Seminars, Clubs & Training

Food for Thought Seminar Series

This series of monthly invited lectures presents current nutrition and obesity research ranging from basic molecular biology to clinical and epidemiological applications. The University of Michigan has a unique resource, the Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive, comprised of thousands of books, manuscripts, graphics, catalogues, advertisements, menus, and other ephemera related to American food, nutrition and cooking from the 16th to 20th centuries. Jan Longone, Culinary Curator, provided insightful introductions to many of the lectures drawing on relevant information from historical documents in this collection.

Physical Activity and Nutrition Seminar Series

Co-sponsored by the Schools of Kinesiology and Public Health, these monthly lectures provided a forum for interaction and discussion between students, researchers, and faculty regarding how activity and nutrition contribute to health and well-being.

Obesity Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Club

A truly interdisciplinary collection of students, researchers, and faculty participate in these monthly lectures and discussions. The club provides a forum for the presentation and dialogue about the medical and public health relevance of current research in obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

Systems Biology Journal Club

This club provides a forum of discussion between researchers in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, the Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics and the Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center. Bi-monthly meetings during academic semesters allows ample time doctoral students supported by the Michigan Systems and Integrative Biology Training Grant to present their own research ideas and to lead discussions of recently published, novel research findings.

Investigational Weight Management Clinic

The MNORC’s clinical demonstration unit includes rotations for medical students, residents, endocrinology fellows, and dietetic interns. These rotations provide a thorough orientation to obesity management, the approach to care advocated by the clinic, and the importance of multi-disciplinary care for obese individuals. The clinic offers didactic and practical training on the latest research findings and treatment approaches for obese adults.

Research Opportunities & Mentorship

The MNORC provides a diverse pool of faculty mentors with expertise in the continuum of nutrition and obesity research from the molecular to clinical and population levels. Junior faculty are offered guidance via consultation services the MNORC provides and the opportunity for research support through the Pilot and Feasibility Grants program. MNORC members also provide an interdisciplinary team that MS and PhD students from the Nutritional Sciences, Kinesiology, Biomedical Sciences, Endocrinology, and other programs can work with to enhance their experience in research methods, techniques, and application.

Didactic Training

The research and training missions of the MNORC are supported by a vast array of coursework provided across many Schools at the University of Michigan. The multitude of learning opportunities demonstrates the University’s commitment to training future leaders in nutrition and obesity research, clinical practice, community and political applications.