For the last four years, Dr. Stephanie Prescott has played a pivotal role at the USF Health College of Nursing by fostering student engagement in research through her work in the college’s Biobehavioral Lab. She has inspired students to showcase their research at prominent events, including USF Health Research Day and the Southern Nursing Research Society conference. Under her leadership, the Biobehavioral Lab received two rounds of funding totaling $20,000 from the Florida High Tech Corridor to expand its volunteer training program.
Additionally, Dr. Prescott has provided invaluable guidance on biomarker data collection for both students and faculty, assisting with grants and research proposals. She streamlined the process of obtaining lab testing quotes for research projects by compiling cost information. Dr. Prescott will continue her impactful work as an assistant professor, further advancing research and education at the College of Nursing.
Dr. Prescott is passing the leadership of the Biobehavioral Lab to Dr. Ryan Pace, who will take over as the on-site Assistant Director. Dr. Pace's presence will ensure a seamless transition and continued support for the lab's research initiatives, fostering ongoing innovation and discovery in the field of nursing science.
Dr. Pace is an assistant professor at the College of Nursing. His research revolves around understanding how the microbiome relates to human health and development, focusing on the first 1000 days of life.
Dr. Pace's current research investigates diverse aspects of maternal-infant health, including relationships among maternal diet, human milk composition, and maternal/infant microbiomes; as well as the role of human milk in modulating immunological risks and benefits to mothers and infants.