Predoctoral Students
Heather Guetterman, MS
Heather defended her dissertation in March 2024 and completed her dietetic internship at Cornell University in May 2024. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition (Dietetics concentration) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her masters degree in Nutrition (Track: Human Nutrition Evidence for Policy Making) at Cornell University. As a part of the Finkelstein Lab Heather has been involved in the development and launch of a population-based pre-intervention biomarker survey and a trial of Quadruple Fortified Salt (QFS) among women of reproductive age in Southern India. Her dissertation focuses on vitamin B12 and folate biomarkers and health outcomes in women of reproductive age. During her time at Cornell, she has also contributed to several Cochrane systematic reviews and protocols, and published the first systematic review on vitamin B12 and the gut microbiome. Heather begins a postdoctoral position at Michigan State University in July 2024, studying endocrine-disrupting chemicals and nutrition during pregnancy.
Ximena Palma Molina, MS
Ximena is a 4th year PhD candidate in the Finkelstein Lab. She completed her bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at Universidad de Valparaiso, and her master ́s degree in Biological Sciences at Universidad de Chile, Chile. Her dissertation work focuses on the association between vitamin D status and metabolic health in 2 cohorts from India, one of women of reproductive age, and a second one in children and adolescents.
Her professional goal is to become an independent researcher with expertise in Maternal and Child Nutrition, and to contribute with scientific evidence to public health interventions and policies oriented to improve the quality of life of women, children and adolescents.
Cristina Güitrón Leal, MS
Cristy is a PhD Candidate in the Finkelstein Research Group. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition in Mexico City and a Master’s of Science in Nutrition at Cornell University. Her dissertation explores the associations of iron status with metabolic health in women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and children. Moving forward, she hopes to be involved in public health and policy making with an emphasis in Latin America.
Kimberlea Gibbs, RD
Kimberlea Gibbs is a first-year Ph.D. student and a Registered Dietitian in International Nutrition. She completed her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Auburn University, and holds a second degree in nutrition from Howard University. Kimberlea has expertise working with numerous federal government agencies as a program manager and nutrition specialist. She earned a Master's in Public Health from Drexel University’s Executive program while working as a public health analyst. At Drexel, she completed research on public health infrastructures in the Gambia and Senegal for her capstone project. Kimberlea’s research interests include translational and implementation science, and pediatric and adolescent nutrition interventions.