Weilin Li is a Master student majoring in Nutritional Sciences. She received her B.S. in Nutritional Sciences at California State University Long Beach in 2019. She joined the Metabolic Kitchen and Children Eating Behavior Laboratory in Fall 2020. She is interested in studying the associations between home-food environment, parental feeding strategies, and eating in the absence of hunger in children.

John Long received his B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of San Antonio in 2021 and is now a Ph.D. student in Nutritional Sciences. Prior to joining the lab, John worked as a Research Intern, Tutor and Reader/Grader for Motor Learning and Sports Nutrition. His main research interest involves understanding the influence of imposed physical activity on food cue reactivity and subsequent food choice and eating behaviors. He is also interested in using virtual reality to foster more mindful eating behaviors. Upon graduation, John would like to improve his knowledge and research expertise by completing a postdoctoral fellowship. His goal is to become a professor of nutrition and run his own laboratory as well as educate the future generation of nutrition students.

Nick Neuwald received his M.S. in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami in 2019 and is now a Ph.D. student in Nutritional Sciences. At Miami, he served as a graduate assistant studying the relationships of processed diets on fat patterning. Nick’s current research focuses on exploring the behavior of switching between foods within a meal and its relationship to sensory-specific satiation, intake, and appetitive traits. Nick’s ultimate goal is to become a professor of nutrition and run an eating behavior research lab.

Nicole Reigh graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences in 2017 and is now a fifth-year PhD candidate pursuing a dual-title degree in Nutritional Sciences and Clinical & Translational Sciences. Her primary research interests revolve around understanding what factors may influence children’s hunger, fullness, and food intake. When not in the lab, Nicole likes to hike with her two dogs, Marvin and Ranger.

Kelly received her B.S. in Dietetics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  She completed her dietetic internship at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Kelly is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist. She loves learning through research and has a special interest in childhood obesity and the nutritional needs of a child athlete.  When not in the lab, Kelly enjoys watching her kids do what they love, running with her mom and crazy running group, and walking her dog in the woods with her husband.

Darcy is a fourth year student majoring in Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry. After graduating from Penn State, she hopes to go to Physician Assistant school. She has been apart of the lab for two years and has really enjoyed learning about nutrition outside of the classroom. Outside of the lab, she is apart of the club cross country team, likes to walk her dog, drink coffee, and read books.

Julia is in her final year at Penn State, studying in a premedical program with a minor in Nutritional Sciences. She has loved learning in the lab for the past two years. In Fall 2022, she will continue her studies at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, pursuing her medical degree with which she hopes to contribute to a holistic view of health that bridges the gap between the disciplines of medicine and nutrition. Julia is working toward being a Certified Yoga Teacher, and she loves to make flower arrangements and soup.

Olivia Brill is a junior studying Nutritional Sciences and Biochemistry here at Penn State. Following her time at Penn State, she plans on continuing her education in a graduate program to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant. She began working in the lab in late spring of 2021, and has loved it ever since! Outside of school and the lab, she enjoys spending her free time running, reading, thrift shopping, and trying new recipes!

Calista is a senior student majoring in Nutritional Sciences on the Dietetics pathway in hopes to one day be a registered dietitian, as well as minoring in Psychology. She started working in the lab as an intern in 2022, and has really enjoyed being able to explore eating behaviors in youth populations while working on the Food and Brain study and Project REACH. In her free time, Calista enjoys her work as a personal trainer at Orange Theory Fitness, as well as hitting the gym herself and traveling!

Alyssa is a senior majoring in nutritional sciences on the dietetics path and hopes to become a registered dietitian. She primarily helps with the Apple Study. In her free time she enjoys trying new recipes, working out, and playing with her dogs.

Jonathan Bauman received his A.L.M in Psychology from Harvard Extension School in 2021, and is now the research coordinator for the Food and Brain Study that investigates the relation of susceptibility to the portion size effect, brain activity, and familial risk status. Jonathan previously served as a medic in the army and worked in inpatient mental health. His research interests include the relation between sleep and eating behavior, how people think about knowledge, and the perseverance of refuted beliefs about nutrition and other scientific disciplines. Jonathan plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology and become a professor.

Lily is an undergraduate student at Penn State pursuing a degree in General Biology and a minor in Psychological Sciences. She is currently a research assistant for the Apple study, and assists in behavioral coding for the REACH and Food and Brain study. In the future, she hopes to work with children in the medical field. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and working out!

Laura Pons is a French student enrolled in a food and health engineering course at the Unilasalle polytechnic institute in Beauvais. As part of an international mobility program, she joined the team for three months during the summer of 2024, during which she took part in the laboratory’s day-to-day activities.

Passionate about human nutrition, she initially trained as a dietician, and is now keen to acquire as much knowledge as possible about dietary behavior, so as to contribute in the future to a better diet for everyone, everywhere in the world.

Apart from that, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, sports (running, hiking, fitness) and travelling.

Hi everyone, I’m Subha, a french student of health and food engineering and a registered dietitian. I’m fortunate to be working in the lab as part of an internship for my studies. With my passion for nutrition, children, and cooking, this opportunity is a perfect fit for me. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, exploring new cultures, and spending time with my friends.

Anna Smithwick is an undergraduate student studying Nutritional Sciences, on the Dietetics path. In the future, she hopes to become a Registered Dietician (RD), and pursue a career in a more research-centered field within nutrition. She is currently a training research assistant on the REACH and Apple study. Outside of the lab, she enjoys yoga, traveling, and reading.

Viviana is an graduate student part of the IUG MPS Program in Nutritional Sciences. She is also completing a double major in Nutritional Sciences and Psychology, and a minor in Spanish. She aspires to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and specialize in eating disorders. Currently, she helps with the Apple Study, REACH and the Food and Brain Study. She is part of the Schreyer Honors College and is currently in the process of writing her thesis on maternal feeding practices and the impact these have in their children’s eating behaviors. Outside of the lab, she enjoys working out in the gym or outdoors, traveling, going to coffee shops and restaurants, spending time with her dog, Toby, and watching movies!

Yusrat is a first-year student majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Development. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in hopes of applying her mathematical knowledge in health and human development research. She is passionate about health disparities and bridging the gap between the majority and marginalized groups. She is also a member of the Millennium Scholars Program and a research assistant in both the Apple Study Project REACH and the Food and Brain Study. Outside of the lab, she enjoys exploring art through makeup, playing with her nieces and nephews, and crocheting. 

Harley Rahuba is an undergraduate student in the Nursing Program. She has been involved with the research team for two years now. She has been working on multiple studies and background data. Once she graduates, she plans on becoming a pediatric nurse. She is interested in this lab to understand more about children’s behaviors and further her research experience. Her goal once graduating, is to travel to different places as a nurse and do clinical research in underdeveloped areas.

Tianhong Zhang is a senior at Penn State majoring in Nutritional Sciences in the Dietetics track who hopes to become a Registered Dietitian (RD) in the future. Before coming to the US, he was a coaching assistant and nutritionist assistant of a varsity volleyball team and a fitness company. He is currently a research assistant on the REACH and Apple study.  In the future, Tianhong hopes to pursue a career in clinical nutrition.  Outside of the lab, he enjoys cooking, billiard, and music.

Di Yang is a senior at Penn State majoring in Nutritional Sciences in the Dietetics track who hopes to become a RD in the future. She is currently a research intern in summer 2023 to complete her field experience in nutrition. After her experiences in food service, clinical setting, and volunteer in food bank, she decided to begin her research journey in Keller’s Lab. Di is on the Apple Study and REACH Study now. Outside of the lab, Di loves playing golf, snowboarding, and spending time with her cat and dog.

Hi there! I’m Yash Adroja. I graduated from George Washington University in the Spring of 2021 with a BA in Criminal Justice and minor in Chemistry. After undergrad, I completed a Masters in Biomedical Sciences at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. I have a keen interest in nutrition science as well as cardiometabolic health and have spent a lot of time reading about these subjects. In my free time, I enjoy resistance training, watching the Phillies/Steelers, and eating sushi.

Emma is a third-year student in Schreyer Honors College majoring in nutritional sciences and minoring in kinesiology. She is a senior research assistant for the apple study and will be writing her thesis with the lab! She hopes to become a sports dietitian to help athletes perform their best and learn how to properly fuel their body. In her free time, she loves to cook, take her dog on walks, and dance!

Juliana is a senior at Penn State majoring in Nutritional Sciences in the Dietetics option and hopes to one day be a Registered Dietitian. She began working in the Metabolic Kitchen and Children’s Eating Behavior Lab in the summer of 2022. She has enjoyed learning about eating behavior in children through working on the Food and Brain Study and project REACH. Outside of the lab, she enjoys cooking, working out, and spending time with friends.