Kevin W. Huggins, Ph.D.

Kevin W. Huggins, Ph.D.

  • Associate Professor
  • Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Nutrition Science
  • Nutritional Sciences
(334) 844-3296
huggikw@auburn.edu
102D Poultry Science Building
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Dr. Huggins is currently an associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, where he also serves as program coordinator for the nutrition science undergraduate major. Dr. Huggins received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pathophysiology from Wake Forest University. His dissertation work focused on understanding the effects of dietary fat saturation on the metabolism and structure of high density lipoprotein subfractions. Dr. Huggins received further training in lipid metabolism and molecular biology while completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. Dr. Huggins received his B.S. in Biology from the University of North Florida. 

Dr. Huggins currently teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in nutritional biochemistry, macronutrient metabolism, sports nutrition and nutritional genomics. 

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Huggins currently resides in Notasulga, Alabama.

Education

  • Ph.D. Molecular and Cellular PathophysiologyWake Forest University1999

  • B.S. BiologyUniversity of North Florida1992

Innovation

My research interests have focused on the role of nutrition, specifically lipids, in health and disease. I have focused primarily on the molecular mechanisms of how lipids influence the development and progression of atherosclerosis, obesity and type 2 diabetes using  various biochemical and molecular biology techniques to study gene and protein expression, in vivo tracer studies to study kinetic modeling of lipids and protein, and gene-knockout technology to study gene function in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes. My current research is focused on the role of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Specifically, we are addressing how omega-3 fatty acids influence adipocyte differentiation and metabolism and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle.