The CHL Food Systems (CHL-FS) Trainee representing Guam, Kristi Hammond, has been selected for University of Hawaii’s Advanced Training Program in Artificial Intelligence for Precision Nutrition Science Research (HI-AIPrN). Kristi will join a cohort with multidisciplinary predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers to attain training in precision nutrition science and artificial intelligence (AI).
Since becoming a CHL-FS trainee, Kristi has been assisting with the CHL Data Center where she fostered several technical skills in data cleaning, programming, statistical analysis, and data interpretation. The HI-AIPrN program will provide new opportunities to pursue additional coursework and training from departments such as Quantitative Health Sciences, to learn topics related to machine learning, bioinformatics, and other data science and visualization. Since nutrition at both the individual level and food systems level is complex and there are so many factors at play, Kristi believes there is great potential for nutrition research moving in this direction to address some of this complexity and to improve the ways in which diet and food environments are assessed and analyzed. Her goal is to incorporate the skills and techniques she learns through the HI-AIPrN into her research related to food systems with a specific focus on Guam. She highlights, “Precision nutrition focuses heavily on individual characteristics to tailor dietary recommendations, but I think it is equally as important to consider the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food in one’s environment, as well as social and cultural aspects. These are things I hope to incorporate into my own research and the lens from which I view the potential for precision nutrition.” Kristi looks forward to this challenging new endeavor and is incredibly grateful for it, “I would like to extend my gratitude to the people who have supported, encouraged, and instilled confidence in me to pursue this opportunity – especially the CHL Data Center team!”