Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable alumni graduating in fall 2023.
Tanner Boro, who is graduating with a master’s degree in nutritional science, is using his senior thesis project to test a new electrolyte sports drink against other commercially available drinks.
catch? This “new” high electrolyte sports drink is just water.
The project is still in the data collection stage.
“I only used 10 subjects for my thesis project,” Boro said. “We have some idea of what the results are for the 10 subjects, but we have not yet finished collecting the data to officially determine which one is the best, and then we will not be able to publish it publicly. intend to do something.”
Boro earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Northern Arizona University and aspired to be a physical trainer during his undergraduate years, before becoming an athletic trainer due to his interest in sports.
But after taking a sports nutrition class, I realized I had found my passion. He added a nutrition minor and spent most of his senior year just taking nutrition classes.
Here, he shares more about his experience earning a master’s degree through ASU and his plans for the future.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
answer: The master’s program was just the next step to becoming a sports nutritionist in the future.
Q: What did you learn in the classroom or elsewhere during your time at ASU that surprised you or changed your perspective?
answer: During data collection for the dissertation project, different types of people participated and the protocol with each participant was long. So I talked to them for probably 30 hours during all four trials. So I think talking to them and learning about their different backgrounds and where they’re from and their cultures is probably the most eye-opening thing for me. It’s about learning about different places and things like that.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson during your time at ASU?
answer: Dr. Stavros Kavras — He was my senior thesis project mentor, and he also mentored my classes. He is a very smart person in general, especially in the area of hydration. So he taught me a lot about research and introduced me to it and also taught me about hydration and physiology.
Q: What is the best advice you would give to those still in school?
answer: I am grateful for the opportunity to learn every day. As the formal classroom education period in my life draws to a close, being able to spend so much time each day and week just sitting and learning is invaluable and I realize that I shouldn’t be spending that time. I noticed. That’s natural.
Q: Where is your favorite place on campus to study, meet friends, or just think about life?
answer: I think it’s probably right in the middle of Arizona Center, where there’s a river, a small pond, and a bridge. It was like a little oasis to cut down on my time going to class. It felt so good to escape the big city atmosphere and just walk in the water.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
answer: So I just got accepted into a nutritionist internship at Wellness Workday. And I will be doing a rotation in Austin, Texas. So, I’m going to do a clinical rotation, and then I’m going to do the other three rotations in the athletics program at the University of Texas at Austin, where I’m hoping to work with the football team and get field experience in nutrition.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on earth, what would you work on?
answer: Perhaps we should start by increasing access to clean water around the world. If we can tackle this problem and provide communities with access to healthy, clean water, I think many public health problems will take care of themselves.
Article by Aidan Hansen, College of Health Solutions Communications Assistant