Directory

Leadership

Brandi Childers : Assistant Director for Training, Programs and Partnerships

Brandi Childers

Assistant Director for Training, Programs and Partnerships

In April 2018, Brandi was promoted to the new position of Assistant Director for Training, Programs and Partnerships. She brings to her new position more than eight years experience in administration and community partnership management, and 11 years of experience at the NRI. She assists Eddie Serrano, Deputy Director of Research Administration, with Institute operations, oversee HR and administrative functions, plan and implement research-related programming, and continue to be the NRI liaison with the NCRC. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Brandi is a native of Kannapolis, where she has chosen to raise her family.

brandi_childers@unc.edu

Faculty

Martin Kohlmeier, MD, PhD : Professor, Nutrition

Martin Kohlmeier, MD, PhD

Professor, Nutrition

Dr. Kohlmeier joined the NRI in 2010 bringing his expertise in nutritional genetics to anchor the NRI’s mission of advancing knowledge of precision nutrition. He literally wrote the textbook on Nutrient Metabolism. Dr. Kohlmeier serves as faculty and primary investigator, and continues to develop a Precision Nutrition in Medicine (pNIM) course, which is an essential part of the NRI’s mission and vision. He also focuses on current industry-funded clinical studies, continuing his role as lead PI of the Project Baseline Oral Health Study at the NRI. This major study bridges our institute with the UNC Adams School of Dentistry, creating another among the many excellent collaborations NRI faculty have been building over recent years with our colleagues on main campus in Chapel Hill. Learn More.

mkohlmeier@unc.edu

Staff

Ryan Dayvault : Facilities and Special Projects Coordinator

Ryan Dayvault

Facilities and Special Projects Coordinator

Ryan Dayvault joined the NRI in May 2008, where he serves as the Assistant to the Deputy Director and Special Projects Coordinator. A native of Kannapolis and 2008 graduate of Catawba College, Ryan holds a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in public administration and a minor in business administration. An avid supporter of the efforts at the North Carolina Research Campus, Ryan has served in various capacities throughout the development of this project while in college and maintaining his residency in Kannapolis.

ryan_dayvault@unc.edu
Julie Hasken, PhD, MPH : Research Associate, May Lab

Julie Hasken, PhD, MPH

Research Associate, May Lab

Julie joined the NRI in 2012 as a Project Manager for Dr. Philip May focusing on the prevalence, child characteristics, and maternal risk factors of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in the United States and South Africa. She earned her doctorate from the UNC-CH Department of Nutrition in 2021 and is now a postdoctoral research associate with Dr. May. Julie earned her BS in Health Science from Truman State University and a Masters in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Education and Health Behavior, from UNC-CH. Julie is also a Certified Health Education Specialist.

 

jhasken@email.unc.edu
Scott Jaworski : Applications Analyst

Scott Jaworski

Applications Analyst

Scott Jaworski joined the NRI in May 2008, where he serves as the Applications Analyst and IT Consultant. Scott brings years of experience in the University IT field, having worked in the IT Technical Support field both as a student and staff member at UNC Charlotte, where he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science in 2001.

scott_jaworski@unc.edu