Homegrown Heroes: Louisiana Scientists Return Home to Find Success at Pennington Biomedical
May 02, 2024
LSU's efforts to create a thriving environment for excellence continue to expand beyond the classroom. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is attracting leading scientists with Louisiana roots, giving them the opportunity to make an impact at home.
Access to an elite facility such as Pennington provides scientists with the tools and opportunity to make positive changes in their home state. For Louisiana this is great news, allowing the state’s best to return home and contribute to important health research.
Recent returnees include:
- an expert in socialization, fitness, and other benefits of neighborhood parks
- an expert in food composition and menu design who has been involved in such high-profile research as the DASH diet studies
- a former Pennington Biomedical research assistant who was chosen as a co-author for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ first comprehensive obesity guidelines in 15 years.
Stephanie Broyles, Ph.D.
Dr. Stephanie Broyles returned to Louisiana for her Ph.D. after obtaining an undergraduate degree in North Carolina. She is currently holding the position of an associate professor, investigating how neighborhood parks promote socialization, physical fitness, mental well-being, and aging. Dr. Broyles also leads the RURAL Heart and Lung study, assessing health risks in rural areas.
Catherine Champagne Ph.D., R.D.N.
St. Martinville native, Catherine Champagne, Ph.D., R.D.N., obtained a doctorate in 1980 from Mississippi State University. Before coming to Pennington Biomedical, she worked at LSU for almost a decade. Throughout her 34 years of experience, she has participated in creating school nutrition, co-working with culinary book writers, and assisting in developing research such as the DASH studies.
Jason Collier, Ph.D.
Dr. Jason Collier was born in Denham Springs. He received his education in New Orleans and North Carolina. After beginning his career at the University of Tennessee, he joined Pennington Biomedical in hopes of understanding the function of the pancreas in diabetes. He currently works with a team that develops treatments that prevent beta cell damage or preserve its function.
Chris Morrison, Ph.D.
Starting off as a student worker in William Hansel's lab at Pennington Biomedical, Chris Morrison, Ph.D., advanced to conducting his own experiments. After pursuing his Ph.D. in Missouri and post-grad in Seattle, the allure of Pennington Biomedical brought him back to Louisiana. Currently, he serves as an associate director overseeing basic science while focusing his studies on the FGF21 hormone, which influences people’s protein consumption.
Amanda Staiano, Ph.D.
Baton Rouge native Dr. Amanda Staiano went from being a Pennington Biomedical research assistant in her LSU undergraduate years to pursuing her Ph.D. and master's in public policy at Georgetown University. Dr. Staiano is now an associate professor who cooperates with the Louisiana Department of Education and other organizations throughout the state, encouraging children to participate in physical activity. She was chosen as co-author by the American Academy of Pediatrics when it released its first comprehensive obesity evaluation and treatment guidelines.
Ursula White, Ph.D.
Dr. Ursula White, a Monroe native, obtained her undergraduate and doctoral degrees in biological sciences at LSU. She is now an associate professor at Pennington Biomedical, leading the Physiology of Human Adipose Tissue Laboratory, conducting studies touching on body fat distribution during dietary and exercise interventions.
David Hughes, Ph.D.
After graduating from LSU and later obtaining his master’s and Ph.D., Dr. David Hughes, originally from Alexandria, returned to Louisiana. He obtained his master’s degree in human biology from Oxford University and his Ph.D. in evolutionary genomics from the Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. Dr. Hughes is part of Pennington Biomedical’s Population and Public Health Sciences department as a junior scientist studying Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics.
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center provides an excellent opportunity for Louisiana scientists to seek advanced research opportunities at home. By returning home, these talented scientists are making a difference and providing for a healthier Louisiana.
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