Rafael Segura Munoz, a PhD student in the Complex Biosystems program has been approved as a doctoral candidate and was recently selected to receive a Widaman Distinguished Graduate Assistantship.
Munoz received his undergraduate degree from Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia in Agroindustrial Production Engineering before coming to the University of Nebraska to study Intestinal Microbiome, Metabolic Syndrome and Bioinformatics. His current project is to determine how specific members of the gut microbiota interact with one another to promote the health benefits associated with eating dietary fiber. By understanding this relationship his work can ultimately improve personalized diets that improve human health.
In addition to his research he has co-authored five published papers including a second authorship on a Microbiome paper to which he made significant contributions, with two more in the works, and is well on his way to four first-authored publications.
His advisor, Dr. Amanda Ramer-Tait, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, has high regards for his work in her lab over his academic career at UNL. She says of him, "Without question, Rafael is one of the most motivated and capable students I have had the pleasure of working with, he is truly a gifted young scientist who will undoubtedly make significant contributions to society."
His outstanding performance also earned him a Widaman Distinguished Graduate Assistantship for research in agriculture.
The Widaman Trust was established in 1975 through a generous gift provided to the University of Nebraska Foundation by Ms. Blanch Widaman.
For more information about the Complex Biosystems program visit: https://bigdata.unl.edu/phd-program