Instructor

Dr. Matthew Pontifex is a biomedical research scientist with a background in Molecular Biology and Nutrition. He completed his PhD in 2020 at the University of East Anglia, where his thesis focused on “The interactive impact of omega-3 fatty acids, APOE genotype, and sex hormones on cognition.” He remained at the university for three years as a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Professor Michael Müller, working on projects related to “Nutrition and the gut-brain axis.” In 2023, he advanced to the role of lecturer and independent researcher. Dr. Pontifex is the module organiser for Applied Physiology, Biochemistry, and Nutrition, a core component of the dietetics course at the University of East Anglia. His research lies at the intersection of nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and brain health, with a particular emphasis on how sex differences (often overlooked in biomedical research) modulate the relationship between nutrition and disease. His current projects, supported by the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award and the RANK Prize New Lecturer Award, investigate the role of menopause in contributing to these sex-based differences.