Employee List

Jennifer L. Temple, Ph.D.

Dr. Temple is an Assistant Professor in Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and the Director of the Nutrition and Health Research Laboratory. Although her undergraduate and graduate research training was in basic behavioral neuroscience, Dr. Temple became interested in factors that impact human ingestive behavior. After completing post-doctoral training with Dr. Leonard Epstein in Behavioral Medicine, she became the director of The Nutrition and Health Research Laboratory. Her research program focuses on three major areas: food reinforcement and sensory system influences on eating in adults and physiological and behavioral effects of caffeine intake in children and adolescents. Dr. Temple is the mother of two children (Rachel, 6 years and William, 2 years) and when she is not chasing them around, she enjoys running and singing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus.

E-mail: jltemple@buffalo.edu

Amanda M. Ziegler

Project Coordinator

Amanda is the new Project Coordinator for the Nutrition and Health Research Lab. She is a recent graduate of the University of Rochester’s Biochemistry program and through an entrepreneurial year fellowship, she spent and additional academic year studying how to bridge gaps between the university and surrounding school systems in Rochester. Over the course of the next couple of years she will be pursuing her Master’s degree in Nutrition at UB, with the end goal of running a family medical practice focused on holistic treatment. Now living in her hometown, Amanda enjoys reading about food, cooking and eating tasty meals. In her spare time she also enjoys yoga, playing soccer and traveling.

Leah Scarborough

Text Box: Leah is a graduate student pursuing her BS in Exercise Science and MS Nutrition Science here at UB. For Independent Study, she worked to develop the assessments and exercise program for the research study Exercise intervention in breast cancer patients with treatment-induced arthralgia. In addition, she is completing her Exercise Science practicum in the Behavioral Medicine Lab’s Exercise and stress study for teenagers, which looks at cardiovascular responses to exercise and stress and their relation to cardiovascular diseases in youth. Leah also works at the WNY Veteran’s Administration’s Research Facility. She has worked on FUSRAP and Superfund Cleanup Sites prior to returning to college in 2007. Leah has an AS degree in Radiation Protection Technology. In her free time, she enjoys photography, gardening, and playing with her dog.

Adam Gracyzk

Adam is a graduate student pursuing his MS in Nutrition Science here at UB. He is currently a research assistant, on the population study The effects of soda additives on taste preferences and beverage intake. Adam plans to apply to a PhD program in Nutrition, and he is already excited about the idea of teaching at the university level. Adam has a BS in Biology from Widener University and a certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. He is originally from the heartland of America, New Tripoli, PA. In his spare time, he enjoys baking, yoga, and hunkering down for a Netflix marathon.

Shannon O’Leary

Shannon is a junior in UB's School of Nursing, pursuing her BSN. This is her second year working as a research assistant for Dr. Temple, having worked on both Pop Study 3 and 4. Originally from Rochester, NY, Shannon has worked for the University of Rochester School of Nursing in data entry, and in her free time enjoys playing the French horn, running, and spending time with friends and family. She hopes to continue on to graduate school to receive her Doctorate of Nursing Practice and one day become a Nursing Professor.

E-mail: amz9@buffalo.edu

E-mail: lms73@buffalo.edu

E-mail: adamgrac@buffalo.edu

E-mail: soleary2@buffalo.edu

Ashley Bendlin

Ashley is an undergraduate student at UB pursuing a dual degree in Environmental Studies (BS) and Psychology (BA). This is her first year in Dr. Temple’s laboratory, but her third working as a research assistant at the university. Ashley’s long term goal is to attend veterinarian school and work in wildlife conservation. In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking, tennis, and spending time with family, friends, and her two black lab puppies.

E-mail: abendlin@buffalo.edu

Yasemin Kosar

Yasemin is a senior at UB pursuing a BS in Biomedical Science and a BA in
Mathematics. In addition Yasemin enjoys working as a research assistant for Dr.
Temple, working in direct care in a women’s group home, and volunteering in
healthcare. After she graduates, Yasemin will be attending UB Medical School with
the desire to become an OB/GYN. In her spare time, Yasemin loves to reread her
favorite books including Ender’s Game and the Count of Monte Cristo, to go on
long bike rides, and to spend relaxing evenings watching movies with her family
and friends.