Our MEMBERS

Dr. Lina Begdache, PhD, RDN, CDN, CNS-S, FAND, leads BSMART as its faculty mentor and advisor. Her work is driven by a mission to raise awareness about the misuse and non-medical use of ADHD medications and other substances among college students, and to better understand the behavioral, nutritional, and neurobiological factors that contribute to these patterns.

In addition to her classroom teaching and mentorship, Dr. Begdache collaborates closely with BSMART research assistants to develop novel research questions and advance interdisciplinary studies that connect nutrition, brain health, and substance use behaviors. Together, the team works to integrate fragmented areas of evidence into a clearer, more comprehensive understanding of student health and well-being.

Dr. Begdache also communicates her research findings through public scholarship to broaden awareness and translation of scientific evidence beyond academia. Her work on ADHD medication misuse has received significant recognition, with publications ranking in the top 5% of all research outputs as measured by Altmetric attention scores.

BSMART has gained growing visibility for its scientific rigor and societal relevance, with recent team research selected among the “Top 19 Incredible Research Breakthroughs” at Binghamton University.