Our Story

The Begdache Mind, Interdisciplinary Nutrition, and Diet Self-Regulation Study (BMINDS) began with a simple but powerful idea: students can become contributors to scientific discovery when provided with structured mentorship, meaningful research experiences, and opportunities to translate knowledge into impact.

Dr. Lina Begdache’s research has focused on understanding the complex relationship between nutrition, lifestyle behaviors, stress, and mental well-being. Recognizing the potential of undergraduate students to contribute to this emerging field, two students, Casey McKenna and Gerard Dempsey, approached Dr. Begdache with a shared interest in advancing research in nutrition neuroscience. Their initiative became the foundation of a student-driven research team that later evolved into BMINDS in 2020.

Since its establishment, BMINDS has expanded into an interdisciplinary research and training environment where students engage in every stage of the scientific process, from exploring research questions and reviewing literature to collecting and analyzing data, presenting findings, publishing scientific work, and communicating evidence-based health information to the public.

This evolution led to the development of the Begdache IRB-to-Impact (I²I) Model™, a structured framework designed to transform student curiosity into meaningful scientific contributions and community impact. Through this model, students are guided through the complete journey of discovery, translation, and leadership.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to advance nutrition neuroscience research while empowering the next generation of scientists through meaningful, hands-on research experiences. Guided by the Begdache IRB-to-Impact (I²I) Model™, BMINDS transforms student curiosity into scientific discovery, scholarly contributions, and real-world impact.

Through interdisciplinary research, rigorous scientific inquiry, and evidence-based knowledge translation, we investigate the complex relationships among nutrition, lifestyle behaviors, stress, and mental well-being. We strive to bridge the gap between research and practice by creating accessible resources that support healthier individuals and communities.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to create a transformative research and education ecosystem where students become skilled researchers, innovative thinkers, and future leaders in health and science.

Through the I²I Model™, BMINDS aims to redefine undergraduate research by connecting discovery, mentorship, publication, communication, and community impact within a structured developmental pathway. We envision a future where scientific knowledge is translated into meaningful solutions that improve understanding of nutrition, mental well-being, and human health across diverse populations.

Research Goals

Through our research initiatives, BMINDS aims to advance understanding of the complex relationships among nutrition, lifestyle behaviors, stress, and mental well-being while providing students with meaningful opportunities to engage in the scientific process. Our research goals are to:

• Advance Scientific Discovery

Investigate how dietary patterns, lifestyle behaviors, and individual differences influence psychological health, stress regulation, cognitive function, and overall well-being through rigorous, interdisciplinary research.

• Develop Future Scientists

Provide students with structured research experiences that cultivate skills in scientific reasoning, literature evaluation, research methodology, data analysis, ethical research practices, and scholarly communication.

• Generate Meaningful Evidence

Contribute to the scientific community through high-quality research, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and collaborative investigations.

Translate Research Into Impact

• Transform scientific findings into accessible knowledge, educational resources, and evidence-based strategies that can improve health awareness and support positive behavior change.

Outreach Goals

Through knowledge translation and community engagement, BMINDS aims to make scientific discoveries accessible, meaningful, and applicable beyond the research setting. Our outreach goals are to:

• Promote Evidence-Based Health Education

Develop and share accurate, research-informed resources that improve understanding of the relationship between nutrition, lifestyle behaviors, and mental well-being.

• Bridge Research and Community

Create opportunities for dialogue among researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and community members through workshops, seminars, presentations, and educational events.

• Encourage Science Communication

Train students to effectively communicate scientific discoveries through presentations, digital media, educational materials, and public engagement initiatives.

• Expand Research Impact

Extend the reach of nutrition neuroscience research across campus, local communities, and broader national and international audiences.