Galya Bigman, PhD

B.Sc., Nutrition Sciences
School of Nutritional Sciences,
Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

M.Sc., Medical Science (Epidemiology)
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine,
School of Public Health,
Tel Aviv University, Israel

Ph.D., Public Health (Epidemiology)
Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences
University of Texas School of Public Health (UTHealth), Austin TX.  2016

Dr. Galya Bigman is an epidemiologist specializing in precision nutrition, aging, dietary assessment, and global health. Her research focuses on how dietary patterns influence resilience, physical function, and recovery from age-related and post-acute conditions. She applies methods from nutrition epidemiology and clinical research to investigate the roles of diet quality, inflammation, and the gut microbiome in shaping long-term health outcomes. in aging populations. 

She is the Principal Investigator of the Long-COVIDiet Study, a dietary intervention designed to reduce fatigue and improve physical function in older adults with long COVID, funded through an NIH K01 Career Development Award. In addition, she leads pilot projects examining diet quality, live microbes, and microbiome-targeted interventions in relation to functional recovery and cardiovascular health in aging populations.

Her broader interests include advancing methods for measuring dietary exposures through big data, AI-driven tools, and mobile applications for dietary intake assessment. She is also addressing dietary exposures related to food chemical safety and sustainability.

Dr. Bigman integrates global perspectives on nutrition and health through active collaborations in Africa (Nigeria) and Latin America (Mexico and Costa Rica), translating scientific insights into practical strategies to improve nutrition, support recovery, and promote healthy aging.

Nutrition epidemiology, precision nutrition, dietary assessment, aging, resilience, long COVID, dietary interventions, diet quality, live microbes, gut microbiome, inflammation, functional recovery, cardiovascular health, cancer epidemiology, global health, food chemical safety, and sustainability.

1. Bigman G, Ryan AS. Healthy Eating Index-2015 Is Associated with Grip Strength among the US Adult Population. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):358. doi:10.3390/nu13103358.

2. Bigman G, Rusu ME, Kleckner AS, Sorkin JD, Jin Y, Talegawkar SA, Tanaka T, Ferrucci L, Ryan AS. Plant-Based Diets and Their Associations with Physical Performance in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Nutrients. 2025;16(23):4249. doi:10.3390/nu16234249.

3. Bigman G, Rusu ME, Shelawala N, Sorkin JD, Beamer BA, Ryan AS. A Comprehensive Scoping Review on Diet and Nutrition in Relation to Long COVID-19 Symptoms and Recovery. Nutrients. 2025;17(11):1802. doi:10.3390/nu17111802.

4. Bigman G, Shea KM, Rusu ME, Ryan AS. Intake of dark green vegetables may benefit specific cognitive domains in US men and women aged 60 years or older. Nutrition and Healthy Aging. 2023;8(1):67–77. doi:10.3233/NHA-220193.

5. Bigman G, Adebamowo SN; Nutrition Epidemiology Research of Nigeria (NERON) Group; Adebamowo CA. Validity and Reproducibility of a Semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire and Food Picture Book in Nigeria. Curr Dev Nutr. 2024;8(4):102135. doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102135.