Roberta R Holt is an Assistant Project Scientist in the Department of Nutrition. Her current research interests include defining the metabolic and physiologic effects of the intake of specific foods on cardiovascular health. This includes examining the relationship between circulating metabolites on vascular and platelet responses. Of interest, as a better definition of the mode of action of how specific phytochemicals and foods affect physiologic response, will lead towards the refinement of dietary recommendations for the general public regarding foods and dietary patterns that reduce chronic disease development. Dr. Holt has over 25 years of experience at the University of California, Davis in the fields of cardiovascular physiology and nutrition, where she received her Bachelors in Physiology and her doctorate in Nutritional Biology. She was a recipient of the UC Davis’ Max Kleiber Award for her dissertational work in the fields of physiology, biochemistry and nutrition, as well as a USDA AFRI NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient. Her current research projects include the effects of freeze dried strawberry powder intake on microvascular function and its relationship to changes in the microbiome and circulating metabolites; the effects of extra virgin olive oil-derived phenolics on platelet reactivity; and the effects of walnut derived fatty acid metabolites on microvascular function and platelet aggregation.