People

Principal Investigator

R. Chris Skinner

Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont

Chris is originally from West Virginia and completed his BS in Exercise Science at West Virginia Wesleyan College, a small liberal arts college. He then went on to complete a MS in Exercise Physiology and a PhD in Nutrition at West Virginia University. Following graduation, Chris joined the faculty at University of the Ozarks, a small liberal arts college in rural Arkansas. He re-located to Vermont with his spouse in 2021 and joined the UVM faculty in 2023 after a brief stint with the UVM Food Systems Research Center. Chris enjoys staying active, all things music, sports, exploring with his wife and dog, and reading.

Graduate Students

Ihsan Akili

PhD student, Animal Biosciences

Originally from Syria, Ihsan aspires to become a physician-scientist and is highly interested in exploring the complex relationship between diet, alcohol consumption, and steatotic liver disease. Prior to moving abroad, Ihsan worked as an internist at Aleppo University Hospital and as a health officer with several NGOs. He earned his MD from the University of Aleppo, Syria, his MSc in Public Health from the University of Debrecen, Hungary, and his second joint Master’s degree in Public Health in Emergencies from the University of Oviedo, Spain, and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities, reading, going to the gym, and playing chess.

FSRC Fellow Page | ResearchGate

Corina Miko

PhD student, Animal Biosciences

Corina graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in Animal Science and Microbiology. She investigates the functionality of brewing wastes such as pomaces as supplements to combat chronic diseases. Corina enjoys exploring everything Burlington has to offer and is often the lab's resident DJ. Outside of work she enjoys backpacking, playing tennis, and spending time with her cat.

ResearchGate

Maddy Orlowsky

MS student, Nutrition and Food Sciences

Maddy is from Belmar, New Jersey, and graduated from UVM with a degree in Nutrition and Food Science and minors in Health and Society in 2026. Maddy's research primarily focuses on the interaction of alcohol and different sweeteners. Beyond academics, she enjoys baking, exploring nature, and reading.

Patrick Shafer

PhD student, Food Systems

Patrick studies how farming and eating insects can help develop sustainable and circular food systems.Patrick’s goal is to diversify and strengthen regional food systems by re-introducing insects to make more food with less waste. He aims to apply his diverse background - in advertising, cooking, baking, food education, and farming - to encourage the adoption of farming and eating insects in the U.S. Patrick holds a MS in Food Systems from the University of Vermont where his work in mealworms began. A baker and farmer in his spare time, Patrick enjoys cooking, eating, and being outside.

FSRC Fellow Profile | ResearchGate

Mel Wetzel

MS student, Nutrition and Food Sciences

Mel completed her B.S. in Biological Science from the UVM in 2025. As an undergraduate, her research focused on cardiac physiology and biophysics with an emphasis on the role of the extracellular matrix in heart failure. Mel is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science at UVM, where she works under the mentorship of both Dr. Chris Skinner and Dr. Matthew Caporizzo. Her graduate research explores the effects of a Western diet and alcohol consumption on cardiac function. Originally from upstate New York, Mel developed a passion for mountain biking, which led her to race on the UVM cycling team. Mel is an avid cat lover, musician, and recently a mediocre triathlete (70.3!).

Undergraduate Students

Whitney Barbour

Junior, Biological Sciences

Whitney is originally from Old Lyme, CT, studying Biological Science at the University of Vermont. She is currently a junior with goals of going to PA school in the near future. Whitney joined the lab in the Fall 2025 semester to continue learning about nutrition. Some of her favorite activities outside of school are traveling out of the country, playing music, and spending time with friends.

Tess STrasser

Junior, Nutrition and Food Sciences

Tess is an undergraduate studying Food Science and Food Systems with a minor in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture. She joined the lab in 2025 where she currently works with Patrick and assists in the recipe development side of the research. For the past two years Tess has lived at the Slade Ecological Cooperative promoting local food systems and hosting community events. At every opportunity she has, she enjoys getting active outdoors and fermenting all kinds of food.

Alec Thibeault

Junior, Nutrition and Food Sciences

Alec is a sophomore nutrition and food sciences major from Sterling, Massachusetts. He is interested in getting involved in research surrounding global nutritional health. Specifically in the RAMP lab, he helps with the mice experiments and assists in analyzing data. In his free time, he is either watching hockey, skiing, lifting weights, or listening to music on his record player.

Cate Young

Junior, Exercise Science

Cate is a sophomore exercise science student who hopes to become an occupational therapist one day. She joined the lab in Fall of 2024 and has enjoyed learning about how the liver metabolizes toxins. In her free time, she enjoys bouldering, spending time with friends, and staying active in clubs.

Lab Volunteers

Brooks Beam

Brooks is from Richmond, Virginia; and majors in Biochemistry with a minor in Zoology. Brooks works to obtain data from mice and assists in data acquisition. Outside the lab Brooks like to work out, hang out with friends, and play Catan

Nadia Khalil

Nadia Khalil is from Seattle, WA, and is a Nutrition and Food Science major with a Dietetics concentration. In her free time, she likes to run, swim, hike, bike, and generally spend time outdoors.

Erin McAdams

Erin is a Nutrition and Food Science major and a chemistry minor from Havertown, Pennsylvania. She joined the lab in January 2026 to explore her interest in the impact diet has on slowing or preventing the progression of chronic diseases. Outside of academics, Erin enjoys oil painting, cooking and baking, running, rock climbing, and drawing!

Rebecca Samuels

Rebecca is from West Hartford, Connecticut and is an Exercise Science Major and Nutrition and Food Science minor. With a focus on human health and nutrition impacts, she joined the lab in the Spring 2025. She is a freshman who enjoys anything outdoors (biking, hiking, snowboarding, running), writing articles, and spending time with friends and family.

Kelly Schwaber

Kelly is from Baltimore, Maryland, and joined the lab in 2026. She majors in biochemistry on a pre-med track. In the lab, she assists with the mice projects and processing data. Outside of the lab, she rows for UVM rowing, plays video games, or listens to music.