The Department of Nutrition Science is the starting point for developing future nutrition scientists and professionals who are prepared to work in a diverse world.<br><br>Over the years we've come to understand that diet can have a strong impact on the health and well being of humans and animals. Research on nutrition and health integrates information from many disciplines: biochemistry, physiology, psychology, food science, genetics, and cell biology are at the heart of our understanding of nutrition and its application.<br><br>The Interdepartmental Nutrition Program (INP) is an interdisciplinary training program for students interested in the study of nutrition science. Faculty from several departments provide a wide range of expertise and training opportunities. Students interested in participating in INP apply to the Purdue West Lafayette (PWL) - Nutrition graduate program. Admitted students train under an INP faculty mentor to earn either a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree. Students learn a variety of approaches to address important nutrition issues. When applying to INP, prospective students indicate their preferred area of training by selecting one of the following Training Groups:<br><br>Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition<br>Human and Clinical Nutrition<br>Animal Health, Growth and Development<br>Population Nutrition and Health Promotion<br><br>Students and faculty in this training group are interested in examining the mechanisms controlling nutrient or phytochemical metabolism or defining diet-disease relationships. These researchers utilize cell culture and animal models and depend upon the basic sciences of cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, and biochemistry. This work provides the foundation for future, more applied studies that lead to improved dietary practices, or the use of nutrition in the treatment of disease.