Rate My Professor Rebecca Russell

Dr. Rebecca Russell serves as a Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics in the Curtin School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Nutrition from Curtin University and is a Registered Nutritionist with the Nutrition Society of Australia. A qualified chef by training, Russell brings practical culinary expertise to her academic and research roles. Her career trajectory includes progression from an Honours student in 2018 to a PhD candidate, culminating in her current teaching and research position. She contributes to undergraduate courses in nutrition and dietetics while engaging in community outreach, such as teaching cooking classes using rescued food at OzHarvest WA to promote nutritious meals for charities.

Russell's research centers on nutrition as a modifiable lifestyle factor for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition affecting over 33,000 Australians. She has led efforts to co-design and evaluate the online nutrition education program 'Eating Well with MS' in collaboration with the MS community, supported by an MS Australia grant. This work demonstrates promising improvements in dietary behaviors and underscores the need for tailored diet guidelines. Key publications include 'Evaluating Experiences in a Digital Nutrition Education Program for People With Multiple Sclerosis' (Health Expectations, 2024), 'Feasibility of a co-designed online nutrition education program for people with multiple sclerosis' (Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 2024), 'A Collaborative Approach to Designing an Online Nutrition Education Program for People with Multiple Sclerosis' (Nutrients, 2022), 'Dietary responses to a multiple sclerosis diagnosis' (Nutrients, 2020), and 'Obesity, dieting, and multiple sclerosis' (Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 2020). Her contributions have earned recognition, including the Consumer and Community Involvement Award at the 2022 Symposium of WA Neuroscience and a finalist position in the ExxonMobil Student Scientist of the Year category at the 2022 Premier's Science Awards. Through her publications and programs, Russell influences clinical practice and patient education in MS nutrition management.