Michael Greene, Ph.D.

Michael Greene, Ph.D.

  • Professor
  • Graduate Program Officer
  • Director, Auburn University Metabolic Phenotyping Laboratory
  • Nutritional Sciences
(334) 844-8435
mwg0006@auburn.edu
101C Poultry Science
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Dr. Greene is a Professor in the department. He serves as the Director of the Auburn University Metabolic Phenotyping Laboratory. He obtained his PhD from the University of Connecticut in the field of Molecular and Cell Biology and then completed a join postdoctoral fellowship at Pfizer in the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases and then at the Stanford University School of Medicine. His research is focused on metabolic disease associated with obesity including fatty liver disease and colon cancer. He has funding from the National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute) to develop new models to examine the link between obesity and colon cancer. He has a personal and academic interest in the Mediterranean diet and the Blue Zones. As part of that interest, he leads study aboard programs focused on the Mediterranean diet in Italy and Greece.

Education

  • Postdoctoral FellowshipStanford University2003

  • Postdoctoral FellowshipStanford University2003

  • Postdoctoral FellowshipPfizer Inc.2001

  • Ph.D. University of Connecticut1998

  • M.S.University of Washington1992

  • B.S.University of Miami1988

Professional Experience

  • Graduate Program Officer, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2025  

  • Professor, College of Human Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2023-present  

  • Mike and Leann Rowe Endowed Professorship in International Studies  |  2019-2021  

  • Associate Professor, College of Human Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2018-2023  

  • Member, Center for Neuroscience Initiative, Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2018-present

  • Director, Auburn University Metabolic Phenotyping Laboratory (AUMPL), Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2014-present

  • Investigator, Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Research Program, Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2012-present

  • Investigator, Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer (AURIC), Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2012-present

  • Assistant Professor, College of Human Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL  |  2012-2018

  • Head, Basic Science Group, Bassett Research Institute, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Bassett HealthCare Network, Cooperstown, NY  |  2010-2012 

  • Research Scientist, Bassett Research Institute, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Bassett HealthCare Network, Cooperstown, NY  |  2003-2012

  • Consultant, CellGate, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA  |  2023 

  • Graduate Assistant, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT  |  1995-1998 

  • Research Assistant, Department of Pathology, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR  |  1993

  • Consultant, School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, WA  |  1990-1992

  • Research technician, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL  |  1985-1990 

Innovation

Obesity-linked conditions such as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)/ Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)  and certain forms of cancer, including colorectal cancer; mechanisms of insulin resistance; signal transduction; diet-induced animal models of obesity and insulin resistance; animal models of cancer; metabolic phenotype in animal models; in vitro models of obesity-linked colorectal cancer

Engagement

  • Olive Oil and the Mediterranean Diet: A Taste of Adventure. Auburn District Dietetic Association (ADDA), Auburn University - Nov 2025

  • Health and Wellness travel program in Greece. I led an 11-day program to Athens, Crete, and Ikaria for 4 friends/donors to the College of Human Sciences, Auburn University - Oct 2024

  • Olive Oil and the Mediterranean Diet: A Taste of Adventure. Healthcare Industry Week, Auburn University - Oct 2024

  • Dieta per la vita: Nutrition and Disease Prevention. Student Dietetic Association, Auburn University - Oct 2024

  • Blue Zones. Staff Development Day. Auburn University -  Dec 2023

  • The Mediterranean diet. The Women’s Philanthropy Board Virtual Roundtable, Auburn University - July 2020

  • The Mediterranean diet. Lunch and Learn. Tiger Zone Village Dining, Auburn University - Sept 2017


Auburn University Study Abroad Progams

Title: Honors College Study and Travel in Greece: Greek History and Food Culture

Description: In partnership with the Travel12 & Mamakita P.C. (Athens, Greece), 15 students spent 10 days in Greece. The goal the Honor’s program was to learn about the food and Greek culture (ancient and modern) and participate in a field based learning experience on food and culture in Greece. The program was designed and led by Dr. Greene in consultation with Travel12 & Mamakita P.C. (Greece).

Program dates: Dec 12 – Dec 22, 2025

 

Title: Mediterranean Diet in Italy and Greece

Description: In partnership with the Authenticus Italy (Milan, Italy), 20 students spent two weeks in Rome, Italy and southern Italy (Cilento and Naples). In partnership with Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece, the 20 students will then spend two weeks in Greece (Athens, Crete, and Ikaria). The goal the 2025 program was to explore food and culture related to the Mediterranean diet in both Italy and Greece. The program was designed and led by Dr. Greene in consultation with Authenticus Italy (Italy) and Perrotis College (Greece).

Program dates: May 21 – June 12, 2025

 

Title: Mediterranean Diet in Greece

Description: In partnership with Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece, 18 students spent three weeks in Greece. The goal the 2023 program was to explore food and culture related to the Mediterranean diet in Greece. The program was designed and led by Dr. Greene in consultation with Perrotis College (Greece).

Program dates: May 25 – June 15, 2023

 

Title: Mediterranean Diet in Italy and Greece

Description: In partnership with the Interlinea Group (Rome, Italy), 17 students will spent one week in Rome, Italy and one a week in Cilento in southern Italy. In partnership with Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece, the 17 students will then spend two weeks in Greece. The goal the 2022 program was to explore food and culture related to the Mediterranean diet in both Italy and Greece. The program was designed and led by Dr. Greene in consultation with Interlinea (Italy) and Perrotis College (Greece).

Program dates: May 25 – June 23, 2022

 

Title: Mediterranean Diet in Italy

Description: In partnership with the Gustolab Institute (Rome, Italy), 13 students spent two weeks in Rome, Italy and one a week in Sicily in southern Italy. The goal the 2018 program was to explore food and culture in a unique southern Italian region. The program was designed and led by Dr. Greene in consultation with the Gustolab Institute.

Program dates: May 14 – June 8, 2018

 

Title: Mediterranean Diet in Italy

Description: In partnership with the Gustolab Institute (Rome, Italy), 10 students spent two weeks in Rome, Italy and one a week in the regions of Campania (Cilento), Basilicata, and Puglia in southern Italy. The goal the 2017 program was to compare food and culture in three different southern Italian regions. The program was designed and led by Dr. Greene in consultation with the Gustolab Institute.

Program dates: May 16 – June 8, 2017

 

Title: Mediterranean Diet in Italy

Description: In partnership with the Gustolab Institute (Rome, Italy), 12 students spent two weeks in Rome, Italy and one and a half weeks in the regions of Campania (Cilento) and Calabria in southern Italy and Emilia Romagna in northern Italy. The goal the 2016 program was to compare food and culture in northern Italy to that in southern Italy. The program was designed and led by Dr. Greene in consultation with the Gustolab Institute.

Program dates: May 24 – June 21, 2016

 

Title: Mediterranean Diet in Italy

Description: In partnership with the Gustolab Institute (Rome, Italy), 12 students spent two weeks in Rome, Italy and one week in the region of Campania (Cilento) in southern Italy. They experienced not just the diet, but the lifestyle of the Mediterranean. The program was designed by Dr. Greenein consultation with the Gustolab. Dr. Patty Marincic assisted me in leading the program in Italy in partnership with the Gustolab.

Program dates: May 26 – June 1, 2015