Class of 2014
Reed is a federally funded researcher and three-time published author in peer-reviewed scientific journals on the topic of nutrigenomics — the study of how diet relates to gene function.
Thanks to prestigious grants from the National Science Foundation and The Hunter Rawlings III Presidential Research Scholars Program, Reed has been able to conduct lab research alongside renowned scientists, examining ways to eradicate global deficiencies in certain nutrients, and improve analytical biomarkers to measure a person's zinc status.
Zinc is an essential micronutrient, yet zinc deficiency affects upwards of 3.5 billion people in both developed and undeveloped countries. Reed's study investigated a new, potentially more sensitive biological indicator of zinc status. He's presented his findings at scientific conferences throughout the U.S., including at the National Academies in D.C., as well as in Israel, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, and Brazil.
A long period of illness fueled Reed's passion for health and medicine. During his high school years, his insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes, coupled with a rare debilitating thyroid disorder, kept him in and out of the emergency room. He was home schooled by tutors for three years, graduated with somewhat improved health, and enrolled in nearby St. Petersburg College, where he earned an associate's degree in molecular biology and genetics. USA Today named him among its list of the top 20 community college students in the country.
Dedicating his time at Cornell to research that holds personal meaning for him and his family makes the experience all the more unique, Reed says. His post-graduation plans include taking a year to wrap current research projects at Cornell, and then enrolling in medical school to study endocrinology or pediatrics.