Clara Cho

Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences

One-Carbon Metabolism, Methyl Nutrients, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome

Assistant Professor

Contact Information

Go toOffice Location: NFS 303
DialPhone: 435-797-5369
SendEmail: clara.cho@usu.edu

Website

Educational Background

PhD, Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, 2014 Dissertation

Role of methyl group vitamins in hypothalamic development of food intake regulation in Wistar rats

BS, Physiology, Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, 2009

Biography

I obtained my PhD in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto in 2014. My PhD thesis was on the role of methyl group vitamins in hypothalamic development of food intake regulation in Wistar rats. I completed my postdoctoral fellowship from 2014-2016 in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University examining the impact of diet and gut microbiota on trimethylamine-N-oxide production and fate in humans. I am currently an Assistant Professor in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences at Utah State University.

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests include integrating concepts from nutritional sciences, physiology and biochemistry in specialized upper-year courses, as well as building foundational knowledge in introductory courses. I have developed a new course on Nutritional Neuroscience (NDFS 5400/6400) that focuses on how nutrition influences brain function, and how nutrition and the brain interact to impact human health.

Research Interests

My research focuses on one-carbon metabolism and methyl nutrients, and their role as determinants of obesity, metabolic syndrome and chronic disease risk. My work utilizes animal models and human studies to answer mechanistic questions from genetic, epigenetic, physiologic, metabolic and microbiome perspectives.

Awards

Award Finalist, 2016

American Society for Nutrition, Postdoctoral Research Award Competition, Experimental Biology

Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2015

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Award Finalist, 2014

American Society for Nutrition, Graduate Research Award Competition, Experimental Biology

Poster Award, 2013

American Society for Nutrition, Nutrition-Gene Interaction (NGI) Research Interest Section (RIS), Experimental Biology

Poster Award, 2013

American Society for Nutrition, Student Interest Group (SIG), Experimental Biology

Travel Award, 2013

Household Sciences and Nutritional Sciences Alumni Association, University of Toronto

Chapter Champion Award, 2012

Canadian Obesity Network-Students and New Professionals (CON-SNP)

Travel Award, 2011

Developmental and Perinatal Biology Workshop, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden