Guide to Joining My Research Group

Table of Contents

Read This First

This page is about joining my research group as a research advisee. It is separate from admission to SJSU, admission to the MS in Nutritional Science or SAGE programs, and academic advising.

I primarily serve as a research advisor for students who have already been admitted to or are enrolled in the SJSU MS in Nutritional Science or SAGE program. My ability to take new students varies by semester and depends on my current advising load, active projects, project timing, and whether I can provide appropriate supervision.

If you are considering the traditional MS program but have not yet been admitted, please begin with the official MS program and admissions resources. I do not make individual MS admission decisions, and I generally do not conduct full research-group screening before admission unless I have specifically advertised an opportunity.

If you are a current SJSU undergraduate considering SAGE, the SAGE application process encourages students to discuss research interests with faculty before applying. I may be able to have a brief informational conversation about my research areas when capacity allows. Such a conversation is not acceptance into my research group; formal research-group screening occurs separately after SAGE admission if you remain interested.

Funding

Joining my research group does not provide a guaranteed research assistantship, stipend, tuition support, or funded MS position. Competitive scholarships and student research assistance awards may sometimes be available to enrolled students, but these are separate from joining my research group and are not guaranteed. If you require a funded MS position as a condition of enrollment, my research group is not the appropriate pathway for that need.

Research Fit

Most students I advise work within my current research program rather than developing an unrelated independent topic. Please review my current Research page before contacting me. Examples of current or recent work include:

  • diet, glycemic response, glycemic index, and postprandial attention or cognitive performance;
  • nutrition, metabolism, body composition, chronic disease risk, and health behavior;
  • energy expenditure associated with cooking-related activities; and
  • selected questions involving fermentation, food processing, nutritional quality, sustainability, packaging, and emerging foods.

The specific projects available to a new student depend on timing, feasibility, current priorities, and the methods or data available. A past publication of mine may be relevant background, but it does not necessarily mean that I am currently supervising new work in that area.

Timeline and Commitment

For MS and SAGE students, I prefer to work together for at least three semesters from project development through completion. I generally cannot serve as the primary research advisor for a new project when fewer than two semesters remain.

Research requires sustained work between meetings. There is no fixed daily quota, but students should be able to protect regular weekly time for literature review, project planning, data collection or analysis, writing, revision, and meetings. The amount of time needed varies by project stage.

For students who are already admitted or enrolled, the best time to contact me is typically during the semester before the intended research start term.

Current SJSU MS and SAGE Students

If you completed the NUFS 201 Graduate Research Skills Portfolio and have not yet matched with a research advisor, I may use that portfolio as part of my initial review. You generally do not need to recreate the same materials unless I request something additional.

How to Contact Me

If you are in an eligible pathway and believe there is a strong fit with my current work, email me using one of these subject lines:

  • Research Group Inquiry - MS
  • Research Group Inquiry - SAGE
  • Research Group Inquiry - Undergraduate

Keep the message concise and include:

  1. your name, current SJSU program/status, intended research start term, and expected graduation or completion term;
  2. the current research area or project(s) that interest you most, in priority order, and why;
  3. your realistic weekly availability during the intended start semester; and
  4. whether you completed the NUFS 201 Graduate Research Skills Portfolio and, if so, where it can be reviewed.

If you did not complete the NUFS 201 portfolio, attach a brief research-focused CV/resume and a scientific writing sample that substantially reflects your own work. I may request an unofficial transcript later if coursework preparation is relevant to a particular project.

If an inquiry falls outside the criteria above or does not provide the requested information, I may not be able to respond individually.

What I Look For

  • a genuine fit with work I am currently able to supervise;
  • strong scientific writing and communication, or clear evidence of developing those skills;
  • critical thinking and attention to detail;
  • ability to work independently, learn unfamiliar methods, and maintain progress between meetings;
  • sufficient preparation for the proposed work, recognizing that relevant coursework and prior research experience can help but are not the only considerations; and
  • a realistic timeline and sustained commitment.

Advising Approach

My advising style is relatively hands-on in setting scientific direction and providing feedback, but I expect students to be self-motivated and increasingly independent. Advisees should schedule regular meetings, prepare an agenda in advance, maintain clear action items, communicate early when problems arise, and continue making progress between meetings.

I expect students to take scientific writing and communication seriously. When feasible, we work toward research that is strong enough to present at a professional conference and/or develop into a manuscript. These outcomes depend on the project and are goals rather than guarantees.

Undergraduate Students

I occasionally work with SJSU undergraduates on defined parts of larger projects when capacity and appropriate supervision are available. These opportunities are limited and should not be assumed to be available each semester.

Students from outside SJSU are generally not part of my regular research-group intake process unless I have specifically advertised an opportunity. Requests from high-school students are normally outside the scope of my research group because of the level of supervision required.

Research
MS in Nutritional Science
MS application / prospective student FAQ
SAGE
Student Research Assistance Award