Pranavi Kolli

My name is Pranavi Kolli, and I am from Austin, Texas. I am a second-year Nutrition major and undergraduate researcher at UT. I am interested in understanding how maternal health conditions and nutrition impact fetal and infant development. After graduating from UT, I hope to attend medical school.

Fun Fact: I love hiking and visiting national parks!

Marianna Deynzer

My name is Marianna Deynzer, and I am from Abilene, Texas. I am a Nutritional Sciences major with hopes of attending medical school after graduation from UT. My academic interests include maternal and infant nutrition, epigenetics, and metabolic health. In the future, I hope to incorporate my knowledge of nutrition into my career as a physician to effectively treat patients from underserved populations.

Fun Fact: I have a collection of cat mugs!

Kushi Kura

My name is Kushi Kura and I’m from The Woodlands, Texas. I am an undergraduate researcher at UT, majoring in public health and minoring in health care reform and innovation. I am interested in how nutritional interventions can be utilized to promote healthier habits and improve preventative medicine, specifically in the field of maternal, child, and infant nutrition. After graduation, I hope to go to medical school and continue advocating for women’s health.

Maria Ortega Herranz

My name is Maria, I am from Spain, and I am a sophomore Nutrition major at UT Austin. I have a great interest in research, and passionate about the relationship between nutrition and disease. After graduating from UT I would like to go into the ICPD and hopefully become an RD and get clinical experience, or explore the sports nutrition field since I love sports.

Fun Fact: I have practiced a lot of sports like waterpolo and dancing.

Risha Rao

Hi! My name is Risha Rao. I am from Dallas, Texas and am a Public Health major. My interests in research include public health and nutrition research! After I graduate from UT, I’d love to go to medical school while also pursuing another degree (MPH or PhD) and would love to still be involved in an activity surrounding the issue of global health.

Fun Fact: I love to dance and am a co-choreographer for the Reggaeton Dance Club at UT!

Gizza Armendariz

My name is Gizza Armendariz and I am a third-year Nutrition major from Midland, Texas. I am interested in maternal and infant nutrition. After I graduate from UT, I hope to become an RD and work with mothers and children in underserved communities.

Fun Fact: I love snowboarding!

Annika Hesse

My name is Annika Hesse, and I am from Austin, TX! I’m currently a junior at UT, studying Business and Biochemistry. My interest lies in exploring the impact of early childhood interventions and parent-child interactions on health outcomes later in life. After graduating, I hope to go to medical school and deepen my knowledge of holistic approaches to medicine!

Fun Fact: I drive a manual transmission car!

*The Widen Lab accepts undergraduate researchers on a limited basis.

If interested, please fill out this application and send your résumé
to widen.lab@austin.utexas.edu.

*If you are interested in joining the lab for the summer or fall semester, please submit your application documents by April 1st. If you are interested in joining the lab for the spring semester, please submit your application documents by November 1st.

*Preference is given to individuals that can commit to volunteering
10 hours per week to the lab for two semesters, have or plan to take NTR 315, can write and
speak Spanish, and/or have experience in nutrition assessment.