Graduate Student Profile - Jose Antonio Haro Reyes

Jose Antonio Haro Reyes successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation on February 7, 2025. Jose is originally from Lima, Peru, and he completed his bachelor's degree in Animal Science at Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in Peru.

Jose's dissertation was entitled, "Role of microbial dysbiosis on the anti-colitic activity of 3-deoxyflavonoids and 3-hydroxyflavonoids". Jose's research aimed to find out if human microbiota from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) could prevent or enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of dietary flavonoids in an IL-10 KO mouse model. The study results suggested that human-associated microbiota impacted the anti-inflammatory activity of dietary flavonoids in an individual-dependent way. This means that the unique microbial composition of each individual could potentially allow or limit the activity of flavonoids.

Jose's advisor was Dr. Lavanya Reddivari. Other members of his gradate committee included Dr. Bruce Hamaker, Dr. Tim Johnson, and Dr. Kee-Hong Kim.

Jose says he chose Purdue Food Science because, "Purdue is prestigious in the field and one of the top 100 universities in the world." Jose recommends Purdue Food Science to prospective graduate students, stating, "Faculty scientific level, research facilities and possibilities of networking are key elements of the program that will provide the skills and connections needed for professional success. Additionally, the international student environment provides a unique experience for culture exchange in a widely diverse community."

Jose received a couple of awards during his time at Purdue Food Science including the B.J. Liska Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from Purdue Food Science, and 2nd place in the 2023 Young Investigators Underrepresented in Nutrition Award from The American Society for Nutrition.

Currently, Jose is working as Principal Researcher at the Caprine Project at INIA in Peru. There, he is collaborating with researchers on studies related to nutrition in caprine production systems. He is also designing a project to research bioactive compounds from unconventional animal food sources, how they improve the nutritional and functional quality of animal products for human consumption, and their impact on consumers' health.

Congratulations, Jose! We wish you all the best!