Through a partnership between the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies and Thomas Jefferson High School, Bhavya Yendapalli conducted diabetes research, presented her findings nationally, and found a new interest in studying nutrition.
This month, Bhavya Yendapalli will stand beside her research poster at a national scientific conference, answering questions about a diabetes study she helped conduct at the George Mason University College of Public Health.
Only weeks earlier, she graduated from high school.
The opportunity began through Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's research practicum program, which allows seniors to spend part of their school year conducting research with professional mentors. Yendapalli chose the lab of George Mason nutrition expert Martin Binks, who chairs the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.
At first, the experience was intimidating. "I thought, 'I'm going to be with all these super smart people uncovering new things about the world,” Yendapalli said. “What can I contribute?'"
But Binks entrusted her with meaningful research responsibilities working alongside the lab's graduate students and postdoctoral researcher Halide Aydin, from interviewing participants and collecting data to helping write the study's research protocol.
"It taught me that there's always more to learn, and you can always contribute," said Yendapalli.
A year in the lab
Yendapalli sought out Binks' lab because diabetes hit close to home. Her father and other relatives have Type 2 diabetes, and she wanted to better understand the disease.
Working alongside the research team, Yendapalli investigated whether the timing and frequency of meals—not just what people eat—are associated with measures of metabolic health, including blood sugar levels, metabolism and body composition.
At the College of Public Health’s Celebration of Student Scholarship in April, Yendapalli became the first high school student to showcase her work at the event. She had never presented a scientific poster before, so Binks spent a few minutes explaining the basics and asked her to come back for a practice run. "She returned in 45 minutes, and I haven't seen it presented so well in my life," Binks said. "It was almost flawless."
Binks has mentored dozens of high school researchers over the years, first at Texas Tech University and now at George Mason, where he works with students from Thomas Jefferson and other local high schools, including Westfield and Madison. “When students come to work with us, it exposes them to what it takes to be a researcher," he said. "It helps them understand career paths, clarify whether they do or don't like the work."
After sharing her research at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting this month, Yendapalli will head to Cornell University to study human biology, health, and society. She said her year in Binks' lab sparked a lasting interest in nutrition and its role in health.
"My research experience at George Mason is the reason I chose this major," she said.
Thumbnail and story photos by Evan Cantwell
In This Story
Key Takeaways
- Thomas Jefferson High School senior Bhavya Yendapalli joined a lab in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at the George Mason College of Public Health through a year long research practicum.
- Yendapalli spent her senior year working alongside nutrition expert Martin Binks and his research team, contributing to a diabetes study and presenting the findings.
- The experience inspired the high schooler to study nutrition and health at Cornell University.