Safe Food Matters Project (SafeFM)

This is a study that examines factors influencing optimal food safety practices among mothers of under-age 5 children in  Nigeria. We are using a multi-approach including survey, photovoice, microbial enumeration, and geo-visualization to understand barriers experienced at the household level and among community key stakeholders to mitigate food safety issues and foodborne illness.  We will use a community-based participatory approach to identify solutions to improved food safety practices and health outcomes among the target population. More information on the project can be found here.

Healthy Food Access Matters Project (HealthyFM) 

This project focuses on place-based and food systems interventions' impact on improving food access, nutrition- and health-related outcomes in racial-ethnic minorities and underserved communities.

We are currently understudying three different projects on HealthyFM:

Geographies and Impacts of Community Food Resources: This is an epidemiological study of community food environments and associated health outcomes. It seeks to understand access to and usage of community food resources (including food assistance, retail, and service resources) among the low-income population (including refugees and immigrants). We will use a combination of qualitative and quantitative research approaches to explore what healthy food access means to this population as well as their reliance and resourcefulness with available community food resources.

Patterns of Redemption and Use of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Benefits among Refugees and Immigrants: The study includes: i) a quantitative analysis of Utah WIC benefits issuance, redemption data, and biometric data of refugee and immigrant families, ii) a qualitative analysis of interviews among Utah WIC participants with refugee and immigrant status on their experience with the WIC program, impacts on nutrition-related outcomes, and barriers to the use of their WIC benefits.

Youths' Participation in Climate-smart School-based Gardening and Impacts: The project will establish gardening training programs in secondary schools on the indigenous vegetables and fruits value chain for 200 in-school and out-of-school youths, using innovative good agricultural practices and climate-smart approaches to generate new knowledge critical to building the youth's entrepreneurial skills for livelihood and nutrition security from a gender perspective. The project will facilitate the availability, affordability,  and utilization (through nutrition education) of IVs&Fs all year round to improve diet diversity and nutrition outcomes among youths and their families. More information about the project can be found here.

Black Immigrant's Representation in STEM Fields:  With interest in international development and wellness among immigrants, this study uses a mass collaboration research approach and predictive modeling to examine factors influencing the retention of Black immigrant graduates in STEM fields in high-income countries. More information on the project can be found here.