Robbins College Alumna Wins Award for Contributions in Nutrition

Elisa Marroquín, who earned both her Master of Science in Exercise Physiology and PhD in Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Sciences from Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, was recently named the recipient of the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Bluebonnet Award. This prestigious award honors an individual who is not a dietitian but who has significantly contributed to the promotion, recognition, or progress of nutrition and dietetics in Texas. 

Marroquín was nominated for the award by faculty at Texas Christian University, where she currently works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Director of the Clinical and Biochemical Nutrition Laboratories. With 38 peer-reviewed scientific articles published, Marroquín’s research continues to pursue a greater holistic picture of nutrition’s role in human flourishing, specifically focusing on gut microbiota and obesity.

“The nomination from my colleagues meant a lot—it shows how much they respect and value my work,” she said. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to be the recipient of the award, so it was such an honor to receive it.”

Before pursuing a career in higher education, Marroquín studied for five years at Baylor after receiving the highly selective Fulbright-García Robles Scholarship, which is a prestigious international exchange program funded by both the American and Mexican governments to foster mutual understanding through educational exchange. She said Baylor’s programs stood out to her because they combined exercise and nutrition, which was unique for a post-graduate-level program. Originally from Mexico, and with English as a second language, Marroquín recalls she relied on discipline and the guidance of her professors, such as Leigh Greathouse, PhD, MPH, MS, RD, Associate Professor of Nutrition Sciences, to succeed during her time at Baylor.    

“It was a big step to go to a different country. I was a full-time master’s degree student, teaching four classes per semester, plus doing research. I was already a disciplined person, but I developed further my discipline because I had no time off—I learned a tremendous amount of research knowledge that I know has helped me get to where I am today,” she said. “I had great professors. I’m proud that whenever I say the name of my mentors, everyone in our field knows who they are and respects them.”  

Now, Marroquín is making a name of her own, with several published papers, research featured in national and international magazines, internal and external grants—and most recently, adding the Bluebonnet Award to her growing list of recognitions. Yet, despite these accomplishments, Marroquín says her main goal “will always be in line with helping others” and wants to use her research to continue doing so.

Much of Marroquín’s research has focused on gut microbiota, with one of her most popular articles revealing the first systematic review to assess the effect of taking probiotics alongside antibiotics on the diversity and composition of the human gut microbiome. She has also extensively researched obesity, ranging from the effects of sleep on weight-loss maintenance to the effects of weight-loss surgeries on the gut microbiome.

“The gut microbiome is fascinating to me, and it is a variable that is not always accounted for in nutrition or when analyzing a person’s body composition,” she said.

Marroquín first became interested in the field of nutrition after her lupus diagnosis at 15 years old. She was prescribed corticosteroids for treatment, which is known to often cause weight gain. 

“I didn’t have a clear understanding of what that meant or how to protect myself from that, so I went to a dietitian. She helped me prevent weight gain for the three years I was on corticosteroids, and that’s how I became interested in helping people in the same way,” she explained.

Her biggest piece of advice for students interested in nutrition is to follow their passions and be adaptable. 

“Pick a specialization that you are passionate about because that’s where you’ll likely spend most of your time and your future,” she said. “You want to be happy, so take your time to pick the right one. But, recognize that doors aren’t always going to open exactly where you want them to be, especially at the beginning. Be willing to accept different opportunities to allow you to get to where you want to be in the future.”