Sitara Cullinan
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
PhD Candidate & Dietetic Intern
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science | Nutrition | The University of Texas at Austin | 2018 |
| Food Science | McGill University | 2021 |
Research
Sitara is carrying out her dissertation research in the lab of Dr. Carla L. Schwan. Her work focuses on characterization of foodborne microbial hazard exposures for Athens communities of distinct socioeconomic and demographic profiles through fresh produce available in their respective neighborhood food environments.
Project domains:
- Food safety microbiology
- Social and structural determinants of health
- Microbial genomics
- Antimicrobial resistance
Teaching
Served as a graduate teaching assistant for the following courses:
NUTR 4050/6050 (in-person): Optimal Nutrition for the Lifespan (Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023)
NUTR 4520/6520 (in-person): Clinical Nutrition Interventions (Spring 2022)
NUTR 4620/6620 (in-person): Management of Foodservice Organizations (Spring 2023, Spring 2025)
NUTR 2100E (online): Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (Spring 2024, Summer 2024)
NUTR 2100 (in-person): Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (Fall 2024)
NUTR 4050E/6050E (online): Optimal Nutrition for the Lifespan (Summer 2025)
NUTR 4640E/6640E (online): Food Sanitation and Safety (Fall 2025)
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| IAFP 2025 Student Travel Scholarship | International Association for Food Protection | 2025 |
| IFT Education, Extension & Outreach Division 2024-2025 Student Video Competition Finalist Team | Institute of Food Technologists Education, Extension & Outreach Division | 2025 |
| Summer Research Grants for Doctoral Students | University of Georgia Graduate School | 2025 |
| George Griffeth and Leolene Chapman Montgomery Scholarship | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2025 |
| Conference Travel Grants for Students | University of Georgia Graduate School | 2024 |
| Glenn and Helen Burton Feeding the Hungry Scholarship | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2024 |
| Gwendolyn Brooks O'Connell Scholarship | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2023 |
| Virginia Wilbanks Kilgore Scholarship | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2023 |
| Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award | Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Georgia | 2023 |
| Virginia Wilbanks Kilgore Scholarship | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2022 |
Areas of Expertise
- Human nutrition and dietetics
- Food safety microbiology
- Social determinants of health
- Structural determinants of health
- Salmonella enterica
- ESKAPE(E) group opportunistic pathogens
- Antimicrobial resistance profiling (AST and resistome)
- Socioecological mapping