{"id":8306,"date":"2020-06-01T08:58:11","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T12:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/?page_id=8306"},"modified":"2026-05-27T13:32:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:32:43","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/academics\/phd-in-health-sciences\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading entry-title\">Ph.D. in Health Sciences<\/h1>\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-menu-wrapper\"><nav id=\"\" class=\"cl-menu  \" data-name=\"HSPHD\" data-show-title=\"0\"><ul id=\"menu-hsphd\" class=\"cl-menu-list cl-menu-list-no-js\"><li id=\"menu-item-8315\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8315\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/academics\/phd-in-health-sciences\/\">Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-8318\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8318\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/academics\/phd-in-health-sciences\/admissions\/\">Admission<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-8321\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8321\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/academics\/phd-in-health-sciences\/research\/\">Research<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-tabs-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-tabs  \">\n<section class=\"cl-tab \"><h1>Latest Highlights<\/h1>\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Winners for Best Poster Presentation were:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Doctoral Category:<\/strong> Maruth Emilcar (Health Sciences; Nutrition concentration) <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1wBnCa3zYjN11XBHrS2_AKp7ViWkkmeQ2\/view?usp=sharing\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1wBnCa3zYjN11XBHrS2_AKp7ViWkkmeQ2\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Link to Presentation<\/a><br><strong>Master\u2019s Category:<\/strong> Hadley St. Cyr (Kinesiology) <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/15nqEJpQKaez6ZpnYOTt8tXV9nGNOdDOx\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Link to Presentation<\/a><br><strong>Undergraduate Category:<\/strong> Zoe Catrambone (Kinesiology) <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1GCxLtwa-ewsraPWMJAwXVD3eCyj63My1\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Link to Presentation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/2026\/04\/08\/health-sciences-students-from-multiple-disciplines-highlight-studies-during-annual-research-night\/\">Learn More about this year&#8217;s research night.<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"cl-tab \"><h1>Student Publications<\/h1>\n\n<p><strong>Pavlidis T.,&nbsp;<\/strong>Mortreux M., Charidemou E. (2026). Nutrition-based-interventions for mitigating space radiation-induced&nbsp;DNA damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis&#8221;&nbsp;<em>Life Sciences in Space Research<\/em>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10\/1016\/j.lssr.2026.04.002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10\/1016\/j.lssr.2026.04.002<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Santilli, J<\/strong>.,&nbsp;Leedahl, S., Juris, J., Liebermann, E., &amp; McGregor, C.&nbsp;(2026).&nbsp;Advancing digital equity: A qualitative case study using the Implementation Research Logic Model.<em>Implementation Science Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scrivano, R.M., Juris, J., Colvin, M.,&nbsp;<strong>Santilli, J<\/strong>. Jarrott, S.E., &amp;&nbsp;Leedahl, S.N. (2025). Applying the Dynamic Sustainability Framework to evaluate the implementation of an intergenerational technology program in higher education.&nbsp;<em>Innovation in Aging.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tavares, K. L.<\/strong>&nbsp;&amp; Tsotsoros, C. E. (2024). The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and health behaviors in adult women.&nbsp;<em>American Journal of Health Promotion.&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/08901171241229829\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/08901171241229829<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tsotsoros, C. E.,<strong>&nbsp;Pascuzzi, E.<\/strong>, 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.&nbsp;<em>Frontiers in Public Health, 12<\/em>.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1341713\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1341713<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tsotsoros, C.,&nbsp;<strong>Pascuzzi, E<\/strong>., Brasher, M., Souza, K., &amp;&nbsp;Leedahl, S.N.(2024).Pilot testing the Engaging Generations (eGen) Program to address social well-being among lower income older adults.&nbsp;<em>Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1-11.<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1341713\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1341713<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leedahl, S.N.<strong>,<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>Pascuzzi, E<\/strong>., McCurdy, K, &amp; Porto, N. (2023). Beyond employment: Lower-income participants\u2019 experiences in a healthcare training program for medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, and certified nursing assistants.&nbsp;<em>Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences &amp; Practice, 21(3),&nbsp;<\/em>Article 24, 1-13.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/\/nsuworks.nova.edu\/ijahsp\/vol21\/iss3\/24\/__;!!Jh1S!k3T4nD5kR49hBJrqtUQg1m1woP7mw2AYKNAoZ7zPgveRvYrlN8CvdPfrA7E6fAUmc0lEh4EXqz5hvSg0PfwL624$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/nsuworks.nova.edu\/ijahsp\/vol21\/iss3\/24\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leedahl, S.N<strong>.,<\/strong>&nbsp;Souza, K., Capolino, A., Brasher M.,&nbsp;<strong>Pascuzzi, E<\/strong>., Azzinaro, C., Ellison, T.A., Estus, E., &amp; 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.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Elder Policy, 2<\/em>(3), 55-92. doi: 10.18278\/jep.2.3.3<\/p>\n\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"cl-tab \"><h1>News and Events<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image alignright\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a1e7693477bd&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a1e7693477bd\" class=\"size-third_column wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"364\" height=\"364\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Alex-Larcom-ASN-364x364.jpg\" alt=\"Alexandra Larcom at the podium at Nutrition 2025\" class=\"wp-image-12308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Alex-Larcom-ASN-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Alex-Larcom-ASN-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Alex-Larcom-ASN-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Alex-Larcom-ASN.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Alexandra Larcom<\/strong> (NUT, 2025, mentor: ) presented her dissertation work at several conferences in 2025:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the&nbsp;Institution for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) Food Classification Research Roundtable on Processing, Formulation and Nutrition in Washington, DC;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-separator\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a1e769347f0e&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a1e769347f0e\" class=\"size-third_column wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"364\" height=\"243\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Qisi-Yao-ASN-364x243.jpg\" alt=\"Qisi Yao and Dr. Maya  Vadiveloo\" class=\"wp-image-12309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Qisi-Yao-ASN-364x243.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Qisi-Yao-ASN-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Qisi-Yao-ASN-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Qisi-Yao-ASN.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Qisi Yao<\/strong> (NUT, December 2025, mentor: Maya Vadiveloo) presented her research at the American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-separator\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image alignright\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a1e769348455&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a1e769348455\" class=\"size-third_column wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"364\" height=\"243\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Theo-Pavlidis-3M-2026-364x243.jpg\" alt=\"Theo Pavlidis presenting at the Thesis competition.\" class=\"wp-image-12310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Theo-Pavlidis-3M-2026-364x243.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Theo-Pavlidis-3M-2026-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Theo-Pavlidis-3M-2026-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/969\/Theo-Pavlidis-3M-2026.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Theo Pavlidis<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ph.D. in Health Sciences<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2097,"featured_media":0,"parent":7656,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-8306","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2097"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8306"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12319,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8306\/revisions\/12319"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}