Research Discipline/Bio
Ya Gao is a Ph.D. candidate in Behavioral Nutrition at Teachers College, Columbia University, with a focus on how to promote diet adherence and quality of life for individuals with gastrointestinal disorders. Her current research explores the relationship between gluten-free diet adherence and quality of life in pregnant women with celiac disease. Ya also serves as a research assistant to Dr. Randi Wolf on the NIH-funded GLUTECH trial, in collaboration with the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, which investigates remote dietitian follow-up, with and without novel gluten detection technology, to improve clinical management of celiac disease. With a background in food science, she is also interested in advancing food standards through research and development, particularly for individuals with specialized dietary needs.
Educational Background
Ph.D., Behavioral Nutrition, Teachers College, Columbia University, Expected 2027
M.S., Human Nutrition, Columbia University, 2022
B.S., Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, 2020
Last Updated: Jun 8, 2025