Brie Oaks

director

I am interested in reducing health disparities. While there are many strategies to do this, I investigate the possibilities involving prenatal nutrition. Nutrition during pregnancy is a low-cost investment that has the potential to not only improve birth outcomes but also to affect health in later life. My research group and I focus on conducting studies in which we collect biomarkers of micronutrient status and cortisol for lab analysis. Our work is interdisciplinary and we often collaborate with other researchers in other fields such as child development and public health.

As a professor within the Department of Nutrition, I teach courses in micronutrient nutrition and global nutrition. I completed my PhD and postdoctoral training in international nutrition at University of California, Davis. I earned an MPH from George Washington University and BA (sociology) and BS (biology) degrees from The Evergreen State College.

evelyn mensah

phd student

My research interests include maternal and child health nutrition with a focus on prenatal nutrition. Nutrition before pregnancy is equally important as nutrition during pregnancy, and if pre-conceptual nutrition is optimal, it has the potential to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes. Working in the Oaks Lab gives me the opportunity to collect and analyze biomarkers of micronutrient status of women planning on getting pregnant in undeserved communities. I earned my MS in Dietetics and BS in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Ghana. I am a Registered Licensed Dietitian with experience in both clinical and community nutrition with several volunteering experiences within Ghana. I enjoy reading, walking and dancing.

JOHN MAEDKE

undergraduate student

I am an undergraduate at URI studying biological sciences on a pre-health path and working as an Emergency Medical Technician for the university. Working in an Emergency Department, I have seen firsthand the effects of malnutrition and its association with poor health outcomes. This has led me to pursue research on the effects of micronutrients and their impact on the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant mothers. In my current research, I am investigating whether calcium, Vitamin D, folic acid, and aspirin supplementation leads to a decreased risk of preeclampsia. In the future, I hope to work in emergency medicine as either a physician or physician assistant and contribute to clinical research. I also enjoy programming and sports in my free time.