Dr. Lukaski has his roots in suburban Detroit. He matriculated at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan and received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education with minors in chemistry and mathematics. He enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University, was awarded a Public Health Service Fellowship, and received Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in physiology and a minor in nutrition. In 1979, he came to the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center as a Post­Doctoral Research Associate and conducted the first studies to determine the interaction between trace element nutrition and physical performance of humans. Dr. Lukaski has developed a research program examining the interactions among mineral nutritional status and body structure and function of animals and humans.