Dr. Kristina Martinez-Guryn completed her BS degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2006. She next received her PhD in Nutrition also from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2011, where she studied the weight loss-promoting and side effects of conjugated linoleic acid in adipose tissue. She went on to complete the dietetic internship in 2012 to obtain her credentials as a registered dietitian. Following this achievement, Dr. Martinez-Guryn pursued further research training in the laboratory of Eugene Chang at the University of Chicago where she studied the role of gut microbiota in promoting obesity and diabetes. Her research interests include prevention and treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes through modulation of the gut microbiota. She has over 12 years of research experience as a graduate student, postdoctoral scholar, and Assistant Professor. Dr. Martinez-Guryn came to MWU more than four years ago as an Assistant Professor. She has authored many presentations and publications related to the weight loss supplement conjugated linoleic acid, grape extracts in preventing obesity-associated inflammation, and diet-induced alterations of the gut microbiota. She also recently guest-edited a special issue featured in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry on the “Nutritional Modulation of the Gut Microbiome in Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Disease.” Dr. Martinez-Guryn is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Society for In Vitro Biology. Dr. Martinez-Guryn is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Midwestern University where she teaches biostatistics and nutrition and metabolism.