PhD Fellows

The Food Systems Research Institute is proud to fund graduate students at UVM across multiple colleges and departments, all working to answer pressing issues in food systems.

FSRI PhD Fellows engage in meaningful research across a broad spectrum of Vermont and global food systems. Their transdisciplinary studies represent the diversity of food systems, addressing aspects ranging from agricultural practices to human nutrition to the management of food waste. 

Current FSRI PhD Fellows

Saadatu Abdul-Rahaman

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Food systems, food security, intersectionality, community development, migration, sustainable diets, public health nutrition 

Ihsan Akili

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Cardiometabolic Diseases, Public Health, Epidemiology, Public Health Emergency Response Planning

Krizzia Belén-Trineo

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Mona Davoudimehr

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Anaerobic digestion, Microbiome Engineering, Environmental Biotechnology, Data Visualization

Janet Gamble

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Nutrition Pedagogy

Kacey Paige LaBonte

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Extreme weather events, public health, farmer behavior, community development

Pindar Yawulda Mbaya

FRSI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Food insecurity, Food Safety, Vulnerable population (elderly), Chronic diseases of nutritional origin.

Patrick Shafer

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Edible insects, food product development, consumer preference

Alexander Steiner

FSRI PhD Fellow

Expertise

Rotational Grazing, Perennial Crops