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Department of Pediatrics: Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center

Our Team

Made up of faculty, basic scientists, researchers, specialty staff, administrators, students, post-doctoral candidates and visiting scientists, our team has one vision in mind — improving the lives of mothers and children through a greater understanding of nutrition and how it impacts development.

Faculty, Staff and Administration

Faculty

Mario Ferruzzi, Ph.D.
Chief of Developmental Nutrition

Director of the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center Professor of Pediatrics

Aline Andres
Aline Andres, Ph.D.
Associate Director of the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Professor of Pediatrics
Elisabet Børsheim, Ph.D.
Elisabet Børsheim, Ph.D.
Associate Director of the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Professor Professor of Pediatrics and Department of Geriatrics
Jin-Ran Chen, Ph.D.
Jin-Ran Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Sree V. Chintapalli, Ph.D.
Sree V. Chintapalli, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Eva C. Diaz Fuentes, M.D., MMsc
Eva C. Diaz Fuentes, M.D., Ph.D., MMsc
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Renny Shang-Lun Lan
Renny Lan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Linda Larson-Prior, Ph.D.
Linda Larson-Prior, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychiatry, Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences
Director of the ACNC Budding Brain Lab
Xiawei Ou, Ph.D.
Xiawei Ou, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Radiology
Brian Piccolo, Ph.D.
Brian D. Piccolo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Craig Porter, PhD
Craig Porter, Ph.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Taren M. Swindle, Ph.D.
Taren M. Swindle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Assistant Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine
Keshari M. Thakali, Ph.D.
Keshari M. Thakali, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Umesh Wankhade, Ph.D.
Umesh Wankhade, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
D. Keith Williams, Ph.D., M.P.H.
D. Keith Williams, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Vice-Chair of Education, Dept. of Biostatistics
Meghan Ruebel, Ph.D.
Meghan L. Ruebel, Ph.D.
Research Biologist, USDA-ARS, SEA, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Location: ACNC
Email: meghan.ruebel@usda.gov
V. Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D.
V. Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D.
Research Leader, USDA-ARS, SEA,
Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Email: laxmi.yeruva@usda.gov

Staff

Clinical Research Staff

Graciella Alatorre-Cruz, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Amber Basham
Nutritionist Assistant
Markie Campbell, RDN
Nutritionist Assistant
Sabrina Chambers
Clinical Research Assistant
Alvin Dupens III
Physical Trainer
Trevor Durey
Neuropsychological Technician
Tim Edwards, M.S.
Exercise Physiologist
Yuyuan Gu, M.S.
Research Support Specialist
Darcy Hagood
Brain Research Specialist
Elizabeth Hayes
Clinical Coordinator
Adrienne Keck, M.S.
Nutritionist Assistant
Matt Keene, R.N.
Clinical Coordinator
Audrey Martinez-Rogacki, M.S., R.D.N.
Research Manager
Ginger McCorkle, M.S., L.P.E.
Licensed Psychological Examiner
Diamond McGehee, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Isania Bazan Nila
Exercise Physiologist
Tonja Nolen, M.S.
Nutritionist Assistant
Stephanie Poposky
Neuropsychological Technician
Lexi Sampson, R.D.N.
Nutritionist Assistant
Clark Sims, Ph.D.
Assistant Staff Scientist
Toni Taylor
Clinical Promotor
Donald Turner
Research Associate Lab

Vivarium Staff

Bobby Fay
Animal Assistant
Jim Sikes
Animal Research Leader
Nathan Terry
Research Assistant
Abigail Barlow
Research Assistant

Research Science Staff

Kiran Adepu, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Hailemariam Assress, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Michael Blackburn
Research Associate
Perry Caviness, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Adam Corken, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Matthew Cotter, M.S.
Senior Research Associate
Alvaro Cruz Carrion, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Chelsey Fiecke, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Renee Fox
Research Assistant
Lindsey Fullen
Data Manager
Manoj Gurung, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Ahsan Hameed, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Yihong Jiang-Cao Kaufmann
Research Associate
Nicole Spencer Knox
Senior Research Associate
William Lagakos, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Oxana Lazarenko
Research Associate
Henry Paz Manzano, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Becky Moody, M.S.
Senior Research Data Analyst
Jake Morrison
Research Assistant
Lindsay Pack, M.S.
Research Associate
Oleksandra Pavliv
Research Assistant
Taylor Ross
Research Associate
Daniel Sadler, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Leslie Tabor-Simecka
Research Associate
Lillie Treas
Research Associate
Elizabeth Wahl
Research Associate
Ying Zhong
Research Associate

Administration

Michèle Perry
Director of Operations
Email: perrymichelem@uams.edu
Julie Shlisky
Julie Shlisky, Ph.D.
Principal Staff Scientist
Email: JDShlisky@uams.edu
Hannah Singer
Administrative Assistant III
Email: SingerH@archildrens.org
Aracely Vasquez
Admin Assistant II
Email: vasquezaa@archildrens.org
Jackie Yarbrough
Clinical Research Finance Director
Email: jcyarbrough@uams.edu