Pan, Penugonda Join HESC Human Nutrition Research Team

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Jeong Hoon Pan (left) and Kavitha Penugonda are working with the human nutrition concentration in Bumpers College's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Jeong Hoon Pan and Kavitha Penugonda have been appointed to human nutrition post-doctoral positions in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

Pan is working with assistant professor Jea Kyeom Kim and is studying the effects of fructose on obesity development.

Penugonda is working with associate professor Sabrina Trudo. She is researching the mechanism carrot-family vegetables use to decrease DNA damage from cancer-causing agents in previous rat studies. She is also assisting in the development of projects to study the link between obesity and an increased cancer risk, and the potential for bioactive compounds to decrease the risk.

"I am extremely excited to have this young nutritional scientist on board," said Trudo, a registered dietitian and holder of the 21st Century Endowed Chair in Human Environmental Sciences. "She has extensive experience in clinical, cell culture and animal research methods, and scientific expertise in bioactive plant compounds and obesity."

"I am excited to be part of Dr. Trudo's nutrition research team," said Penugonda. "Most of my research has been on weight-loss and anti-oxidant health benefits of plant bioactive compounds in humans. This time, I am studying the mechanisms by which these phytochemicals prevent DNA damage and offer cancer protection at the cellular level. It is an exciting opportunity for me to contribute and learn new areas."

Penugonda earned master's degrees in food science and nutrition from Sri Vankateswara University in Tirupathi, India, and in nutritional sciences from Oklahoma State University. She earned her doctorate in human nutrition from Kansas State University in 2016.

At KSU, Penugonda investigated the bioavailability of iron and vitamin A from blended foods comprised of corn, soy, sorghum and cowpea using cell culture techniques and simulations of digestion. She also assessed levels of bioactive compounds in commercially available herbal supplements of saw palmetto. At OSU, she conducted human studies on effects of green tea supplements and freeze-dried strawberry powder supplements in obese women with metabolic syndrome. She also studied whether mushroom extracts had anti-cancer effects on different types of prostate cancer cells. Prior to OSU, she assessed the prevalence of osteoporosis and contributing factors in India.

Pan earned his bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctorate in food and biotechnology from Korea University where he was a student from 2003-15, including serving as a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Food and Biotechnology.

"I am thrilled to have him on board," said Kim. "His expertise in molecular biology techniques will be a great asset to my lab and research project we are currently embarking."

"I am extremely excited to work with Dr. Kim," said Pan, who has participated in a research internship program at Brown University. "Dr. Kim's research area has fascinated me, although it is very new to me."

Pan's research has focused on finding beneficial effects of fruits and other plants on metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and alcoholic liver disease.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.