Saralyn Foster, MS, RD, LD

Saralyn has a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M in College Station, completed her dietetic internship at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, and a M.S. in Health & Kinesiology from UTSA. She is a doctoral student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and her research interests include mother and infant nutrition. She has worked as a registered dietitian for 13 years primarily in pediatric inpatient and outpatient settings.

Marcela Abrego, MPH

Marcela is a doctoral student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She earned her Master of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her areas of interest were Nutrition and Health Quality. She has been an Intervention Specialist at UNC, a Research Assistant at the University of Virginia, and Research Data Analyst for an international fatty-acid-focused non-profit named GOED.

Marcela’s research interests are in Maternal, Infant, and Child Nutrition and Health, particularly regarding metabolic syndrome. Her career goal is to work in academia as a research investigator and educator and to contribute to health policy improvement for mothers and children.

Anahí Ramos-Gonzalez, MsC

Anahi is from Mexico City and is in her second year as a doctoral student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She holds a Master of Science in Community Nutrition from the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico. Her research focuses on the first two years of life, exploring how caregiver-infant interactions influence eating behaviors, weight gain trajectories, and long-term health outcomes.

With a background in clinical and public health roles, she has supported vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. As a WIC Nutritionist, she provides nutritional counseling, breastfeeding support, and education experiences that shape her commitment to reducing health disparities.

Kayleen Whitley, MS, RD, LD

I am a first-year PhD student in the Widen Lab. I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees, as well as a dietetic internship, at the University of Houston. I worked as a pediatric clinical dietitian for three years at top children’s hospitals, which solidified my drive to pursue a doctoral degree in nutrition with a focus on infant and early childhood nutrition. My specific interests in this area of nutrition are caregiver feeding types, caregiver-responsive feeding sensitivity, and hunger self-regulation in children.

Madilyn Bradley

Madilyn is currently a Master’s student in the Department of Nutrition Sciences. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and plans to pursue a doctoral degree to further advance her research.

Her work focuses on understanding how urban design influences maternal and infant health, with a particular interest in how aspects such as neighborhood walkability and the food environment shape health outcomes. Through her research, Madilyn aims to contribute to evidence-based solutions that promote healthier communities and improve outcomes for mothers and their children.

Alia Callum

Robert Marc Macasieb

Robert is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Originally from Hilo, Hawaii, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, Robert worked with nonprofit organizations in Hawaii, focusing on promoting early literacy among young children and fostering socio-emotional development in adolescents from low-income communities.

Robert’s research examines the contextual and individual factors influencing first-time parenthood, with a particular emphasis on how these factors shape parent-child interactions and subsequent socio-emotional development. He aims to advance his work through academia, intervention programs, and policy initiatives to support smoother transitions into parenthood during the critical early years of life.

Bea Maclaine

Bradley Maclaine is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. They previously received their Master of Science in Social Work, also from UT. They studied psychology at the University of Illinois and have previously worked in various nonprofits in the child welfare field in both Illinois and Texas. Their current research focuses on the intergenerational transmission of family relationships and the impact of alcohol use on parent-child relationships.