain/adipocytes, S2R(PGRMC1) signaling in cancer. Kaia comes from the sunshine state calling Tallahassee, FL home. She graduated from The University of Tampa with a Biochemistry degree where she was heavily involved in undergraduate research Cancer research and a scholarship student athlete. She entered through the IBS program and is in her third year in the lab of Dr. Rolf Craven. She recently has been awarded a T32 training grant. Other interests: running (5ks to marathons), fitness, cooking healthy (meal prepping!) and animals.
News and Updates for NSPS
Select a year on the right navigation to view the archive.
2019
- November 1st
NSPS organizes a webinar event for UK researchers: Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research - October 25th
NSPS hosts the 4th Happy Healthy Halloween! - September 21st
NSPS participates in the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer's - September 6th
Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Semester Kick-Off BBQ - March
FoodChain Community Dinner
Thank you to Brittany Rice, Ellie Johnson, Adam Ghoweri, Lucy Yanckello and Courtney Turpin for serving the underserved at the FoodChain community dinner yesterday evening. We helped set up, served food to attendees and washed dishes afterwards! Every last Thursday of the month is FoodChain's community dinner; Jessie Hoffman connected us with the event. Ouita Michel was there and was thrilled to learn of our service. Learn more about FoodChain's mission here.
James Weiss received the competitive Travel Award!
2018
- Congratulations to Brittany Rice
Rice has been selected as a participant in the Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) program, class of 2019. - Congratulations to Yasir, Dave, Marion, Jared, Jessie and Tianfel
For successfully defending their dissertations and obtaining their PhD degree! - Congratulations to Nika Larian
Nika is the 2018 recipient of the Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) Rising Star Award. - Congratulations to James Wise
For winning "Best Poster Award" at the 10th Conference on Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis in Albuquerque, NM. James also gave an oral presentation at this occasion. - Office of Biomedical Education Spotlight on Adam Ghoweri
- Congratulations to Lucy Yanckello
Lucy Yanckello was selected to give an oral presentation and received a Travel Award at the First International Conference on Precision Nutrition and Metabolism in Public Health and Medicin in Chania, Crete, Greece. - Congratulations to Kai Zhang
Congratulations to Kai Zhang on receiving 1st place for the Outstanding Elevator Speech presentation at the TODD Symposium, as well as his contributions to UK's new Center for Student Philanthropy. - Congratulations to Jacqueline Leachman
Miss Jacqueline Leachman was awarded with the NIH-Diversity supplement until 2022 - Congratulations to Brittany Rice
Ms. Rice was awarded the following: The Travel Award from COACh, to participate in the upcoming "Professional Skills and Training for Minority Graduate Students Workshop" in Orlando; A conference grant to give an oral presentation at the NOBCChe 2018 annual meeting in September; An invitation to give a talk at Virginia Tech in October. - Congratulations to Hsuan Peng
Hsuan is a recipient of the Halcomb Fellowship in Medicine and Engineering. The Halcomb Fellowship provides the opportunity for graduate students in the College of Engineering and the College of Medicine to engage in premier interdisciplinary research. - Congratulations to Hilaree Frazier
Frazier received the competitive College of Medicine Fellowship for Excellence in Graduate Research award. This award was distributed to six talented graduate students at different career levels, who show signs of research excellence and productivity. - Congratulations to Han Ly
Han is a recent recipient of an American Heart Association, predoctoral fellowship for her research in diabetes-associated amylin dyshomeostasis in stroke. - Jessie Baldwin is Student of the Year, 2018
- Congratulations to Brittany Rice on being the recipient of the University of Kentukcy 2018 Inclusive Excellence Award
- Congratulations to Kai Zhang for winning two awards a the Graduate Student Regional Research Conference (GSRRC) at the University of Louisville
- Congratulations to our Masters Students that have successfully passed their final oral exams:
Shae Carson, An-di Cheng, Katie Lewis, Kaiyuan Tan, Nigel Vinegar, Adam Bender, Ching-Yi Hu, Nishita Meshram
2017
- Congratulations to Kaia Karli Hampton for receiving your PhD!
- Congratulations to Shaniya Maimaiti Hampton for receiving your PhD!
- Congratulations to Adam Bender Hampton for receiving your Masters!
- Congratulations for successfully passing your qualifying exams this semester:
Peter Hecker, Nika Larian, Xufong Ma, Courtney Turppin, Ahmed Al-Darrqii, Kai Zhang - NSPS hosted their 2nd annual “Happy Healthy Halloween” event in the Kentucky Clinic on October 31.
Thanks to a generous local Kroger, the group was able to hand out over $300 worth of fruit to UK employees. Stop by and see them next year on Halloween! (from left to right: Jared Hoffman, Nika Larian, Brittany Rice) - Kudos to our NSPS Association!
Organized by Brittany Rice (PhD student, Dr. Kevin Pearson), a group of NSPS students led interactive Seeing the Vitamin “C” experiment with 40 young ladies as part of a GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math & Science) event on campus in November. Way to go students! - NEDA Walk Cincinnati, OH: September 30, 2017
Nearly 1 in 4 dieters will progress to an eating disorder. Walk with us or donate to support this cause that affects so many individuals. - Walk to End Alzheimer's: August 26, 2017
Help us raise funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s was held this past Saturday, August 26th, in downtown Lexington. The event raised over $200,000 toward its cause to advance research for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. - Wednesday, February 22, 2017, Nika Larian and Jessie Hoffman volunteered at the Better Bites Kid’s Night at Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen
The free event offered different “sensory stations” to encourage young children to have fun learning about healthy foods. The children were able to able to paint pictures using paint and stamps made from fresh cut veggies, they were able to listen to the different sounds that foods such as quinoa and chickpeas make. Further, the children were able to make art by tracing and rubbing leaves from salad greens such as spinach, kale, and mizuna. Lastly, they were able to make their own salads to eat while they enjoyed the photo booth and treat bags provided at the event.
2016
- Congratulations to our students who successfully defended their PhD thesis!
Heather Norman, Melanie Pleiss, Kendra Staggs, Maja Redzic - Congratulations to our student who successfully achieved their Master's degree!
Yongshi Liu, MS in Nutritional Sciences with an emphasis in Wellness and Sports Nutrition - Congratulations to our student who successfully passed their qualifying exams!
James Wise, Jarred Hoffman, Han Gia (Ginny) Ly, Jessie Hoffman, Hilaree Frazier, Yongchao Wang, Reem Basaqr - Better Bites Program
This past Sunday, December 4th, Kaia Hampton and Nika Larian volunteered at the PTA 5K with the Better Bites program to hand out healthy snacks and fruit-infused water to children. The Better Bites program is a part of the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition, which is a Lexington-based group dedicated to making healthy eating and physical activity popular and accessible to Lexington tweens and children in their homes, schools, and communities. The Better Bites program encourages kids to “snack strong” by providing examples of healthy snacks to children in their community, including at bus stops and recreational areas. NSPS has been in contact with the Better Bites group to plan more community nutrition service opportunities in the upcoming semester. - Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Our Graduate Students recently participated in the "Cards for Hospitalized Kids" drive. They channeled their artistic sides and hand-made close to 50 holiday cards for sick children spending the holidays in the hospital.
The department is proud of its students for their time and kind efforts! -
Healthy Halloween
Some of the officers met to provide FREE, healthy snacks to our community. They reserved the table through UK to promote health and wellness in between the Kentucky clinic deli and the Nursing building.
They had a lot of people stop by and thank them for putting this healthy event on. :) -
Volunteermatch
In an effort to serve the community, at least once a month our NSPS Students work with Volunteermatch. In September they worked on a community garden (Get in a Garden- Whitney Ave Garden) in support of Seedleaf, an organization that emphasizes nourishing communities by growing and sharing food. Our students cleared weeds, planted over 5 different kinds of vegetables and helped pick veggies and... had a blast doing it! -
Walk to End Alzheimer's
The Walk to End Alzheimer's was a terrific event! $175,922.90 was raised for the cause. More than 1,100 participants, 130 teams! One of them was the Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences' department. Organized by our NSPS Association that was able to raise $325 for the cause. Weather was top as was the ambiance with all the participants. This is the 22nd year the Alzheimer’s Association has hosted the event. The walk’s success has supported research for a cure and helped over 100,000 families in the Chapter area living with Alzheimer’s. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, is the nation’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. -
American Heart Association Heart Walk
Each year our department supports the American Heart Association Heart Walk by putting together a team. Through this, our team raises money and awareness about the critical issues regarding heart health here in the state of Kentucky. We would love to have faculty and staff involved and supporting our departmental team.Remember, actual participation in the walk on May 14th 2016 at 9am at Keeneland is not necessary to join the team. All support, advocacy, and donations go much further. Please join today and share the link with anyone you think would be willing to help. The AHA has funded a lot of research here at UK so we should all make the effort to give back!
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February 5, 2016
Our students had a great turn out for their NSPS monthly meeting! They had a guest speaker from UK's Proposal Development Office discussing grant writing. They are currently working on creating a workshop to be held at the end of the semester that will cover the following topics in "Scientific Communication": (1) how to give scientific seminars (2) how to prepare and write a thesis (3) how to communicate science to a non-science background audience.
The mission of the Nutritional Sciences and Pharmacology Students (NSPS) association is to promote social and academic camaraderie among graduate students in the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences. Our primary aim is to encourage participation in group activities both inside and outside the walls of the University of Kentucky. NSPS facilitates regular student-led meetings, community service opportunities, social events, and peer support for graduate students. Our goal is to aid in personal and professional growth and support students along their path to academic success.