Ashley Vargas, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.N.

<p>Ashley Vargas, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.N., a registered dietitian nutritionist (R.D.N.) and molecular epidemiologist, is a program director in NICHD’s Pediatric Growth and Nutrition Branch. Her clinical and research experience focuses on improving the precision of nutrition risk assessment and the application of nutrition therapy to individuals across their lifespan. Specifically, she has concentrated her research on the relationship between diet and disease that is mediated by the genome and the microbiome in large human cohorts.</p>

<p>Prior to her NICHD appointment, Dr. Vargas served in the Office of Disease Prevention in NIH’s Office of the Director, where she led efforts to identify and address major research gaps in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, obesity, and other leading causes and risk factors for death. She also is an alumna of the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, where she focused her research on diet, microbiome, and cancer.</p>

<p>Dr. Vargas received her doctoral degree in nutritional science from the University of Arizona, her master’s degree in public health from Harvard University, and her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Wayne State University, where she also completed her coordinated dietetic training program. She has experience as a clinical R.D.N. in many different settings, has served in leadership roles in professional societies, and is a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.</p>