Associate Professor
Scientific Director, Clinical Nutrition Research Unit (CNRU)
Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Ingestive Behaviour
T: 514-398-7677听 |听 daiva.nielsen [at] mcgill.ca (Email) |听 Macdonald-Stewart Building MS2-035 | Biosketch | Twitter: @DaivaNielsen
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Degrees
BSc University of Toronto
PhD University of Toronto
Short Bio
Daiva Nielsen completed her graduate work at the University of Toronto in the areas of nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition. She went on to conduct postdoctoral research in translation genomics at Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, USA, where she was involved in some of the first clinical trials aimed at evaluating the medical, behavioural and economic outcomes of incorporating genomic sequencing into medical practice. Dr. Nielsen鈥檚 training background has provided her with skills in dietary assessment, behaviour modification, genomics and knowledge translation. Her research goals include combining genomic and environmental exposure information together, including retail food exposures and sensory aspects of food, to better understand the complexities around human eating behaviour. She aims to apply her research findings to develop novel tailored intervention studies to promote healthful eating and ensure optimal knowledge translation to key players including food industry and health professionals.
Research Interests
Evaluating how genetic variation and everyday food exposures are linked to eating behaviour and indicators of health. The overall goal of my research program is to design genetically-informed dietary interventions to promote healthful eating.
Courses
NUTR 511. Nutrition and Behaviour.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
NUTR 511
Nutrition and Behaviour.
Offered by: Human Nutrition (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
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Description
This course will integrate biological, social and psychological determinants of eating and food choices in both health and disease. Topics will include behavioural theories relevant to eating and food choice, neurobiology of appetite regulation, mental health, obesity, chronic disease and effectiveness of behaviour-change intervention strategies.
- 2 lectures and one seminar
- Prerequisite: NUTR 337 and NUTR 344
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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NUTR 551. Analysis of Nutrition Data.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
NUTR 551
Analysis of Nutrition Data.
Offered by: Human Nutrition (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
View offerings for in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Practical application of theoretical concepts in data analysis covering issues of study design, data collection, database organization, and statistical analysis using SPSS statistical software. Applications of statistical tests, reporting and interpretation of results, and data visualization.
- This course includes a fee of $100 for a course and lab manual prepared by the instructor of the course. The fee is refundable until the end of the add/drop period as long as the manual is intact.
- Fall
- Prerequisites: NUTR 337, AEMA 310 or another undergraduate-level statistics course.
- Corequisite: NUTR 450
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Publications
Biosketch
