Schneeman Research and Travel Award
Giving in Action: Helping students grow, connect and thrive
The Schneeman Research and Travel Award provides UC Davis Department of Nutrition students with support to pursue research and professional development opportunities beyond the classroom and laboratory. For graduate students, travel awards can make it possible to attend conferences, present research, connect with experts and build relationships that can shape future collaborations and career opportunities.
Recent recipient, Javier Sandoval Jr., experienced that impact firsthand at NUTRITION 2026, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).
Javier Sandoval Jr.
PhD Student | Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology
For Javier, the Schneeman Research and Travel Award helped turn his research into a conversation with the broader nutrition research community.
A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and personal trainer, Javier returned to graduate school to pursue research focused on improving health through evidence-based practices. His research examines barriers to healthy eating and physical activity, including how mindset and self-belief influence the challenges people perceive when trying to change their health behaviors.
With support from the travel award, Javier attended ASN and presented his research to fellow nutrition researchers. The experience gave him an opportunity to receive feedback, learn about emerging research and connect with people whose interests align with his own.
“Receiving this travel award helped me grow both academically and professionally as it allowed me to put myself out there in the field.”
The conference experience also helped Javier build relationships that could lead to future collaborations and career opportunities. For an emerging researcher, those connections can be just as valuable as the opportunity to present.
The impact of travel support
By supporting students' participation in professional conferences, the Schneeman Research and Travel Award helps extend students' education beyond UC Davis, giving them opportunities to share their work, learn from leaders in the field and build the professional networks that will support their careers.
Research doesn't happen in isolation. Conferences provide graduate students the opportunity to take their work beyond the lab, receive feedback, discover new approaches and become part of a larger research community.
Support the Next Generation of Nutrition Leaders
Your gift can help nutrition students pursue research, attend conferences, share their work and build the professional connections that shape their careers. Every contribution creates opportunities for students to learn, grow and make an impact beyond the classroom.