Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics
Hi! I’m Claire, a graduate student at UC Berkeley. My research interests include designing dietary interventions, exploring the gut-brain axis, and expanding global nutrition. I aim to use my creativity to develop innovative solutions that enhance nutritional care.
Background
Growing up on a farm in rural Oregon has shaped my perspective on the importance of accessibility for individuals and communities to achieve longevity. Since then, I have learned principles of urban agriculture and continue to practice food cultivation in a community setting. I also believe culinary education can enhance self-efficacy in disease management and promote nutrition education, which can help in the prevention and early detection of diet-related chronic diseases. I volunteer and advocate for organizations that help more people access food and nutrition.
Please reach out to connect and collaborate.
Graduate Research and Projects
Human Nutrition Trial
A dietary intervention designed and implemented to evaluate the impact of a high-protein ovo-lacto vegetarian diet on nitrogen balance.
Molecular Nutrition Manuscript
An experiment that investigated changes in liver metabolism in both fed and fasted states when the PPAR-α gene was impaired.
"Neurometabolism: Gamma-aminobutyric Acid"
A paper exploring the metabolic regulation of the nonprotein amino acid and neurotransmitter GABA and its potential use in future targeted therapies for metabolic disorders.
Work Experience
Dietetic Internship - UCSF
A clinically focused dietetic internship at UCSF Health, emphasizing acute care, management, and specialty inpatient care.
18 Reasons - Cooking Class Assistant, San Francisco, CA
Delivered cooking and nutrition lessons emphasizing diabetes management at Dignity Health Hospital.
San Francisco SPCA - Veterinarian Technician, San Francisco, CA
Performed venipuncture, metabolic panels, cultures, and cytology at a veterinary hospital. Gained skills with electronic health records and complex scheduling.
Cellar 55 - Wine Cellar Manager, Vancouver, WA
Ran operations, designed charcuterie and tasting menus, and learned about viticulture under a sommelier.
Habitat for Humanity - Americorps Site Lead, Vancouver, WA
Taught volunteers how to build houses, and co-hosted events like Women’s Day, Youth Builds, and All Faith Days to encourage diversity and inclusivity on the construction site.
American Red Cross - Supervisor and Lead Phlebotomist, Portland, OR
Managed blood drives across the Pacific Northwest, trained staff, and performed medical screenings and blood collections for partnering hospitals.
Institute for Village Studies - Medical Intern, India and Nepal
Studied the cultural identities of Tibetan and Himalayan communities to collaborate with the Monpa tribe to complete children's health assessments and medically assisted in post-disaster healthcare clinics.
Classes
- Portuguese Cooking, Lisbon, Portugal
- Tortellini + Tiramisu, Venice, Italy
- Mediterranean Cooking, Athens, Greece
- Olive Oil Workshop, Naxos, Greece
- Cheese + Chocolate, Zurich, Switzerland
- Edible Herbs, Zurich, Switzerland
- Beekeeping, Gozo, Malta
- Wine Tasting + Production, Gozo, Malta
- Medicinal Herbs, Vancouver, WA
- Seasonal Jamming, Portland, OR
- Terrarium Building, Portland, OR
- Cacao Fermentation, San Francisco, CA
- Sake Brewing, Berkeley, CA
Books
This is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan
Sustainability by Jeremy Caradonna
The Good Gut by Justin Sonnenburg
We Are What We Eat by Alice Waters
Brain Energy by Christopher M. Palmer
Clean by James Hamblin
Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole
The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
Becoming by Michelle Obama
The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins
Living with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall
The Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness by Dawn Clifford
Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson
Slow Cooked: An Unexpected Life in Food Politics by Marion Nestle
Heavy: an American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
This is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo
Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse
Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung
Eating to Extinction by Dan Saladino
Attended Events
04.2024: CANDAC's 100th Annual Dietetics Conference - SF
03.2024: California Academy Advocacy Summit - Sacramento
03.2024: Taste of Asia Gala - Sprouts, SF
11.2023: Envisioning the Next 50 Years of Dietetics - UCB
10.2023: Teaching Kitchen Collaborative - Cleveland
10.2023: USDA Mental Health + Nutrition Network - Las Vegas
09.2023: Savoring Change Fundraiser - Sprouts, SF
05.2023: Master Chefs Gala - 18 Reasons, SF
04.2023: Sustainable Chef Panel - KQED, SF
12.2022: The Light We Carry Tour - Michelle Obama
11.2022: Food Politics - Marion Nestle
10.2022: Teaching Kitchen Research Conference - UCLA
09.2022: The Gut Microbiome - NUNM, Portland
07.2022: Slow Food Movement - Alice Waters
03.2022: Sprouts’ Benefit Gala - SF
08.2021: Culinary Medicine - Health meets Food Conference