Donald K. Layman

Professor of Nutrition

Research Interests

Dr. Layman is recognized for his research in sports nutrition and skeletal muscle development. He has expertise with studies of amino acids and carbohydrate metabolism with specific interest in the role of insulin and amino acids in regulation of muscle protein metabolism. Dr. Layman is also recognized for studies of obesity and his research with high protein, low carbohydrate diets.

Latest Degree

Ph.D. University of Minnesota-1978

Awards

Shannon Award from the National Institute of Health; BioServ Award from the American Institute of Nutrition; Who's Who in Science and Engineering; American Men and Women of Science

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Layman earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry at Illinois State University in 1972 and 1974, respectively, and completed his Ph.D. in Nutrition and Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota in 1977. In 1978, Dr. Layman joined the University of Illinois as an Assistant Professor of Nutrition. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1983 and Professor in 1989. He is recognized for his research on growth and development of skeletal muscle, the interactions of nutrition and exercise, amino acid metabolism, and regulation of protein synthesis. Dr. Layman has served on the editorial board and as Associate Editor of the Journal of Nutrition and currently serves on as Associate Editor of Nutrition and Metabolism and on the editorial board of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Dr. Layman has been active in University administration serving two years as Chair of the Foods and Nutrition program (1989-90) and five years as Director of the School of Human Resources and Family Studies and Assistant Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station (1991-95). He then served two years as Interim Associate Dean of Administration in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (1995-97). During this period, he also served on the Board on Human Sciences of the National Association for State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), as the Human Sciences representative on the NASULGC Federal Budget Committee for FY98, as Administrative Advisor for three USDA regional research projects and as a member of the North Central administrative committee for human sciences.

Beginning in 1989, Dr. Layman served two years as Chair of the Foods and Nutrition program and five years as Director of the School of Human Resources and Family Studies and Assistant Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He then served two years as Interim Associate Dean of Administration in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. During this period, he also served on the NASULGC Board on Human Sciences, as the Human Sciences representative on the NASULGC Federal Budget Committee for FY98, as Administrative Advisor for three USDA regional research projects, and as a member of the North Central administrative committee for human sciences.