**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS FELLOWSHIP WILL SUPPORT THE PD'S DOCTORAL TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH THE MENTORING TEAM, COURSES, AND WORKSHOPS. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL INVOLVE MULTI-OMICS ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN GASTROINTESTINAL MICROBIOME TO CHARACTERIZE DIET-MICROBIOTA-HEALTH CONNECTIONS. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO LEVERAGE RICH MULTI-OMICS DATA TO: 1) CHARACTERIZE THE IMPACT OF ALMONDS ON THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL MICROBIOME; AND 2) IDENTIFY MICROBIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF HEALTH STATUS. FURTHER, 3) WE AIM TO SUBSTANTIATE THESE FINDINGS IN A SECOND COHORT OF ADULTS FROM AN ONGOING ALMOND INTERVENTION. THIS PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF NUTRIENT-DENSE, WHOLE FOODS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND THE GASTROINTESTINAL MICROBIOME, ALIGNING WITH AFRI'S FARM BILL PRIORITY AREA OF FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH AND THE RESEARCH FIELD OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES. FURTHER, THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS AFRI'S EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GOAL OF ADVANCING SCIENCE, SPECIFICALLY IN THE FIELD OF NUTRITION.