The 2025 honorees will be recognized in Orlando at NUTRITION 2025, the largest nutrition meeting of the year.
Rockville, MD (April 3, 2025) – The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and the ASN Foundation proudly announce the distinguished recipients of the 2025 National Scientific Achievement Awards today. Recognizing outstanding contributions and pioneering advancements in the field of nutrition, these awards serve as a testament to excellence and innovation.
“We are proud to celebrate these outstanding individuals whose impactful work continues to advance the field of nutrition science,” said Sarah Booth, PhD, President of ASN. “Their contributions deepen our understanding of nutrition and health and serve as an inspiration for future generations of researchers and professionals.”
Paul M. Coates, PhD, Chair of the ASN Foundation Board of Trustees, shared appreciation for the ongoing success of the Scientific Achievement Awards program, made possible by the generous and steadfast support of our donors and advocates. “We are honored to celebrate this esteemed group of leaders, representing all career stages, for their impactful contributions to the nutrition community and their dedication to advancing public health.”
Lifetime Achievement Awards
George Bray Outstanding Scientific Achievements Award in Obesity Research
Endowed by Dr. George A. Bray and his wife, Marilyn M. Bray.
Thomas Wadden, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Jean-Pierre Habicht Lifetime Achievements in International Nutrition Award
Supported by donors of the Jean-Pierre Habicht Lifetime Achievement in Global Nutrition Research Award Fund.
Maureen Black, PhD, DSc, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Robert Suskind and Leslie Lewinter-Suskind Pediatric Nutrition Lifetime Achievement Award
Endowed by Dr. Robert Suskind and his wife, Leslie Lewinter-Suskind.
Karim Manji, MBBS, MMED, MPH, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Conrad A Elvehjem Award for Public Service in Nutrition
The award is supported by Mondelēz International.
Pamela Starke-Reed, PhD, Retired, USDA Agricultural Research Service
David Kritchevsky Career Achievement Award
The award is supported by Mondelēz International.
David Jenkins, MD, PhD, DSc, University of Toronto
Investigator and Educator Awards
(for investigators 10 or more years past their terminal degree)
ASN Foundation Mentorship Award*
Juan Loor, PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The E. V. McCollum Award*
Leanne Redman, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
The Excellence in Nutrition Education Award*
Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD, MPH, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition Innovation Award
This award is endowed by the General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition.
Lauren Au, PhD, RDN, University of California, Davis
Haleon Consumer Healthcare Nutritional Science Award
This award is supported by Haleon.
Kyla Shea, PhD, Tufts University USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
The Mary Swartz Rose Investigator Award*
Shengmin Sang, PhD, North Carolina A&T State University
The McCormick Science Institute Research Award
The award is endowed by the McCormick Science Institute.
Hang Xiao, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Nevin Scrimshaw Mid-Career Award in Global Nutrition
Supported by a grant from the Sight and Life Foundation and contributions from Global Nutrition Council members.
Jennifer Coates, PhD, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
The Osborne and Mendel Award
The award traditionally has been supported by IAFNS.
Andrew Greenberg, MD, FACS, AGAF, Tufts University
Robert H Herman Memorial Award*
Sue Shapses, PhD, RD, DFASN, Rutgers University
ASN Industry Recognition Award*
Chris Cifelli, PhD, FASN, National Dairy Council
Early Career Investigator Awards
(for investigators less than 10 years past their terminal degree)
The Bio-Serv Award in Experimental Animal Nutrition
The award is supported by Bio-Serv, Inc.
Min-Hyun Kim, PhD, Arizona State University
The ELR Stokstad Award
The award is supported by an endowment from the ELR Stokstad family.
Vishal Singh, M.Pharm., PhD, Pennsylvania State University
The Mary Swartz Rose Early Career Investigator Award*
Sugasini Dhavamani, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
The Mead Johnson Award
The award is endowed by the Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute.
Muzi Na, PhD, M.H.S, Pennsylvania State University
The National Dairy Council Endowed Dairy Science Award
This award is endowed by Dairy Management Inc. on behalf of the National Dairy Council.
Ioanna Yiannakou, PhD, MS, RD, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
The Norman Kretchmer Memorial Award in Nutrition and Development*
Elizabeth Widen, PhD, RD, University of Texas at Austin
Outstanding Early Career I Professional Award
This award is supported by Wild Hive.
Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, DipACLM, FAND, FAHA, University of California, Irvine
Outstanding Early Career II Professional Award
This award is supported by Weight Watchers.
Hassan Dashti, PhD, RD, Massachusetts General Hospital
The Peter J Reeds Early Career Investigator Award
This award was established with an initial contribution from the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine.
Adrian Soto-Moto, MD, PhD, FACP, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran
The Samuel J Fomon Early Career Physician Award
The award is endowed by the Nestlé Nutrition Institute.
Bridget Hron, MD, MMSc Boston Children’s Hospital
Other Awards
Korean Nutrition Society (KNS) Award
This award is supported by the Korean Nutrition Society.
Sungeun Choi, PhD, RDN, Queens College, The City University of New York
Nutrition Society of Taiwan (NST) Award
This award is supported by the Nutrition Society of Taiwan.
Mei Chung, PhD, MPH, Tufts University
ASN Volunteer of the Year Award*
Barbara Lyle, PhD, B Lyle, Inc.
Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD, FASN, University of California, Los Angeles
ASN Journal Research Publishing Awards
(targeted to investigators at all career stages)
The Journal of Nutrition’s Milton L. Sunde Award
This award is endowed by the Sunde Family.
In-Ovo Glutamine Administration Enhances Intestinal Development and Functions in Broiler Chickens: Insights from Enteroid Models
First Author: Liang-En Yu, PhD, University of Delaware
Corresponding Author: Yihang Li, PhD, University of Delaware
The Journal of Nutrition’s Malden Nesheim Nutrition Landscape Award
This award is sponsored by Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology.
A History of the Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the Americas: A Dramatic Achievement and Lessons Learned
First Author: Eduardo A. Pretell, MD, Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University, Lima, Peru
Corresponding Author: Elizabeth N. Pearce, MD, MSc, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine
The Journal of Nutrition’s A. Catharine Ross Award in Experimental Nutrition
This award is sponsored by Research Diets, Inc.
Feeding Parenteral Nutrition in the Neonatal Period Programs Dyslipidemia in Adulthood in Yucatan Miniature Pigs
First Author: Raniru S. Randunu, MS, University of Newfoundland
Corresponding Author: Robert Bertolo, PhD, University of Newfoundland
The Journal of Nutrition’s Teresa A. Davis Award in Growth and Protein Nutrition
This award is supported by donations to the Teresa A. Davis Award Fund.
Plant-Based Milk Consumption and Growth in Children 1–10 Years of Age
First Author: Izabela Soczynska, PhD, University of Toronto
Corresponding Author: Jonathon L. Maguire, MD, University of Toronto
Fellowship, Scholarships and Funding Opportunities
(targeted to students and early career investigators)
Gerber Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
This award is endowed by The Gerber Foundation.
Joelle Sfeir, BS, Texas A&M University
Haleon Predoctoral Fellowship
This award is supported by Haleon.
Sylvia Lee, MS, Colorado State University
ASNF Undergraduate Diversity Research Fellowship
This award is supported by the ASN Foundation and its generous donors.
2025-2026 Class of Undergraduate Diversity Research Fellows will be announced at NUTRITION 2025.
Clinical Nutrition Internship Program*
Sarah Bedor, BS, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
Early Career Nutrition Seed Funding Program Pilot Grant
This award is supported by the National Pork Board.
Juan Aguilera, MD, PhD, MPH, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in El Paso
The National Dairy Council Early Career Investigator Research Award
This award is endowed by Dairy Management Inc. on behalf of the National Dairy Council.
Jingcheng Zhao, PhD, Pennsylvania State University
Top Reviewers for ASN Journals
Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal
Laural English, PhD, USDA, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Jenna Seymour, PhD, CDC, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
Connie Weaver, PhD, San Diego State University
Jo-Anna Baxter, PhD, University of Toronto
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Esther Lopez-Garcia, MPharm, MPH, PhD, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Fenglei Wang, PhD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Daniel Tome, PhD, Universite Paris-Saclay
Sathish Thirunavukkarasu, MD, PhD, Emory University
Andrew Odegaard, MPH, PhD, University of California Irvine
Current Developments of Nutrition
Kathy Hoy, RD, USDA, ARS
Stephanie Martin, PhD, University of North Carolina
Angeline Chatelan, PhD, Haute école de santé de Genève
Christopher Anderson, PhD, MSPH, Public Health Foundation Enterprises (PHFE) WIC
Fusta Azupogo, PhD, University for Development Studies
Esi K. Colecraft, DrPH, University of Ghana
The Journal of Nutrition
William Harris, PhD, Fatty Acid Research Institute
Aleix Sala-Vila, PhD, Fatty Acid Research Institute
Zhaolai Dai, PhD, China Agricultural University
Susan Carlson, PhD, University of Kansas
Josh Bilson, BSc, MRes, PhD, MRSB, University of Southampton
Kevin Maki, PhD, MB Clinical Research & Consulting
Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of the inaugural ASN Foundation – Novo Nordisk Foundation Henrik Dam Award for Scientific Discovery in Nutrition and Flemming Quaade Award for Innovative Approaches for the Prevention and/or Management of Childhood Obesity.
The 2025 National Scientific Achievement Award recipients will be celebrated May 31 – June 3 in Orlando, FL, during ASN’s annual flagship meeting, NUTRITION 2025.
For more information about ASN and the ASN Foundation, visit nutrition.org/foundation.
*Indicates awards in need of funding partners. If you are interested in supporting the ASN Foundation’s efforts to recognize outstanding contributions to the nutrition community, please contact Dante Preciado at dpreciado@nutrition.org.
