‍Professor Frank heads the Department of Food Biofunctionality at the Institute of Nutritional Sciences of the University of Hohenheim. He is the dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the chairman of the governance board of the Research Center for Health Sciences at the University of Hohenheim. He is the founding president of the Society of Nutrition and Food Science e.V., Editor-in-chief of NFS Journal, Associate Editor of Nutrition, and editorial board member of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, PharmaNutrition, BioFactors, and Plant Foods for Human Nutrition.

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‍His research interests lie in factors that determine the absorption, metabolism, and elimination of the different vitamin E congeners and phytochemicals (such as curcuminoids and flavonoids) and in developing novel strategies to overcome the low intrinsic oral bioavailability of phytochemicals, as well as in understanding the biological activities of these potentially health-beneficial bioactives.

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‍Congratulations Dr. Theresa Jeremias!

‍Theresa  investigated the nutritional status and the prevalence of malnutrition of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and presented her important findings on December 12 at the University of Hohenheim during the defense of her Ph. D. thesis. Her project was supervised by Dr. Veronika Scherbaum. Our heartfelt congratulations for the successful completion of her Ph. D. journey go to Theresa!

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‍Congratulations Dr. Jonas Pospiech!

‍Jonas  investigated the composition and bioaccessibility of  micronutrients from plant-based meat alternatives and the uptake and accumulation of iron and n3-fatty acids in adipocytes, which were used as cultured meat model. Jonas defended his doctoral work on November 27, 2025 at the University of Hohenheim and gave a well-received presentation and shared insights into his journey as a PhD student. We wish him all the best for his future and success in his new endeavors at Roche Diagnostics. 

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‍Congratulations Dr. Damaris Beitze!

‍Damaris studied mother-infant pairs in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the factors determining their dietary diversity and nutritional status. She successfully defended her Ph. D. thesis July 25 at the University of Hohenheim and impressed the audience with an excellent presentation and the examination board with her profound knowledge of the subject. Damaris has been a valued member of our group and will be dearly missed. We wish Damaris all the best and plenty of luck for her academic career and personal life!

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‍Go nuts!

‍Dr. Frank was consulted as a nutrition expert by the makers of „Darwin gefällt das“, a German podcast telling stories about the „epic fails of human history“. In the episode „Coco Nuts“, Anna Bühler tells her co-host Christian Alt the story of August Engelhardt, a nudist and vegetarian who founded a coconut-cult on the Pacific island Kabakon in 1902. Engelhardt promoted the idea that eating only coconuts would lead to a divine state of immortality. If you want to find out if following a diet exclusively based on coconuts is a good idea, you can listen to the podcast here.

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