PhD Candidate
Georgia State University
Jessica Danh is a Registered Dietitian and a doctoral candidate working in the lab of Dr. Rafaela G. Feresin in the Department of Nutrition at Georgia State University (GSU). She obtained her B.S. in Marketing at Pennsylvania State University and worked for eight years in software before pursing her graduate studies. Jessica completed her Master’s in Health Sciences and supervised practice through GSU’s M.S. Coordinated Program. During her graduate studies, Jessica completed her thesis examining the correlation between sports nutrition knowledge and dietary intake and body composition in collegiate athletes.
Since starting her doctoral studies, Jessica has provided major support in Dr. Feresin’s USDA-funded animal study evaluating the effects of berry consumption on angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertension in rats while developing highly technical skills such as radiotelemetry surgical implantation and small vessel force contractility experiments. To further understand how berries may exert their beneficial effects, Jessica has also worked in collaboration with Dr. Hamed Laroui on the isolation and use of plant nanoparticles.
Jessica’s current research interest examines the role of nutrients on the interrelationship of intestinal barrier function and hypertension. In 2023, Jessica was awarded the prestigious USDA-NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship, granting her $180,000 over three years to pursue her dissertation studies. Her overall goal is to elucidate the mechanisms by which functional foods can prevent or improve disease conditions.
To date, Jessica has published three papers, two book chapter, ten abstracts, and reviews for Journal of American College Health and PLOS One. She has presented at national conferences and has received recognition for her work with a First-Place finish at the Lewis College Graduate Research Conference in 2021 and 2024, Second-Place finish at the same conference in 2023, Outstanding Poster Presentation at GSU’s Chemistry Graduate Student Association Symposium in 2023, and the CASA Outstanding Mentoring of Undergraduate Students award in 2023.