Caroline Coughlin

Author: Caroline Coughlin | Major: Biology and Psychology | Semester: Summer 2024

My name is Caroline Coughlin, a senior double majoring in Biology and Psychology in the Fulbright College of Art and Sciences. Under the mentorship of Dr. Jamie Baum from the Department of Food Science, I conducted research during the Summer 2024 semester on how daily beef consumption affects sleep quality, mood, and body composition in active postmenopausal women. My future plans involve medical school where I aim to incorporate nutritional science with clinical practice to improve patient care and health outcomes –addressing both medical and dietary needs.

Have you ever wondered how daily beef consumption affects active postmenopausal women? My research dives into this question, focusing on whether eating beef regularly could influence sleep quality, mood, and body composition. Postmenopause often brings changes in metabolism and hormonal balance, making it crucial to understand how diet impacts women’s health. Beef is packed with protein and essential nutrients, so I am exploring whether it offers any benefits or drawbacks for women in this demographic. If my findings reveal positive impacts, it could lead to better personalized nutrition plans that address the specific needs of postmenopausal women. Conversely, if adverse effects are observed, it could promote revisions in dietary recommendations and highlight the need for alternative protein sources that better support their health.

I chose to investigate this topic because I noticed a significant gap in research concerning the impact of specific dietary choices on this demographic. Postmenopausal women undergo various physiological changes. Despite the growing focus on personalized nutrition, there was limited research exploring how commonly consumed foods, such as beef, influence health outcomes during this critical stage in a woman’s life. With personalized diets gaining popularity and catering to individual health needs, I saw an exciting opportunity to explore how a staple food like beef could impact health during postmenopause.

I found my mentor, Dr. Baum, by reaching out to faculty members whose research centered on nutritional science. Initially, I contacted multiple professors to discuss my research interests. Through these discussions, Dr. Baum stood out.  We discussed various topics related to nutrition and its effects on different demographics. Dr. Baum shared my enthusiasm for this topic and has offered valuable guidance.

This summer we’ve been focused on securing our IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval, which is a crucial step for ensuring that our study meets ethical standards. Additionally, we’re in the process of uploading our study to ClinicalTrials.gov which makes our research details publicly accessible. We also updated our Detecto system to ensure that our data collection tools are up-to-date and functioning perfectly. Each of these tasks has been crucial for the smooth progression of the project, and I’m excited to see everything coming together as we move closer to launching the study.

One major hurdle was the technical issues with updating our Detecto systems, however we combated this issue with persistence and patience, ultimately ensuring the project stays on track and runs smoothly. I am most excited for participant recruitment, which is set to kick off mid-August. This will be a pivotal moment for my research, because engaging with participants will bring the study to life and allow us to start gathering meaningful data. I’m looking forward to the challenges and success that come with this next phase, and I am eager to see how the research unfolds and watch how everything comes together!