Yujiao Zu, Ph.D.

Personal Information

Dr. Yujiao Zu is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences under the mentorship of Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa in the Nutrigenomics, Inflammation & Obesity Research Lab. Yujiao received her B.S. in Biological Engineering and M.S. in Food Sciences from Tianjin University of Science and Technology in China, and Ph.D. and two-year postdoctoral training in Nutritional Sciences from Texas Tech University. Her doctoral research focused on targeted delivery of medical and bioactive compounds to adipose stromal cells using nanoparticles, to activate beige adipocytes formation, induce the thermogenic marker, uncoupling protein-1, to reduce obesity and improve metabolic health (NIH funded project). She has extensive many research experiences and expertise in cell and animal models, analytical chemistry techniques, such as HPLC and LC/MS, and molecular biology techniques. She has received several research honors including the American Society of Nutrition’s (ASN) Graduate Student Research Award, in 2018 and the 2nd place in the ASN’s 4th Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Poster Competition in 2018. She is also co-inventor on an international patent for an anti-obesity product.

CV

Research Interests

• Investigate interactions between dietary components and obesity-associated metabolic disorders, especially inflammation, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.
• Identify underlying mechanisms and regulations in obesity and related diseases using cells and animal models.
• Investigate effect of obesity and aging on immune and inflammatory diseases.
• Application of nanotechnology to obesity and aging related diseases

Future Research Collaboration Interests

· Obesity therapy

· Aging-related disorders

· Bioactive compounds