Min Ma

I am passionate about working to promote public health. During my undergraduate studies, I had obtained basic knowledge and understanding of nutrition. I was intrigued by the crucial role that nutrition plays in human health and disease prevention. It was then that I realized this was the area of study I wanted to pursue.

The first time I heard about UB was through Dr. John Wilson when he gave a speech about UB. Listening to him really sparked my interest in the study of nutrition and made me excited about the career possibilities. I learned that UB provided a great education pertaining to nutrition and afforded great opportunities to conduct research regarding human health and nutrition.

The experience of studying in this program is amazing. The courses in our program expanded my knowledge of energy and nutrient interactions in the human body, metabolic pathways of both macro and micro nutrients in healthy and diseased states, and the role of physical activity in promoting human health. Most importantly, I have gained the valuable experience of conducting research under the instructions of Dr. Todd Rideout.

While it was a challenge for me to study in an entirely new environment and with a foreign language, the people in our program have been tremendously supportive and helpful. Every time I work with faculty, staff or my fellow peers, I feel motivated to continue to grow. As my study progress, my confidence has grown and I really enjoy interacting and collaborating with people with diverse backgrounds. 

I enjoy the academic environment in our program. The faculty members are always ready to give students professional assistance and inspire them to express their own opinions. The students are also passionate about the work they are doing. During my studies at UB, I have experienced this incredible transition from passive learning to creative thinking. 

At this point, as an MS student at UB, I feel I have a variety of choices to achieve my life goals. In addition to the experience of studying abroad, UB has provided me with the knowledge of nutrition and metabolism and basic science expertise. I will be a proud graduate of the University at Buffalo!