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Margaret Slavin, PhD, RDN

Associate Professor

Associate Professor

Nutrition & Food Science 0112 Skinner Building College Park, MD 20742
301 405-4533

Expertise

  • Migraine, Food and Nutrition
  • Phytochemicals and Functional Foods
  • Dietary Assessment
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

Education

  • PhD in Nutrition and Food Science. University of Maryland, College Park (2011)
  • BS in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition. University of Pittsburgh (2006)

BIOGRAPHY

I am researcher and educator at the interface of nutrition, dietetics and food science. My research broadly investigates the impact of food on human health and has used techniques ranging from benchtop science, population-level analyses, and clinical assessments and interventions. My current research foci involve (1) the bi-directional relationship between diet/nutrition and migraine disease, (2) the gut microbiome, and (3) food bioactive components, especially flavonoids and other polyphenolics.

I teach undergraduate nutrition for non-majors, with goals of supporting students to identify health-promoting eating patterns that fit their lives and preparing them to continue critically engaging with nutrition information after the course ends. In courses for nutrition majors and graduate students, I work to prepare our future evidence-based practitioners and scholars.

RESEARCH

Publications

Google Scholar

Recent Funding

01/01/2024 - 06/30/2025. Maryland Agriculture Extension Station.
Assessing pain outcomes in a low sugar dietary intervention. Role:  PI

07/01/2022 - 06/30/2026. USDA/AFRI
Gut microbial metabolites of apple polyphenols (GutMMAP): Interrogating individual differences to establish biomarker utility. Role:  PI

 

TEACHING

Courses Taught

2024 - present.  NFSC100 Elements of Nutrition, fall and spring
                             (Including Honors and Freshman Connection sections)

2025 - present.  NFSC680 Human Nutrition Assessment (Co-instructor), spring


Available for NFSC498A, NFSC699 - independent learning opportunities.

 

Recent Funding

07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026. UMD Teaching & Learning Transformation Center, Accessible Teaching Grant.
Application of universal design in a personalized nutrition assessment project.
 

CREDENTIALS, HONORS AND AWARDS

Credentials
  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.  Commission on Dietetic Registration, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • ServSafe Food Protection Manager. ServSafe National Restaurant Association
Honors and Awards, selected
  • 2025- Fellow, American Headache Society
  • 2024 - Dean's Grantsmanship Award. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland
  • 2019, 2020 - Outstanding Mason Core Natural Science Course, George Mason University
  • 2017 - Teacher of Distinction, George Mason University
  • 2017 - Master Teacher Award, Junior Faculty, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University
  • 2017 - Shirley S. Travis Habit of Excellence Award. College of Health and Human Service, George Mason University.
  • 2015, 2017 - International Headache Academy delegate, American Headache Society, International Headache Society.
  • 2014 - McCormick Science Institute Excellence in Research Award. 

 

OUTREACH AND MEDIA