How to Frame It on Your Resume or Med School Application
“Designed and conducted a small-scale observational study to examine the effects of ketogenic diets on cardiometabolic biomarkers in adults aged 50+, integrating basic biostatistics and literature synthesis. This project deepened my interest in personalized nutrition, metabolic health, and preventive medicine.”
🌿 Suggested Focus for Your Research:
- Anti-inflammatory Benefits – Many herbs, like turmeric and ginger, have strong anti-inflammatory properties that might enhance the keto diet’s impact on inflammation markers (e.g., CRP, IL-6).
- Blood Sugar Regulation – Certain herbs, such as cinnamon and berberine, can help in blood glucose management. Studying them alongside keto could provide unique insights into managing diabetes and insulin resistance.
- Metabolism Boosting – Herbs like green tea extract, ginger, and cayenne pepper could help increase fat oxidation, synergizing well with the fat-burning aspects of keto.
- Digestive Health – The combination of keto and herbs like peppermint or ginger might promote better digestion, which can be a concern with high-fat diets.
Research Idea:
“Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Blood Biomarkers in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Small-Scale Observational Study”
🎯 Objective
To explore how following a ketogenic diet influences biomarkers such as:
- Fasting glucose and A1C
- LDL, HDL, and triglycerides
- CRP (inflammation), ALT/AST (liver function), and body weight
💡 Why This Is Smart
- Real-world relevance: The keto diet is popular, controversial, and often self-prescribed.
- Personal connection: Knowing actual people doing it gives your project authenticity.
- Scientific depth: You’ll explore metabolic impacts, diet quality, and cardiovascular risks.
🧭 Project Options
Option 1: Mini-Observational Study (with permission)
- Track 2–5 people (e.g., your dad and some older friends/family).
- Gather available data:
- Baseline and follow-up blood tests (from their annual checkups or self-tests).
- Basic dietary log: e.g., carb intake, fat/protein %, adherence score.
- Qualitative data: energy levels, appetite, mood, sleep.
- Analyze how biomarkers changed over 4–12 weeks on keto.
📌 Note: Since it’s non-invasive and observational, you likely don’t need IRB approval for personal/family-based projects (especially if you’re not publishing in a clinical journal), but it’s good to stay within ethical boundaries.
Option 2: Data Analysis of Public Datasets
- Use datasets like NHANES or data from keto forums (some share de-identified data).
- Compare people with low-carb diets vs. standard diets in terms of HDL, LDL, glucose, etc.
- Great way to apply data science + nutrition + medicine.
Option 3: Literature Review + Case Study
- Do a review of 10–20 studies on keto and biomarkers in older adults.
- Include your dad’s story (with consent!) as a mini case study in the intro or discussion.
- This becomes an excellent med school essay or poster presentation.
🗓️ 12-Month Research Plan: Keto Diet & Blood Biomarkers
🔹 Phase 1: Planning, Framing, and Teaming (Month 1–2)
Goals:
- Finalize your research question & hypothesis.
- Identify potential mentors, collaborators, or advisors.
- Decide if this will be observational, hybrid, or secondary-data-based.
Action Items:
- ✍️ Define your primary hypothesis (e.g., “Keto diet improves HDL and reduces A1C in older adults over 12 weeks.”)
- 👩🏫 Reach out to a faculty mentor or UCLA dietitian/public health advisor.
- ✅ Draft a simple protocol (objectives, variables, sample size, data collection method).
- 🔍 Do an in-depth literature review (PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate).
- 📁 Create an organized project folder (e.g., Zotero for papers, Google Docs for notes).
🔹 Phase 2: IRB & Ethics Approval (Month 2–3)
If involving human subjects (e.g., family, friends):
- Submit for UCLA IRB exemption or approval.
- Prepare consent forms and privacy documentation.
Action Items:
- 📄 Draft IRB proposal.
- 🧠 Prepare layperson-friendly info sheets for participants.
- ⚖️ Decide on data anonymization + protection plan (even for small-scale studies).
🔹 Phase 3: Participant Recruitment & Pre-Study Baseline (Month 3–4)
Goals:
- Identify 5–10 participants (older adults on keto, ideally tracked over 3–6 months).
- Collect pre-study baseline data (existing lab results or fresh).
Action Items:
- 🤝 Ask for consent from participants (start with family + community).
- 📝 Create tracking sheets (Google Sheets/Forms).
- 📊 Record: Age, gender, BMI, blood pressure, medications, existing diet, etc.
🔹 Phase 4: Diet Monitoring & Biomarker Tracking (Month 4–9)
Goals:
- Track participants’ diets + any changes in biomarkers every 4–6 weeks.
Action Items:
- 🥑 Ask participants to submit weekly food logs or use apps like MyFitnessPal/Carb Manager.
- 💉 Schedule monthly or bi-monthly blood panels (fasting glucose, A1C, HDL, LDL, TGs).
- 🧘♀️ Track subjective wellness metrics: energy, mood, sleep, weight, appetite.
- 📆 Keep weekly notes and regular communication.
🔹 Phase 5: Data Cleaning, Analysis & Interpretation (Month 9–10)
Goals:
- Organize and clean your dataset.
- Run statistical analysis.
Action Items:
- 🧮 Use Python (pandas, seaborn, statsmodels) or R (ggplot2, tidyverse).
- 📉 Compare pre- and post-diet metrics (e.g., paired t-tests, correlations).
- 🧠 Look for patterns by gender, age, or baseline health.
- 🧾 Create tables + graphs for visual storytelling.
🔹 Phase 6: Writing & Drafting the Paper (Month 10–11)
Goals:
- Write a scientific paper using standard structure:
Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion.
Action Items:
- 🖋️ Start early with methods + results sections (easiest to write first).
- ✨ Use clear data visuals to back up your claims.
- 💬 Discuss limitations, future work, and implications for preventive health.
🔹 Phase 7: Peer Review & Publication (Month 11–12)
Goals:
- Get feedback from mentors, professors, or student journals.
- Submit to a journal or conference.
Action Items:
- 📬 Share draft with advisors + 1–2 peers for constructive feedback.
- 📑 Submit to:
- UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal (URJ, SCOPE)
- Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI)
- Nutrition & Metabolism (if accepted at a higher tier)
- Present at a UCLA undergrad symposium or poster session.
✨ Bonus Ideas for Impact:
- Record progress on a blog or portfolio website.
- Include an executive summary in your med school apps.
- Develop an infographic or educational resource for older adults about keto and health.
🥄 How to Add a Single Food Intervention to Your Keto & Biomarker Study
🔹 1. Choose the Right Functional Food
Pick a food with evidence-backed effects on biomarkers. Here are three good candidates:
| Food Item | Benefits | Key Biomarkers Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Turmeric (Curcumin) | Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant | CRP, IL-6, possibly A1C |
| Ghee | Rich in fat-soluble vitamins; CLA may improve lipid metabolism | HDL, LDL, triglycerides |
| Chia Seeds | Omega-3s, fiber; may reduce glucose spikes | A1C, fasting glucose, TGs |
| Olive Oil (EVOO) | Monounsaturated fats, polyphenols | HDL ↑, LDL ↓, inflammation ↓ |
🔹 2. Set Up a Mini-Intervention
You can implement this as an add-on to your main study or a subgroup within participants.
Example Plan:
- Select 3–5 people from your main study group.
- Introduce 1 tbsp/day of turmeric paste with pepper (for bioavailability), or 2 tsp of ghee during meals, or 1 tbsp chia soaked overnight.
- Maintain the rest of their keto diet as-is.
- Continue tracking biomarkers and symptoms.
🔹 3. Control for Variables
To increase rigor:
- Ask participants not to add any new supplements or dietary changes during the trial.
- Ensure consistency in quantity and timing of the food item.
- Optionally do a 2-week run-in period before the food intervention starts to gather clean baseline.
🔹 4. Duration & Measurement
- Suggested period: 4–8 weeks
- Biomarkers to track (before & after):
- Lipid panel: HDL, LDL, Triglycerides
- Glucose panel: A1C, fasting glucose
- Inflammatory markers: CRP (if available)
- Liver enzymes: ALT, AST (especially with added fats like ghee)
🔹 5. Documentation & Analysis
- Create a short dietary adherence log: “Did you take turmeric/ghee today? Y/N”
- Ask for subjective wellness feedback: energy, digestion, joint pain, etc.
- Use simple pre-post comparisons and descriptive statistics.
✨ Extra Credit for Publishing:
- Add a mini-literature review in your discussion about that food item.
- Highlight cultural or traditional use (e.g., turmeric in Ayurveda).
- Suggest how this simple food-based intervention could aid public health in aging populations.