We are excited to introduce “Student Spotlight” where each week a different student who participates in Research at Roanoke College will be featured. For this first week, meet Snigdha Somani, an Undergraduate Research Assistant who is working with Dr. Andreea Mihalache-O’Keef in the Public Affairs Department. Currently, Snigdha is working on a project titled, The First Year: Determinants of Infant Nutrition and Marketing Solutions for Community Stakeholders in the Roanoke Valley. “This project identifies infant nutrition patterns in Roanoke and the surrounding area, as well as some of the socioeconomic, demographic, and policy-related determinants of infant nutrition decisions. It is a unique data collection initiative intended to serve a variety of local stakeholders, like WIC. The main contribution of the project is to fill a gap in data on infant feeding in our area and on challenges and resources for mothers during baby’s first year of life. Additionally, the project tests a set of hypotheses regarding determinants of infant nutrition outcomes, with a focus on two broad categories: (1) socio-demographics; and (2) community culture and resources”, says Snigdha. Follow Snigdha and Dr. Mihalache-O’Keef on their journey with this project throughout the semester!