Postdoc Profile: Ericka Biagioni
Ericka BiagioniMentor: Dr. Linda E. May
Education: PhD in Bioenergetics and Exercise Science, East Carolina University
Research Summary: I am a registered dietitian with a BS in Nutrition and MS in Sports Nutrition. I completed my PhD at ECU in Dr. Broskey’s lab where I utilized umbilical cord derived infant mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as an in vitro model for studying infant cardiometabolic outcomes. My dissertation focused on the effect of in utero metformin exposure in gestational diabetes mellitus on infant MSC energy metabolism. Currently, I am working with Dr. May and her research team to investigate how exercise during pregnancy influences offspring health. Specifically, my research aims to optimize the impact of exercise during pregnancy on both mother and baby by bridging the knowledge gap that exists between current dietary guidelines for pregnant women and sports nutrition guidelines.