User:ANoecker

Personal Narrative

As a double major in Math and Computer Science with a concentration in Statistics and Data Science, participation in Marquette University's Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) will help fill the gap of data science researchers who can think creatively to solve problems in interdisciplinary fields such as healthcare and nutrition. A collaborative team including myself and mentorship from Dr. Bialkowski and Dr. Gretebeck will work on Capturing nutritional value at the point of consumption using accessible and inexpensive technologies.

Project Description

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) seeks to optimize metabolic response in individuals or population subgroups through tailored dietary approaches to promote health and prevent and treat disease. Accurate assessment of nutritional intake among community-dwelling individuals at the point of intake is a major obstacle in precision nutrition evaluation. Without this fundamental information about nutritional lifestyle factors, a highly modifiable environmental condition, disparities across Race, Ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and age will persist. Our team of cross-disciplinary researchers is combining expertise in hyperspectral imaging, image processing, mobile technology, analytics, nutrition, psychology and human motivation to develop a robust and accurate platform of nutrition evaluation at the point of consumption. This important translational step forward will empower researchers across disciplines with the information needed to facilitate meaningful change and more equitable access to health.

Main Objectives (becomes deliverables later)

• Objective 1
• Objective 2
• Objective 3

Weekly Log

Week 1

Overall Accomplishments

• Attended orientation
• Read grant proposal in order to get up to speed on the project
• Met with mentors to discuss project
• Learned about and set up wiki page
• Developed list of desired skills that will be grown throughout the summer; these will be used to map out goals/milestones for the next 8-9 weeks in collaboration with Dr. Bialkowski and Dr. Gretebeck
• Read literature and prepared review on technology currently available to estimate food volume

Tuesday 6/1

• Attended Day 1 of REU Orientation
• Began reading on food volume estimation

Wednesday 6/2

• Attended Day 2 of REU Orientation
• Began to set up wiki
• Read several articles on different food volume estimation techniques

Thursday 6/3

• Met with Dr. Bialkowski to discuss wiki and goals
• Dr. Brylow talk on good research
• Continued reading on food volume estimation
• Prepared literature review for Drs. Bialkowski and Gretebeck