Nikita Bharati

Fulbright/University of Reading Award in Food Security

Nikita graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Biology and minors in Nutrition Science and Chemistry. Her interest in nutrition began in high school through the Borlaug-Ruan Internship at the World Vegetable Center, where she researched the Dolichos bean, an underutilized crop with potential to improve food security. At Penn, she expanded her research experience through environmental health and gastrointestinal research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Outside of research, Nikita has explored how nutrition intersects with education and community health. In Philadelphia, she taught community cooking classes, supported school nutrition initiatives, and founded a program introducing students to the intersection of nutrition and technology. As a Fulbright Scholar, Nikita will pursue an MSc in Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Reading, where she hopes to explore the role of nutrition in health outcomes across clinical and community settings and apply these insights to her future medical career. Outside of academics, Nikita’s hobbies include hosting themed dinner parties, transforming her apartment into a “home café”, fostering cats, cycling, and collecting vintage decor.