Nutrition, Purdue University-Main Campus, West Lafayette, IN
Nutrition Identifying the Effect of Marine-based Nutritional Supplementation on the Gut Microbiome
I am very thankful of the opportunities Fulbright has provided me, and even more thankful that I accepted those opportunities and dived head first into this unknown journey. For the past 6 months, I have been conducting research at the University of Crete in Heraklion, Crete in Greece with Professor Christos Tsatsanis in the Medicine Department.
As an American, I am always asked “How did I end up on this island?”. Well, it’s a long story with many moving parts, so I always say “it just happened” and explain the Fulbright program. But really what I mean is I am exactly where I need to be and Fulbright provided the means to make it possible. After graduating with a degree in Biochemistry from Purdue University, I knew academic research was a passion of mine and I would continue to pursue this field with a PhD in the future. But for the time being, I wanted to gain more hands-on experience in the research environment and learn how to connect with other cultures, both academically and personally.
My time here in Crete has been better than I ever could have imagined. Every day, the beauty of the island, the good food, how hospitable and kind the locals are, and how much I am learning about the Greek culture and history amazes me. The quality of education and research work at the University of Crete in Heraklion has also exceeded my expectations. I am working closely with Dr. Christos Tsatsanis and Dr. Maria Daskalaki to identify the effects of marine nutritional supplementation on chronic inflammation and related diseases. We are investigating the role the supplementation can play on the innate immune system to improve overall health. I learned many new laboratory techniques, including cell tissue culture and working with experimental mice. I have also improved my abilities to conduct literature review, plan projects, work independently and to communicate with my coworkers. I have learned a lot about the many traditions on Greece and I hope my coworkers are never tired of me asking so many questions!
I think it is beautiful how connected Greeks are to their traditions and cultural beliefs, and it’s not only the older generation: even the people of the newer generations are embracing traditions, local music, and dance (and teaching me about it in the process!). After 6 months here on Crete, I feel I better understand the cultural values and history of Greece and have embraced them, and in turn shared my own culture.
Through this journey, I have discovered more about myself than I thought possible and have expanded my comfort zone to connect with large groups of international people. When I am not in the research lab, I am typically exploring the nature of the island or sitting in a taverna with friends listening to traditional music and enjoying the good food. To have a successful Fulbright journey, I think it is important to enter with an open-mind that is eager to learn. To not only learn about your project, but to learn about the culture, people, and land around you. The Fulbright journey may seem short, but I know will forever change my life and has opened many doors for me in the future, and it has also helped me learn about myself so that I may decide which door I want to walk through.