NC STATE UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Extension Assistant
- Extension Assistant / Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Nutrigenomics
- Assistant Professor, Nutrigenomics / Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
The Eroglu lab at NC State University strives to describe biochemical routes and downstream signaling effects of carotenoid metabolism by the gut microbiota in mammalian organisms. We are investigating the role of carotenoids in the gut microbiota and in mediating microbe-host interactions. The overall objective of our research program is to harness carotenoid metabolism in the gut microbiota and to reveal implications for host inflammation.
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Dr. Ahmad Ud Din completed his PhD in 2019. He joined Dr. Andrew Neilson at PHHI where he conducts advanced independent and/or directed research with a focus on the interaction between plant-derived phytochemicals, the human microbiome, and nutrition/health and evaluation of dietary phytochemicals and microbial metabolites in animal models.
His research interests include interplay between gut microbiome dysbiosis and interventions through prebiotics, probiotic and how they relate to different diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis) and colon cancer using various mouse models. His publications can be found in journals including the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, Genes & Disease, Cell Death Discovery, etc. Dr. Din is open to share ideas and work in collaboration. He has wide knowledge in multidisciplinary research area and connecting that to gut microbiome.
Job Titles:
- Extension Associate, STEM Education
Bio
Amy Bowman, is an Extension Associate in STEM Education with the N.C. State Extension component of PHHI. She develops and implements STEM-based instructional initiatives related to the research efforts by PHHI faculty. Initiatives include classroom modules, hands-on activity kits, web resources and handouts. She targets K-12 students by sharing resources with teachers, county Extension agents, home school groups and the general public. She coordinates training opportunities with fellow STEM educators to feature PHHI research and demonstrate seamless integration of PHHI resources into the curriculum.
A 15-year veteran middle grades teacher, Bowman holds her National Board Certification in Math.
Education
M.Ed. Middle and Secondary Education University of North Carolina at Charlotte
B.S. Biology Tennessee Technological University
Bio
Dr. Neilson's research focuses on the interactions between dietary phytochemicals (particularly flavonoids) and the gut microbiome, and how these interactions influence human health. Of specific interest are the bioactivities of microbial metabolites produced when the gut microbiome metabolizes unabsorbed dietary components. Specific health areas of interest include gut health and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, Dr. Neilson is investigating how individual genetic variability influences the efficacy of dietary phytochemicals for improvement of gut health and metabolic syndrome. Prior to joining PHHI, Dr. Neilson spent 7.5 years as a faculty member at Virginia Tech.
Bio
Anna Guiotto is a Visiting Scholar in the Valacchi Lab.
Job Titles:
- Extension Assistant, Visual Communications
Bio
Becky Lane provides visual communication expertise to the Plants for Human Health Institute, through graphic design, videography and photographer. She works with PHHI faculty and staff, as well as PHHI's Extension team to develop materials that support research and programmatic outreach. Becky brings a wealth of experience to this position from past marketing positions in higher education and industry.
Education
BA History Furman University
Job Titles:
- IT Implementation Support Professional II
Job Titles:
- Research Technician
- Lab Technician for the Plants for Human Health Institute
Bio
Charles Warlick has worked as a lab technician for the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI) since 2012. Previously an intern in the lab of Dr. Mary Ann Lila, he has earned A.A.S. degrees in biotechnology and electrical engineering, as well as a B.S. in biology.
Warlick is responsible for completing extractions and performing assays and has done extensive work in walnut research. Other work experience includes being a "Failure Analysis Technician" for IBM and Solectron over the past 20 years. When not assisting in groundbreaking research involving the elucidation of health-promoting phytochemicals in plants, he enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends, as well as water sports like jet skiing and boating.
Education
BS Biology
AAS Biotechnology
AAS Electrical Engineering
Job Titles:
- Translational Nutrition Program Manager
Cheri Granillo is responsible for developing and disseminating programs related to research affecting health and wellness and the Plants for Human Health Institute. Her particular interests include prevention and disease mitigation through diet change and maintenance. She has experience as a Primary Care medical provider in underserved communities.
Education
DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice University of North Carolina Charlotte
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
BSN Registered Nurse Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
BS Biology, Nutrition Concentration NC State University
BA Spanish Language and Literature NC State University
Job Titles:
- Distinguished Professor
- Owner of Dole Food Company, Inc.
David H. Murdock, owner of Dole Food Company, Inc., envisioned a world-class research campus where collaborative science could yield discoveries in nutrition, health and plant sciences. Realizing the potential of the life sciences to help cure diseases and improve health, Murdock partnered with North Carolina to create an innovative, state-of-the-art research campus. The N.C. Research Campus has partnerships with public and private institutions of higher learning as well as local, national and global business ventures. About 30 miles north of Charlotte and 130 miles west of Raleigh, the N.C. Research Campus is located in Kannapolis. Where aging textile mill buildings once stood, modern laboratories and offices have risen. The first three campus buildings were dedicated and opened in October 2008.
Mary Ann Lila holds the David H. Murdock Distinguished Professorship, and is a Professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences. Through ground-breaking, transdisciplinary discovery and outreach, her team of faculty at the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI) pioneers a dramatic shift in the way the American public views and uses food crops - not merely as a source of nutrients and flavorful calories, but as a powerful resource for components that protect and enhance human health. Integrated research in metabolomics, biochemistry, pharmacogenomics, molecular breeding, regenerative medicine, translational food science and nutrition and postharvest are aimed at development and promotion of mainstream fruit and vegetable produce with enhanced health benefits, and introduction of new or underappreciated crops and products from around the globe, allowing consumers to make proactive, responsible dietary choices that benefit their own, and their families' health. Dr. Lila is a recipient of the Babcock-Hart Award for food technology/public health (through the IFT), 2024 IFT Fellow, and the Copernico Bronze Medal for Food Science & Nutrition.
Recent projects include a Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) grant on ‘Closing the gap in delivery of fruit and vegetable benefits'; a USDA-funded initiative on polyphenol-protein aggregates for attenuation of food allergies; a USDA ANNH initiative on ‘Back to the River; the science behind Alaska's traditional subsistence lifestyle'; a USDA SCRI CAP grant on leveraging genomic and genetic resources to enable improved blueberry and cranberry fruit quality attributes; a USDA/ARS Pulse Crop Health Initiative; and a Phase II USDA SBIR on ‘Clean, cost-effective technology to recover and stabilize phytoactive fruit compounds from waste streams'.
Education
BSc Horticultural Science University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MSc Plant Pathology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PhD Plant Biology University of Wisconsin at Madison
Job Titles:
- University Program Specialist
Dona Miller is part of the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI) business operations team. Her role is multifaceted, touching the areas of finance, travel, post-award grants and visa processing. She also oversees a campus Faculty House as well as daily office policies and procedures.
Education
BS Psychology Fayetteville State University
AA Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
AS Office Administration Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
AS Information Systems Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Bio
Doug Vernon is a retired agricultural education teacher. In his role with PHHI Extension, he connects PHHI with the community, especially through local schools and school gardens. He forges partnerships that help facilitate outreach program efforts. Vernon also coordinates Scientist for a Day, a unique experience where select students from Kannapolis City Schools spend a day at PHHI hearing from scientists and learning about STEM careers and research that is taking place at the NC Research Campus.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Plant Food Processing
- Assistant Professor, Plant Food Processing / Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences
Dr. Marvin Moncada's research interest is focused on a plant-based total utilization engineering program designed to create value-added products, starting with the processing of raw materials and food by-products and continuing through the development of novel food products or food ingredients. Additionally, his program will be involved in research related to the processing, characterization, and bioactivity of industrial hemp.
Education
PhD Louisiana State University
MS Louisiana State University
BS Zamorano University
Job Titles:
- Principal Research Scholar
Bio
Dr. Mary Grace works in the lab of Dr. Mary Ann Lila. She is involved with the investigation of bioactive components in fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs. There are three components to her research:
Natural products chemistry including isolation, characterization and structural elucidation of secondary metabolites from plants and other natural sources.
Biological evaluation of those active natural substances for their potency to alleviate symptoms of some acute and chronic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, age-related diseases, malaria and cancer.
Development of analytical techniques for medicinal plant analysis.
Education
PhD Cairo University
Job Titles:
- Associate Director, PHHI
- Associate Professor at NCSU
Dr. Massimo Iorizzo is an Associate Professor at NCSU with over 16 years of experience in plant breeding, genetics and genomics. Iorizzo's research aims to establish genetic and genomic resources to elucidate the genes involved in quality and nutritional characteristics of plants, including the accumulation of health promoting compounds (e.g. anthocyanin, carotenoids, flavanols) in fruits and vegetables, in addition to other economically important plant characteristics, such as disease resistance. Target crops in Iorizzo's research program include banana, blueberry, carrot, cranberry, pineapple, potato, spinach and sweetpotato.
In 2024, Iorizzo was appointed associate director of Plants for Human Health Institute.
Education
PhD Agrobiology and Agrochemistry University of Naples "Federico II" 2009
BS Agricultural Science University of Naples "Federico II" 2005
Job Titles:
- Professor, Postharvest Physiologist
Dr. Penny Perkins-Veazie heads research on postharvest physiology and technology for fruits and vegetables for North Carolina State University. Her research involves storage methods to extend shelf life, collaborative studies to determine fruit and vegetable roles in human health, storage technologies to enhance functional food compounds, and the identification and quantification of health-related compounds in fruits and vegetables and from production systems. She also evaluates food safety, quality and consumer-appeal characteristics such as fla vor, color, antioxidants and texture to make sure growers will have better quality fruits and vegetables for high-value markets.
Education
PhD University of Florida
MS University of Florida
BS University of Maine
Dr. Renee Strauch works as a senior research scholar in Dr. Mary Ann Lila's lab, and their research focuses on the bioactive compounds found in some foods that benefit human health when consumed. Berries, such as blueberries, black currants, and cranberries, have high levels of polyphenols and are associated with heart-health, neuroprotective benefits, cancer chemoprevention and antidiabetic properties. The mechanisms by which these polyphenols improve our health and reduce disease incidence, however, is not known. Using her experience in biochemistry, natural products chemistry, HPLC-MS and metabolomics, Renee is working to identify plant bioactives, understand their metabolism, and define the mechanisms by which they impact human health.
Education
PhD Northwestern University
BS Miami University
Erin Deaton works in the lab of Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie. Her lab responsibilities include: assisting in evaluating the quality, flavor, and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, operating and maintaining lab equipment, preparing samples for HPLC and UPLC analysis, performing laboratory tests, and recording research data.
Education
BS Biology University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Job Titles:
- High Performance Computing Manager
Bio
Harry Schulz helps manage the Kay Lab and has been very involved in creating the documents relating to the laboratory information management system as well as supporting researchers with work in the lab during plate analysis using the LCMS and with data extraction.
Schulz previously worked for the NC BioNetwork (which offers resources for businesses and schools including training, STEM promotion and lab services) in their natural products laboratory as a lab assistant preparing standards for analysis and performing some lab analysis of products. He also worked for a small natural products company that produced organic goldenseal tinctures and capsules, creating and updating documents and providing lab support including organoleptic analysis, moisture content, ash analysis, yeast and mold counts, microbial counts and assisting with method development. In addition, he worked for a small cosmetics company performing quality control and assurance testing during and after manufacturing process.
Education
BA Philosophy Swarthmore College
AAS Biotechnology Asheville-Buncombe Tech
Bio
Jack Lotito manages and maintains the growing facilities for NC State in Kannapolis. PHHI maintains greenhouse and growth chamber space used by PHHI faculty and staff, other academic institutions and industry. Jack's responsibilities include helping ensure that research is carried out accurately, safely and effectively. He also receives and manages space allocation requests in coordination with the space allocation committee.
Education
AAS Biotechnology Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Bio
Janelle Gutierrez is a graduate student pursuing a Master's degree. She is a graduate research assistant in the lab of Dr. Slavko Komarnytsky.
Education
BS Food Science University of San Jose
Job Titles:
- Director, Business and Research Administration
Bio
Jonathan Baros provides administrative oversight for the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI), including coordinating Account Maintenance, Human Resources, Facilities and Outreach. He serves as a liaison with main campus administrators in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as well as faculty from multiple departments within the college to support PHHI personnel.
Baros manages all of the institute budgets and handles post-award accounts. He oversees logistics of human resources activities and recruitment coordination, monitors maintenance and facilities contracts, and acts as a point-of-contact resource for N.C. Research Campus initiatives and outreach opportunities.
In addition, Baros coordinates PHHI Extension's efforts and programs, which include communications, nutrition education, STEM education and farm business management.
Education
MBA Business Administration East Carolina University
MS Agricultural Economics Texas A&M University
BS Agricultural Economics Texas A&M University
Job Titles:
- Research Technician
- Research Assistant in the Lab of Dr. Andrew Neilson
Bio
Juanita Ratliff is a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Andrew Neilson.
Education
BS Animal Science West Virginia University
Bio
Kathya works in the Moncada lab assisting in the development of plant-based food products using food industry by-products. She also works in the extraction and quantification of bioactive compounds and macronutrients from different natural sources.
Education
BS Food Science and Technology
Dr. Gao works as a research scholar in Dr. Massimo Iorizzo's lab, where their research focuses on the quality and genomics of vegetables and fruits. The lab studies various crops (blueberries, carrots and more) to improve their nutritional value, shelf life, and resistance to diseases. By exploring the genetic basis of traits such as flavor, texture, and nutrient content, Liang aims to enhance the overall quality of produce. Using expertise in genomics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, Liang is working to identify key genetic markers associated with desirable traits in fruits and vegetables. Some of the extended research could involve the study of how these plant-based bio-molecules impact or benefit human health, nutrition and wellbeing.
Education
PhD University of Minnesota
Lila was formerly Director (2008-2024) of Plants for Human Health Institute, Director (2006-2008) of ACES Global Connect (the international arm of the College of ACES, University of Illinois) and Associate Director of the nationally acclaimed Functional Foods for Health Program (1997-2000) at the University of Illinois. Dr. Lila has been honored with the Paul A. Funk Scholarship Recognition Award (the premier research award in the College of ACES, University of Illinois), the Spitze Professorial Career Excellence Award, the Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, the University Scholar Award, the Amoco Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction, and the Lilly Endowment Teaching Fellowship. Dr. Lila has ongoing research projects in Australia, New Zealand, and various countries in Europe and Africa, and is Vice President of the Global Institute for BioExploration (GIBEX). In 1999, Dr. Lila won a Fulbright Senior Scholarship to conduct research and outreach in New Zealand, and (at least before COVID) returns to Australasia at least once/year.
Job Titles:
- Media Contact
- Extension Associate, Communications
Megan Bame provides communications and public relations expertise to the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI), including the N.C. State Extension component of PHHI. She works with faculty and staff at PHHI and the NC Food Innovation Lab to develop and execute a variety of strategic marketing communication plans and resources. Responsibilities include media relations, website updates, writing and editing expertise, multimedia development and the creation, packaging and marketing of educational resources that position PHHI and Extension for continued success.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Student
- Graduate Student / Department of Horticultural Science
Ms. Joyce Edwards works in the lab of Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie. Her primary responsibilities include operating and maintaining lab equipment, preparing samples, performing laboratory tests, stocking the laboratory and recording research data. Ms. Edwards plays an important role in helping to coordinate and lead lab tours, school visits and valuable training events involving visitors from across the state and region.
Education
AAS Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Ms. Lorie Beale works in the lab of Dr. Mary Ann Lila.
Education
AAS Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Bio
Dr. Muhammad Ali Abid works in Dr. Massimo Iorizzo's laboratory as a postdoctoral researcher. His research focuses on the understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation and biosynthesis of secondary metabolite accumulation in plants, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, and organic acids. The ultimate goal is to identify genes and candidate mutations controlling secondary metabolite accumulation that can be targeted for DNA-assisted breeding either through marker-assisted selection or gene editing.
Education
PhD Crop Genetics and Breeding
Job Titles:
- Graduate Student
- Graduate Student / Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
Bio
Qirui Cui is interested in plant epigenetics and endosperm development. He works with a plant demethylase DME, which controls the epigenetic status of the plant, especially in the endosperm. He will study different phenotypes caused by DME plants, infer DME's role in development, and investigate DME's molecular targeting functions.
Job Titles:
- Facilities Maintenance Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor, Pharmacogenomics
Job Titles:
- Professor, Plant Metabolic Pathway Engineer