Lindsey analyzing diet record nutrition summary.

My name is Lindsey Herberger. I am a senior majoring in Biology in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and just wrapped up my last semester of research funding with the Honors College. My plan is to continue into medical school following graduation this Spring. I am currently completing research under Dr. Jamie Baum in the Human Nutrition Department with further correspondence with Dr. Erin Howie Hickey in the Exercise Science Research Center. When I first began my undergraduate research, my focus was on time-restricted feeding and how it affected body composition and sleep in overweight and obese adults. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States and campus was shut down, I had to learn to adapt to a new remote research project. This past semester has consisted of my research transitioning to focus on protein intake and exercise and how they affect academic performance in University of Arkansas students.

My research subjects include undergraduate engineering students from the University of Arkansas who completed a survey over history of chronic illnesses, social life, diet, exercise, and sleep habits. Using the kilocalorie diet records from each day with focus on the grams of protein consumed daily, exercise type and length, and GPAs, an analysis was performed on the association of protein intake and exercise and how they impact our academic performance. My research is impactful and directly applies to all undergraduate students on campus due to how it explores what a beneficiary diet and performing exercise each week can do for a students’ academics. My hope is that my research will open students’ eyes to the benefits of health and wellness while on campus.

I chose this topic due to the current job I hold today. I currently work as a Medical Assistant at Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics in Fayetteville where I get the opportunity to enter the exam room with the physician I work under and chart all patient visits including the history, physical exam, diagnoses, treatment plan, order labs, imagining, vaccinations, and send prescriptions to the pharmacy. Through my occupation, I have found an interest in diets and exercise for children and adolescents and how the two combined can affect overall health and development. With this interest, I became connected with Dr. Jamie Baum on campus and she was so helpful in getting me plugged into her research lab.

Through my research, I have learned of the importance of college students implementing physical activity and a healthy diet into their everyday routine. As a college student myself, I have seen firsthand how college courses and extracurricular activities can become overwhelming and limit the amount of time available for exercise and cooking healthy food. In addition, by working on my research during the global pandemic of COVID-19, I have learned adaptation and resilience. While it is difficult to complete my research completely remote, I am grateful to still have the opportunity to explore a topic I am passionate about. Dr. Baum has been a tremendous help through organizing my research endeavor during the year of 2020. She has guided me through the numerous questions I have had along the way via Microsoft Teams calls.

After completing my honors thesis over this research and graduating this coming Spring of 2021, I plan to attend medical school upon acceptance. My hope is to continue this research focus throughout medical school and into my desired career as a pediatrician in the Fayetteville, Arkansas community.