Surika Prak, Tavneet Sandhu and Vrushti Shah work together at the Boys and Girls Club to collect samples for a hydration study.
How much fluid do active kids need to stay healthy? Professor and Chair of the Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences Department Robert Kenefick is leading a team of students to find out.
Sponsored by Kraft Heinz, the research is taking place at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell among 40 children aged 6 to 12.
“Our students are gaining hands-on experience across every stage of the research process while developing problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills that they’ll carry with them into their future careers,” says Kenefick, an expert in hydration and human performance research.
Senior Principal Scientist Michelle King, who leads hydration research at Kraft Heinz, says that while hydration requirements are well-established for adults, not much is known about the fluid and electrolyte needs of children.
“Dr. Kenefick is one of the most highly regarded hydration researchers in the world, and I knew that he would be able to quickly train and mobilize a team for the study,” says King. “With the results, we’ll be able to provide hydration education to communities and formulate products that meet the needs of children.”
Under the guidance of Kenefick, five students from various majors in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences are collecting samples and measurements such as fluid intake, sweat accumulation, urine, height and weight.
“I really enjoy working with my team and doing field studies for the first time,” says Nick Londono, a junior in the Applied Biomedical Sciences program. “In addition to data collection, I also help keep the kids physically active by playing soccer, cornhole or four square with them, which is about as much fun as research can get.”
“The UMass Lowell team brings both knowledge and personnel to the club, while the club provides a base of engaged members eager to participate. We are able to leverage each other’s strengths to achieve more than either of us could alone.” -Joe Hungler
Applied biomedical sciences major Surika Prak enjoys the challenge of a field study, which can have a degree of unpredictability.
“I’ve learned so many interpersonal skills out in the field working with children and hands-on skills in the lab,” says Prak. “I love when the kids ask questions and how excited they are to be part of this study.”
The collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club is key to collecting information that has broader applicability to all children.
“The limited hydration data that does exist is from children at elite sport camps,” says Kenefick.
For the Boys and Girls Club, the study supports health and wellness as well as workforce readiness, two of the Club’s priorities, according to Joe Hungler, the club’s executive director.
“This study advances research on youth hydration, exposes our members to careers in health and educates our staff and members on the intersection of hydration, nutrition, activity and sweat loss,” Hungler says. “The UMass Lowell team brings both knowledge and personnel to the club, while the club provides a base of engaged members eager to participate. We are able to leverage each other's strengths to achieve more than either of us could alone.”
Jose Zuniga ’26, research coordinator of the hydration study who works at UMass Lowell’s Center for Population Health, credits the staff at the Boys and Girls Club for a smooth collection process.
“It brings me a lot of joy to explain the importance of hydration to such a young group,” says Zuniga, a recent Master of Public Health in Dietetics graduate. “We’ve been fortunate to have great support from the staff at the Boys and Girls Club who help us coordinate all of the study procedures.”
Tavneet Kaur Sandhu, a pharmaceutical sciences master’s student, jumped at the opportunity to help conduct the research due to the real-world application.
“I find it motivating to know that my work can make a difference in improving human health,” says Sandhu. “On this project, I have become more experienced in working with human participants and biological samples as well as communicating with the research team members.”
The research team is conducting lab analyses over the next several weeks. Matilda Mwebeiha, an Applied Biomedical Sciences major, serves as the lab lead on the project. She is applying the lab skills she’s learned in her coursework to the research.
“I am gaining so much knowledge from Dr. Kenefick and the team. It’s fulfilling, hands-on work that constantly pushes me to grow,” Mwebeiha says.
In late September and early October, the team will collect more sweat samples and then analyze the lab data. The students will have an opportunity to share their research experiences at the UMass Lowell Student Research Symposium in the spring.