Steven
Frese, Ph.D.
Dr. Frese is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Dr. Frese earned his doctorate at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, Davis. From 2015-2020, he led Research and Development at Evolve Biosystems, Inc (Now Infinant Health, Inc) and helped develop and launch their flagship product in neonatal nutrition. In 2022, he received the University of Nevada Foundation Early Career Innovator Award.
Dr. Frese’s research is centered on the human gut microbiome and its inhabitants. Our work at the University of Nevada, Reno examines how diet, food science, and biotechnology can be leveraged to meaningfully improve human health and nutrition.
Follow Dr. Frese’s publications on Google Scholar.
Matt Bolino, M.S.
Matt is a doctoral candidate from Morgan Hill, CA and completed his BSc in Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology as well as his MSc in Biotechnology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Matt’s Masters thesis focused on epigenetic signal transduction and its regulation of inflammation with Dr. Brad Ferguson. Matt’s research now focuses on diet-microbe interactions and food processing. Matt’s other interests include sports nutrition and fitness. Find Matt on LinkedIn here.
Renu Sitaula,
M.A.
Renu was born and raised in Nepal. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology at Tribhuvan University. For her Bachelor’s thesis, she optimized hard candy incorporating mandarin peel powder, which started her interest in nutrition. Then, she completed a MA in Food and Nutrition at the same University. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Nutrition at the University of Nevada, Reno. In the lab, she is developing skills in bioinformatics and applying them to nutrition research.
Elisa F Reis
Other Members of the Lab
Han Yi (Undergraduate student, Microbiology)
Shawn Haugabook Swanson (Undergraduate student, Biotechnology)
Lab Alumni
Subash Kethavath, MSc DVM. Subash completed his MSc in Animal and Rangeland Science in Dr. Frese’s lab and is now working as a practicing Veterinarian in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Bryce Hunt, BSc. Bryce is now a student in the MS/Dietetics Internship Program at Auburn University.
Jared Lewis, BS.
Jaiden Christopher, BS. Jaiden is now a Biochemistry Ph.D. student at UNR.
Joseph Lee,BS. Class of 2027 at UNR Medical School
Zahra Alipour, MS. Zahra completed her MS in Nutrition in June 2023!
Irene Richardson, MS; PhD student in UNR’s Biochemistry Graduate Program
Chandler Zundel, MS. Currently completing her Dietetic Internship and working toward an RDN
Hatice Duman, Visiting Scientist from Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Canakkale, Turkiye). Currently pursuing a PhD
Paul Scheen Stribling (Undergraduate student, Microbiology & Immunology)
Abdullah Mahmud (Undergraduate student, Biochemistry)
Md. Al-Mamun (MS Student, Nutrition). Now pursuing a PhD in Nutrition at University of Tennessee Knoxville
Odunayo Abiodun (MS Student, Nutrition). Now pursuing a PhD in Food Science at Pennsylvania State University
Karla Flores Martinez (PhD student, Cellular Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, UNR)
Blesethe West (Now a PhD student in Food Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign)
The Frese Lab 