Research Trainee Spotlight: Pari Mokhtari, PhD, RD

How does what we eat impact our health? That question has long fascinated Pari Mokhtari, PhD, RD. Her journey to find the answers has taken her across the globe—and to CHLA.

After completing her undergraduate studies in food science in her home country of Iran, Dr. Mokhtari traveled to Malaysia to earn a master’s in nutrition. In 2015, she came to the U.S., where she became a registered dietitian and earned her PhD in nutrition and integrative physiology.

Now a Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Michael Goran, PhD, at CHLA, her research focuses on how early-life nutrition shapes the gut microbiome and impacts a child’s future health trajectory. She also recently began working on the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) study, where she is investigating the relationship between the microbiome and cancer in diverse ethnic and racial groups.

“My goal is to be at the forefront of research in the microbiome and nutrition,” Dr. Mokhtari shares. “Through research, I aim to develop nutritional strategies that can prevent disease and improve quality of life.”

In her free time, she enjoys scenic trails and pursuing another food-related passion: cooking. “My kitchen is a lab of another sort, where I love experimenting with recipes,” she shares. “I also enjoy cultivating my garden and hunting for the perfect plants that can thrive in its shady corners.”