Kathleen J. Melanson, Ph.D., R.D., L.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, and Director of the Energy Metabolism Laboratory. Formerly, she was the Senior Scientist at Rippe Lifestyle Institute. Her areas of expertise include energy and macronutrient metabolism, energy balance, metabolic regulation, appetite physiology, healthy body weight management, nutrition and physical activity, and chronic disease prevention. She has published widely in peer-reviewed scientific journals as well as book chapters, and has presented her work internationally. Her professional memberships include the American Dietetic Association, the International and North American Chapters of the Association for the Study of Obesity, the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, and the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America. Dr. Melanson assists RLI research staff in the design and implementation of study protocols, planning experimental test meals and diets, data collection and interpretation, abstract and paper writing, and applications of outcomes.