Lab News

Congratulations to Dr. Joelle Sfeir, the first PhD graduate from our lab! We are incredibly grateful for Joelle’s contributions, dedication, and leadership in our lab, and look forward to following her future successes!

We are SO excited to announce that Joelle Sfeir successfully defended her dissertation on March 2nd, titled “Diet, Food Insecurity and Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Among Hispanic Adolescents”. Congratulations, Dr. Sfeir!!!! We are so proud of you!!!

At the Life Sciences Symposium on February 6, 2026, PhD Candidate Amber Chang, and PhD students Hannah and DK, presented their work from the lab. Amber Chang, a 3rd-year PhD candidate in the lab, presented her 3-minute thesis titled “Glycemic Variability in Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.” Amber’s presentation covered her results for the NORAH CGM follow-up study, reviewing the relationship between PCOS and glycemic response in adolescents. Hannah’s poster, “Dieta

New to the lab this spring are PhD students Hannah Lamar and Diana Kolb (DK), research scientist Lilian Ademu, and undergraduate students Arshi Islam and Liliana Mandujano! Hannah (top left) is a first-year PhD student joining our lab this semester. She holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition from Texas A&M and is passionate about integrating endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition, particularly related to reproductive health. ​​ She originally joined the Vanden Brink lab as

Amber Chang is a third year PhD candidate in the Vanden Brink lab and was one of three winners for the 3-minute thesis competition hosted by the department of nutrition! Her presentation highlighted her preliminary results for the NORAH CGM follow-up study looking at the relationship between PCOS and glycemic response in adolescents. Congratulations to Amber!