Nutrition Science Track Competencies

General Research Skills

Articulate evidence of and for causality: develop hypotheses
Use, interpret and explain statistical methods
Apply principles of ethics, obtain approval from review boards, practice laboratory safety
Use information systems to conduct efficient searches of scientific literature
Critically analyze relevant scientific literature

Describe the physiological and biochemical basis for nutrient requirements
Specify the chemical structure and biochemical and metabolic functions of essential and nonessential nutrients
Identify motifs of absorption and transport of nutrients
Describe the integration, coordination, and regulation of macro- and micronutrient metabolism
Describe the regulation of nutrient metabolism and nutritional needs by hormones and growth factors
Identify the cellular basis of chronic diseases and degeneration
Describe dietary bioactive components (functional foods); nontraditional roles of nutrients; prebiotics and probiotics

Identify food sources of nutrients and factors affecting nutrient bioavailability
Compare and contrasts the effects of food processing and handling on nutrient content and bioavailability
Identify factors related to nutritional toxicology including upper limits of intake; nutrient-nutrient and drug-nutrient interactions
Define methods of diet evaluation such as myplate.gov, as well as methods of in depth nutrient analysis
Identify the role of nutrient supplements including risk/benefit ratios; life stage issues; component bioavailability

Identify and explain biochemical and physiological principles of nutrients as they pertain to clinical nutrition
Articulate the impact of disease and genetics on nutrient function and requirements
Explain the interactions of etiologies of chronic diseases with nutrition and exercise
Describe the genetic basis of inherited metabolic diseases

Compare and contrast the benefits and risks of fortification and supplementation