Kathryn Ayres, PhD, RDN

Rank: Assistant Professor

Contact Info

Health & Human Services kayres@bgsu.edu 419-372- 7729

Education

BS in Biomedical Science – Western Michigan University

MS in Nutrition and Food Science – Wayne State University

PhD in Dietetics and Nutrition – Florida International University

Courses Taught Macronutrients

Biography

Dr. Kathryn Ayres is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Public and Allied Health at Bowling Green State University. Her research focuses on data-driven approaches to understanding how dietary factors and environmental exposures influence metabolic and microbiome-related health outcomes. She specializes in the analysis of large national datasets, including NHANES, and the application of complex survey design methods in nutrition research, as well as microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic profiling techniques.

Dr. Ayres also integrates artificial intelligence and digital media into nutrition education, developing innovative teaching tools that bring biochemical and metabolic pathways to life for students. She has taught across dietetics programs, nursing programs, and general education courses for non-science majors, working with a diverse range of learners and academic backgrounds. Before joining BGSU, she completed her doctoral work at Florida International University.

Research Interests Diet–microbiome interactions, nutrient–toxicant relationships, NHANES complex survey analysis, applied nutrition education, and AI-supported learning in health science.