Cristal is an Assistant Professor of Gerontology at USC's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, where she leads a research lab focused on the impact of dietary protein on adipose tissue function, metabolic health, and endocrine systems during ageing. Her work seeks to understand how nutrition influences tissue function and overall well-being in older adults. Cristal completed her postdoctoral training at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center, holds a PhD in molecular biology from Southern Illinois University, and earned a B.S. in Animal Sciences from Tuskegee University. She is committed to advancing gerontology by uncovering how diet can promote healthier ageing.