UW Food Systems students and faculty showcase research and earn recognition at national conferences

University of Washington Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health (FSNH) students shared their research, connected with leading scientists, and celebrated one another’s accomplishments at the American Society of Nutrition’s 2026 conference.

The conference provided an opportunity for students to present research about food security, nutrition interventions, and the gut microbiome while engaging with other researchers also contributing to advancing nutrition science.

Among the students presenting their research were:

• Adrienne Atkins, MPH/GCPD student, who presented “Living on the Cusp: A Qualitative Exploration of Food Security Transitions in Washington State Households with Children.”
• Paola Bregni Ibarra, PhD student, who presented “Preliminary Findings: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Response to Vitamin D3 and K2 Through Inflammatory Markers and Gut Microbiome.”
• Norma Garfias Avila, PhD candidate, who presented “Starting Point Matters: How Habitual Diet Predicts Both Participant Baseline Microbiome and Participant Response to a Dietary Intervention.”

The conference recognized student Emily Shapiro, an MPH and GCPD student, who received a 2026 Herbalife Nutrition Scholarship, recognizing students pursuing advanced degrees in nutrition and related fields while supporting their research and clinical training. PhD student Hannah Baillie attended the conference with support from a School of Public Health Endowed Fellowship, which provides funding for conference participation and other opportunities that enhance graduate education. 

Students emphasized the value of experiencing the conference together as a cohort.

“The ASN conference was an exciting opportunity to present my research, learn about new developments in many areas of nutrition, and meet students and researchers from around the world! The whole experience energized me for my future career in nutrition as I get ready to graduate at the end of August. It was nice to have a group of students from UW to share the experience!” — Adrienne Atkins

“Attending ASN gave me the opportunity to learn about the latest advances in nutrition science, connect with researchers and professionals from across the world, and gain ideas that will directly inform my own research and clinical work. Attending with such a strong FSNH cohort also made the experience especially valuable. We were able to support one another, share perspectives on the sessions, and showcase the great work being done within our program.” — Hannah Baillie

“It was an honor to attend my first national nutrition conference while also being recognized with an award. Attending the conference provided an opportunity to learn about current nutrition research and connect with professionals from across the country. I loved attending alongside other FSNH faculty and students because it provided a sense of community and allowed us to support each other’s work throughout the weekend.” — Emily Shapiro

“Attending ASN’s Nutrition 2026 was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was inspiring to learn from the leaders in nutrition science, engage with researchers from across the world, and share a piece of my work with the scientific community. Presenting alongside such a great group of FSNH students made the conference even more enjoyable. It was really exciting to see all of the amazing research coming out of our program and to be part of such a supportive group! Being there together made it easy to connect, cheer each other on, and share ideas throughout the conference. Experiences like this remind me that I have a home in the FSNH family.” — Paola Bregni Ibarra

“Going to the ASN conference was a real privilege: not only was I able to present a poster, but I was also among my peers from the program. It was truly an amazing experience that I was lucky to have right before graduating, and I will always remember it fondly.”  — Norma Garfias Avila

Faculty leadership in research at AFHVS 2026

FSNH faculty, staff, and students also contributed their expertise at the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) annual conference, demonstrating the program’s leadership across food systems, nutrition, and civic engagement.

Jennifer Otten, who served as AFHVS president (2025-2026) and currently serves as past-president (2026-2027), delivered the presidential address, “Tending the Roots of Civic Health and Bridging Perception Gaps.” About her three-year presidential service term, Otten said, “Contributing time and expertise through volunteer leadership roles such as the AFHVS presidency is part of the ethos of our FSNH program. Faculty serve because they help sustain professional societies and provide an essential foundation for scholarly exchange, collaboration, and innovation, helping to shape the future of our field.”

FSNH faculty, staff, and students also participated in several conference sessions, including:

• Jennifer Otten, who served as a panelist for the roundtable “Political Polarization and the Ideological Evolution of Alternative Food Systems: Trends, Complications, Opportunities.”
• Fernanda Nunes, Alan Ismach, Marie Spiker, and Jennifer Otten who participated in the panel “Advancing Civic Health in Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture Through Research and Deliberation.”

“Co-presenting a panel with Alan Ismach, Dr. Spiker and Dr. Otten provided the opportunity to work closely with this wonderful research group to create a compelling panel together. Additionally, this was my first time presenting a talk at a conference. This valuable experience helped me sharpen my presentation skills, and allowed me to share exciting findings from my MPH thesis. I also appreciated learning from the wide range of talks that this conference had to offer, and meeting other professionals who are working to make food systems more sustainable. The opportunity to learn and present at the AFHVS conference has helped me build confidence, become a better networked and more experienced researcher. “  — Fernanda Nunes, MPH student

Together, these student and faculty accomplishments reflect the collaborative, interdisciplinary community that defines FSNH and the program’s commitment to advancing research that improves nutrition, food systems, and public health.

August 10, 2026