Undergraduate and graduate students in Applied Human Nutrition at MSVU have a wide range of research and volunteer opportunities available on and off campus. Our faculty members offer research and volunteer opportunities through their research and on-going projects. Students are encouraged to check the faculty webpages and reach out to faculty to learn more about  volunteer or research opportunities, including and beyond those listed below.

Following are brief descriptions and relevant contact information about some of our student opportunities.

Appetite Lab

In the last decades, more children are overweight and being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. Our goal is to find out how various foods can help children to control their appetite, calorie intake and blood sugar, and therefore prevent obesity and diabetes in children.

Contact: Appetite.Study@msvu.ca          Facebook: @msvufoodstudy          Instagram: @msvu.appetite.lab

Faculty: Dr. Bohdan Luhovyy

Milk and Micronutrient Assessment (MAMA) Lab

A major focus of the MAMA Lab is identifying culturally appropriate public health interventions to combat micronutrient deficiencies in low-resource settings. Currently this includes the exploration of fortification to address thiamine deficiency among breastfed infants in Southeast Asia.

Another focus of the MAMA Lab is to study infant feeding behaviours, and the potential long-term effects of early feeding on eating patterns and disease risk later in life. We also try to understand what the general public knows about infant feeding to better understand breastfeeding culture and feeding norms.

Website: www.mamalab.ca        Facebook: @mamalabmsvu           Instagram: @mama_lab_msvu

Faculty: Dr. Kyly Whitfield

Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC)

FoodARC is committed to research that is grounded in real community needs in Nova Scotia and beyond – research that supports learning, action and the social and systems change needed to build healthy, sustainable and just food systems for all.

Contact: foodsecurity@msvu.ca

Faculty: Dr. Patty Williams

MSVU Community Garden

The Community Garden is open to the students, faculty and staff of MSVU, as well as all interested individuals and organizations of the surrounding community. The garden includes plots for individuals, departments, and the public who are interested in sustainability, researching gardens, growing their own food, or meeting members of the community.

Contact: garden@msvu.ca              Website: https://www.msvu.ca/communitygarden

Faculty: Jillian Ruhl

MSVU Student Union - Student Food Bank

The campus food bank is a student-run, student-funded service available to all students in the MSVU community. Operating through the Student Union, the food bank aims to offer a safe, inclusive, clean, comfortable, and dignified space where students can restock their cupboards or grab a snack.

Website: https://www.msvusu.ca/foodbank                 Instagram: @msvusufb