People

Postdoctoral Scholar

Lauren Broyles (lmt56@psu.edu)

Lauren Broyles is a postdoctoral scholar with the Population Research Institute (PRI) funded by a T-32 training grant with NICHD on Social Environments and Population Health, working primarily with Dr. Rosinger and the Water, Health, and Nutrition Lab. In her role with PRI, Lauren investigates the effects of climate variables on social and health outcomes. Lauren recently graduated in August 2023 from Penn State with a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a focus on water resources. During her time as a doctoral student, Lauren studied the effects of environmental seasonality and extreme weather events on household water insecurity, with a particular focus on monsoon seasonality in Bangladesh. Lauren also studied at Purdue University, where she earned her M.S. in Civil Engineering in 2015 and B.S. in Agriculture Engineering in 2013. In addition to academic pursuits, Lauren has worked with various Kenyan NGOs to help develop clean drinking water initiatives among rural pastoralist communities in Western Kenya.  

Graduate Students

Leslie Ford (lbf5170@psu.edu)

Leslie Ford joins the Water, Health, and Nutrition Lab as a PhD student in the department of Biobehavioral Health. Leslie has a background in public health and water management with an MPH in Environmental Health from Western Kentucky University and an MSc in Water Management from UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft the Netherlands. Leslie’s research interests focus on the relationship between water and health looking primarily at how environmental and social factors influence water distributions and water procuring behaviors in marginalized and underrepresented communities.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Gabbie Berger (gmb5792@psu.edu).

Gabbie is a second year biobehavioral health major involved in THON, a sorority, and Pre-PA club at Penn State. She is also a learning assistant for BIOL 162. In the lab, Gabbie is
interested in learning about how water insecurity and dehydration impact different organ systems and physiological pathways. After graduation, she plans to enter the medical field and
go to PA school.

Nicole Bobbie (nlb5436@psu.edu).

Nicole is a sophomore majoring in Biology with a genetics option, and minoring in bioethics. Her interests in the lab include human exposure to nitrate ions and the risk of relative cancers. In the future, she plans on going to graduate school and then attending medical school. Outside of the lab, she is involved with THON, enjoys hanging out with her friends, watching Netflix, and going to the gym.

Zoe Farrar  (zef5028@psu.edu)

Zoe is a junior majoring in Biobehavioral Health on a pre-med track. Her interests in the lab include how water quality affects women’s reproductive health and human water needs in Northern Kenya. Outside of the lab, Zoe is a member of the THON organization Hershey Kisses, the Biobehavioral Health Society, and the Penn State Coffee Club.

Natalie Meriwether (ncm5274@psu.edu)

Natalie is a sophomore studying Biobehavioral Health with minors in Global Health and Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Development. In the lab, she is interested in trends
in the biological effects of food insecurity spurred by severe climatic events such as hurricanes or floods. At Penn State, she is a member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity,
Schreyer for Women, and TEDxPSU. Outside of Penn State, she is a Shot@Life Champion with the United Nations Foundation and a member of the UNA-USA Human Rights Affinity Group.
She hopes to pursue an MPH in Epidemiology or Global Health and work for the World Health Organization, UNICEF, or the CDC in the future.

Carey Musumeci (cem5985@psu.edu)

Carey is a junior studying Biobehavioral Health with plans to enter an MPH program and later attend medical school, with which she hopes to go into global health. In the lab, Carey’s research focuses on gender disparities within the context of water insecurity.

Zee Nguyen (dpn5172@psu.edu)

Zee is a junior majoring in Biobehavioral Health, with aspirations of attending PA school after graduation. One of his interests in the lab is looking at how the effects of dehydration can lead to consequences for health such as causing stress, anxiety, depression, and disease. Outside of the lab, Zee enjoys baking, shopping, listening to music, and watching shows / movies.

Lab Alums

• Dr. Hilary Bethancourt

• Kaitlyn Barnhart

• Sara Caldana

• Siddhi Deshpande

• Tate Hamilton

• Jason John

• Alysha Kelyman

• Celine Latona

• Erica Morse

• Alexandra Tingley

• Maddie Todd