Helen S. Mitchell Graduate Scholarship
Mengling Cao
Mengling Cao is a second-year nutrition graduate student with a bachelor's degree in biology. She just finished her master's program with DPD here at UMass Amherst. She believes nutrition plays a huge role in people's lives, yet it is still a developing field. She will be doing her dietetic internship this fall.
It is a great honor to receive the Helen S. Mitchell Scholarship, and I thank you for choosing me. It has been a great two years here at UMass, and I will never forget the help I received throughout my learning journey at UMass.
Rong Fan
Rong Fan is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Nutrition at UMass Amherst. Rong’s research interest is in understanding dietary and therapeutic strategies that enhance brown adipose tissue energy expenditure to combat obesity and its associated metabolic complications. Her dissertation focuses on the effects of fish oil supplementation and heat treatment on post-menopausal obesity and metabolic health. Rong's short-term professional goal is to stay in academia, become a professor in nutrition, and conduct research that advances obesity studies while inspiring the next generation of graduate students. Ultimately, she aims to expand the field of obesity prevention by promoting a deep understanding of nutrition and obesity metabolism. Additionally, Rong enjoys reading, hiking, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen as she pursues a balanced lifestyle for health and wellness.
I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation for the scholarship and the incredible opportunity to pursue my career aspirations. Your support has been instrumental in guiding me toward a path of excellence and success in academia. Inspired by your generosity, I am determined to achieve my goals and, in turn, help and inspire others in the future.