Kaela Connors

Kaela is a postdoctoral researcher at the Global Food Research Program focused on identifying and evaluating policies that can improve diets while simultaneously reducing chronic disease burdens, environmental impact, and health disparities. She earned her PhD from the University of Edinburgh in population health sciences and food systems, where her doctoral research focused on policy design to promote sustainable and healthy of diets in Mexico. She holds a Master of Science in Global Health and Population from the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health and a B.A. in Political Science and Environmental Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Previously, Kaela spent three years working at the National Institute of Public Health Mexico in Mexico City and at the UN World Food Programme in Panama City. These experiences sparked her interest in social determinants of health, diets, and sustainability.

The first thing I learned to cook was… my grandmother’s pierogis with heaps of dill, butter, and fried onions.

My most interesting food habit is… a sandwich with sauerkraut, walnuts, blue cheese, and mayo (maybe horseradish if on hand) – a nightmare for some folks but truly clutch in graduate school.

My favorite combination of food and drink is… a cold beer with something salty like peanuts.

My favorite food for summer is … I love fresh, juicy heirloom tomatoes in the summer – on their own with salt, with mozzarella, or sandwich/salad.