Latest Highlights

The third annual Health Sciences Research Night was a resounding success, thanks to the coordination of Dr. Christie Ward-Ritacco and her team. From over 80 poster presentations, attending faculty judges selected the best presentations within each student category.

Winners for Best Poster Presentation were:

Doctoral Category: Maruth Emilcar (Health Sciences; Nutrition concentration) Link to Presentation
Master’s Category: Hadley St. Cyr (Kinesiology) Link to Presentation
Undergraduate Category: Zoe Catrambone (Kinesiology) Link to Presentation

Learn More about this year’s research night.

Student Publications

Pavlidis T., Mortreux M., Charidemou E. (2026). Nutrition-based-interventions for mitigating space radiation-induced DNA damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis” Life Sciences in Space Research, https://doi.org/10/1016/j.lssr.2026.04.002

Santilli, J., Leedahl, S., Juris, J., Liebermann, E., & McGregor, C. (2026). Advancing digital equity: A qualitative case study using the Implementation Research Logic Model.Implementation Science Communications.

Scrivano, R.M., Juris, J., Colvin, M., Santilli, J. Jarrott, S.E., & Leedahl, S.N. (2025). Applying the Dynamic Sustainability Framework to evaluate the implementation of an intergenerational technology program in higher education. Innovation in Aging. 

Tavares, K. L. & Tsotsoros, C. E. (2024). The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and health behaviors in adult women. American Journal of Health Promotion. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171241229829

Tsotsoros, C. E., Pascuzzi, E., Brasher, M., Capolino, A., Souza, K., Leedahl, S. N. (2024). Pilot testing the engaging generations (eGen) programs to address social well-being among lower-income older adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1341713   

Tsotsoros, C., Pascuzzi, E., Brasher, M., Souza, K., & Leedahl, S.N.(2024).Pilot testing the Engaging Generations (eGen) Program to address social well-being among lower income older adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1341713 

Leedahl, S.N., Pascuzzi, E., McCurdy, K, & Porto, N. (2023). Beyond employment: Lower-income participants’ experiences in a healthcare training program for medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, and certified nursing assistants. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences & Practice, 21(3), Article 24, 1-13. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ijahsp/vol21/iss3/24/

Leedahl, S.N., Souza, K., Capolino, A., Brasher M., Pascuzzi, E., Azzinaro, C., Ellison, T.A., Estus, E., & Maigret, M. (2023). Improving technology use, digital competence, and access to community resources among older adult participants in the University of Rhode Island Cyber-Seniors digiAGE Pilot Study. Journal of Elder Policy, 2(3), 55-92. doi: 10.18278/jep.2.3.3

News and Events

Alexandra Larcom (NUT, 2025, mentor: ) presented her dissertation work at several conferences in 2025:

• the Institution for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) Food Classification Research Roundtable on Processing, Formulation and Nutrition in Washington, DC; 
• the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL;
• the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.

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Qisi Yao (NUT, December 2025, mentor: Maya Vadiveloo) presented her research at the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting

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Theo Pavlidis, a first-year doctoral student (NUT; mentor: Marie Mortreux) presented his work on nutrition to mitigate space radiation damage (see Publications) in the 2026 3-Minute Thesis competition.