I am Ariston Gray, a senior biology major in the Fulbright college of arts and sciences. I began my research with Dr. Jamie Baum of the Food Science department in the spring of 2020. I began working with Dr. Erin Howie of the Health, Human Performance, and Recreation department in the fall of 2020. I found my mentor, Dr. Jamie Baum, while looking into research in the Food Science Department. I was interested in research in food science because I am a board member of the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry, and I wanted to research a topic that was relevant to this experience. I wanted to be able to research a topic that I could then use to enhance our knowledge of food and nutrition at the Full Circle Food Pantry.

Originally, I was going to be examining the effects of time restricted feeding and protein supplementation on body composition and food intake in overweight and obese adults. Due to the pandemic, Dr. Baum helped me pivot my research in order to continue with a version of my original plan while also following COVID-19 safety guidelines. Dr. Baum put me into contact with Dr. Howie to gain access to Dr. Howie’s research data from a survey she has been conducting for over three years. I am in the beginning stages of my research in which I will be analyzing the data from the survey to measure protein intake, body composition, sleep, and physical activity. I will be researching the effects of the level of dietary protein intake on the factors of sleep, physical activity, and body composition in males and females ages 18 years and older.

This research can provide insight into how dietary protein can affect people in many aspects of their lives. The real-world application of this research includes analysis of data that can provide insight into how protein intake can affect men differently than women as well as the differences present based on age. I hope to be able to find important relationships between these factors so people can understand how dietary protein affects the body and how they can use these results for their own dietary protein intake regimens.

I have faced challenges due to the pandemic. I had to shift my research from in-person human research to survey-based research. The original study I was going to collect data under was postponed until January of 2021 because of the safety issues regarding the pandemic. I was able to keep the focus of my research on protein intake, but I shifted my data collection method and some of my research factors. I also had to modify my previous thesis in order to make it align with the new path I am taking with this research.

My future plans include continuing to research under Dr. Baum and Dr. Howie for the spring of 2021 semester to finalize my research on dietary protein intake. As I continue my research in the spring of 2021 semester, I will begin to analyze the data from the survey and craft my thesis based on my findings. I hope to find useful correlations that can provide insight into dietary protein intake and their effects on factors such as body composition, sleep, and physical activity. After graduation, I plan on exploring master’s degree options as well as the possibility of applying to law school.