Meet the Students: Christabel A. Domfe

Christabel A. Domfe

Prior Education:

University of Ghana, BSc Nutrition and Food Science, 2018

Graduate Group

Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology

Research Focus

Adapting a mobile AI application for use in nutrition research within the US context
 

What sparked your initial interest in the field of global nutrition? 

In my nutrition assessment class at the University of Ghana, we conducted nutritional status assessment with community members during outreach activities. Through these interactions, I realized that persistent health challenges are not always attributable to a lack of food, but can also stem from gaps in nutrition knowledge. Although I did not recognize it at the time, this experience sparked my initial interest in the field of global nutrition. 

Even then, I recognized that dietary assessment, an important aspect of both individual- and population-level nutritional status assessment, was one of the most challenging things to do in nutrition research. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I had the opportunity to work with a research team developing innovative tools for assessing dietary intake. Since then, I have continued in this area of research, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop novel, contextually relevant dietary assessment tools that address dietary data gaps and support nutrition research, programs, and policy development.

What are the short and long-term goals you hope to achieve with your research? 

In the long term, I hope my research will inform how we assess the dietary intake of individuals and populations, both for research and clinical practice. In this era of rapid technological innovation, there is tremendous potential for tools that can passively and objectively collect accurate dietary data, improve our understanding of diet-disease relationships, and provide evidence to inform nutrition guidelines and policies.

In the short term, I hope to see the PlantVillage Food app used in a national dietary survey or incorporated into a large-scale randomized controlled trial as a dietary assessment tool.

What are some highlights of your experience at UCD so far?

The highlights of my time at UC Davis can be summarized in one word: community. This is something I have been fortunate to experience, in part, through being a student in the Global Nutrition Designated Emphasis program. From our trip to Muir Woods in December 2023 and the bowling event at the end of Spring Quarter 2025, to IGN's representation at the International Congress of Nutrition in 2025 and exploring Paris alongside fellow students and faculty, these experiences have fostered a strong sense of connection and belonging, and are some of the aspects of UC Davis that I value most.

What are your career goals after graduation? 

After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in industry, where I can leverage emerging technologies to improve nutrition research. I am particularly interested in working at the intersection of nutrition, technology, and innovation. My time at UC Davis has provided opportunities to participate in internal fellowships that exposed me to the food business sector and professional development opportunities. Combined with more than eight years of experience in global nutrition, research on innovative dietary assessment tools, and exceptional mentorship throughout graduate school, these experiences have prepared me well for life after graduation.

When you aren't working or studying, what do you do for fun?

I enjoy watching movies, especially romantic comedies, taking scenic walks, and reading novels. On the weekends, you're likely to find me meal-prepping while jamming to music, which may be a little louder than necessary!