August 25, 2025 | Anna Zarra Aldrich, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Ock Chun Named CAHNR Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education

Chun's academic leadership extends across research collaborations, extramural funding development, and graduate mentorship, with a focus on translational research that bridges epidemiology, clinical nutrition, and public health

Drone of Young building and Horsebarn Hill

WB Young building and Horsebarn Hill (Milton Levin/UConn Photo)

Ock Chun, professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, has been named the interim associate dean for research and graduate education in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR).

Ock Chun, Nutritional Sciences professor, at her office
Ock Chun is an internationally recognized scholar whose work has significantly shaped the field of nutritional epidemiology (Contributed photo).

“I am thrilled that Dr. Chun has agreed to serve in this critical role for our college,” says Kumar Venkitanarayanan, CAHNR interim dean. “Her extensive experience as a leading researcher in the field of nutritional science, both on the national and international stage, combined with her experience as a graduate mentor, enable her to provide creative leadership for CAHNR faculty and students.”

Chun’s academic leadership extends across research collaborations, extramural funding development, and graduate mentorship, with a focus on translational research that bridges epidemiology, clinical nutrition, and public health.

She is an internationally recognized scholar whose work has significantly shaped the field of nutritional epidemiology. Her research is focused on dietary and lifestyle factors and their impact on chronic diseases with emphasis on disease prevention and risk reduction. Recently, Chun has been incorporating wearable health technologies and digital literacy tools into her work.

Chun has been awarded approximately $12 million in total research funding, serving as principal investigator on over $6.7 million in competitive grants.

She has been recognized among Stanford University’s Top 2% of global researchers and has published more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles. She is an active contributor to the scientific community, serving on editorial boards of 14 international journals

Chun has mentored over 60 students at all levels. Her students have received numerous awards and co-authored high-impact publications under her guidance.

“I am honored and excited to step into this role and serve the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. I look forward to working collaboratively with our exceptional leadership, faculty, and students to support innovative research and enhance our graduate programs. My goal is to foster a vibrant intellectual community that addresses current critical challenges and prepares the next generation of leaders in our fields.”

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