Alexandra Simas
Doctoral Candidate
- Stanley N. Gershoff Scholar
I am a PhD candidate in the Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition program (BMN) at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
I worked as a research technician in the Center for Human Genetic Research at Massachusetts General Hospital for two years before starting at Friedman. My family’s struggles with food allergies and immune dysfunction shaped my interest in the interactions between diet, environment, genetics, and microbiota. I am passionate about finding ways to assess, quantify, and model these incredibly complex interactions. My ultimate goal would be to understand and model individual variation in these areas via systems approaches, in order to develop personalized, preventative healthcare. I also enjoy serving as the Friedman Student Council Representative to the Friedman Alumni Executive Council, where I help build student-alumni connections and expose students to valuable alumni experiences.
Education
B.A. in Neuroscience from Wellesley College
M.S. in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition
Research Activities
Microbiome perturbations as a result of diet, metabolism, and chronic inflammation; the influences of host genetics and diet on microbiota; the effects of chronic infection and periodontal disease on metabolic syndrome development and the microbiome.