Nutrition and dietetics research actively engages Nutritional Sciences students in scientific discovery and enhances the integration of undergraduate research with faculty. As part of the degree plan and requirements for graduation, students in the department collaborate with faculty in all aspects of developing and implementing a research project of their choice. Faculty provide multiple research opportunities for students to investigate nutrition and dietetics in a variety of settings, including clinical, food service, business/entrepreneurial, education, and the community. Students can also participate each semester in the data collection of ongoing research conducted by Nutritional Sciences faculty. Faculty members have been awarded community-based grants by United Way and TCU Undergraduate Research Grants as well as the TCU Research Grant for New Faculty.

Each year, students have an opportunity to showcase their completed research with other undergraduate and graduate science majors at the Student Research Symposium sponsored by the College of Science and Engineering (www.srs.tcu.edu). Additionally, the results of many nutrition students’ research projects are presented at the annual meetings of professional organizations such as the Texas Dietetic Association and the American Dietetic Association. 

As registered dietitians committed to the advancement of nutrition science, faculty members incorporate the findings of current research in all courses, from the freshman course NTDT 20403 - Nutrition, to senior courses such as NTDT 40333 - Medical Nutrition Therapy II and NTDT 40353- Experimental Foods. Considered one of the strengths of the Nutritional Sciences curriculum at TCU, the research component enables all majors to experience first-hand how scholarly endeavors fuel the advancement of the nutrition and dietetics profession.