Christopher Colvin, BS
Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
What has had the greatest impact on your career path in nutrition?
One of the biggest impacts on my career in nutrition has been seeking out great mentors. For me that started with Dr. Annie W. Lin, my nutrition biochemistry and research mentor at Benedictine University. In her class we analyzed nutrition research papers helping me reconcile discrepancies I found between my classes and social media/podcast information. I gained experience evaluating research to determine what information was trustworthy and working through each step of the research process. She pushed me to pursue my growing interest in research. With her support, I reached out to top nutrition labs, earning a position in Dr. Kevin Hall’s lab whose groundbreaking papers helped spark my fascination with nutrition science. In his lab I can now aim higher with his and Dr. Aaron Hengist’s support in growing my research career.
My advice to students: Seek out mentors in the part of nutrition that excites you the most. Take classes that inspire you, get involved in their labs, and don’t be afraid to aim high in the small world of nutrition. Nutrition is full of different opportunities in clinical nutrition, research, public health, and other areas. The support of your mentors can give you the tools and confidence to find and pursue your unique passions in the field.
