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Advancing the Next Generation
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2021 Scholars
Elena Agapie | PhD
Assistant Professor | University of California Irvine
Research Interest: Human-Computer Interaction, Human-Centered Design, Social Computing, Mental Health
Research Summary: I research how design and technology can better support people in living healthier lives by drawing on evidence-based strategies. In my research, I surfaced challenges that peers and clinicians encounter in providing behavior change support tailored to people’s everyday needs and in using evidence-driven techniques such as behavior planning for physical activity and mental health therapy. To address these issues, I used human-centered design methods and created novel systems that address key challenges that people encounter in working on health goals: starting new behaviors while accounting for the complexities of everyday life and engaging with health goals long term. My goal is to design tools that implement evidence-driven interventions in a way that supports people's everyday needs.
Research Summary: I research how design and technology can better support people in living healthier lives by drawing on evidence-based strategies. In my research, I surfaced challenges that peers and clinicians encounter in providing behavior change support tailored to people’s everyday needs and in using evidence-driven techniques such as behavior planning for physical activity and mental health therapy. To address these issues, I used human-centered design methods and created novel systems that address key challenges that people encounter in working on health goals: starting new behaviors while accounting for the complexities of everyday life and engaging with health goals long term. My goal is to design tools that implement evidence-driven interventions in a way that supports people's everyday needs.
Yael Bar-Zeev | MD, PhD, MPH
Senior Lecturer | Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Research Interest: Smoking Cessation, Pregnant Women, Vulnerable Populations, Behavior Change
Research Summary: My research focuses on tobacco control and smoking cessation, specifically in pregnant women and other vulnerable populations. I have led the development of a behavioral intervention to improve health providers smoking cessation support for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women who smoke, which formed the basis of an online intervention currently rolled out to all Aboriginal Medical Services in Australia. I am currently developing a technology-based behavioral intervention focused on reducing overall exposure to smoking among pregnant women, to be integrated within routine antenatal care.
Research Summary: My research focuses on tobacco control and smoking cessation, specifically in pregnant women and other vulnerable populations. I have led the development of a behavioral intervention to improve health providers smoking cessation support for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women who smoke, which formed the basis of an online intervention currently rolled out to all Aboriginal Medical Services in Australia. I am currently developing a technology-based behavioral intervention focused on reducing overall exposure to smoking among pregnant women, to be integrated within routine antenatal care.
Diane Chen | PhD
Associate Professor | Northwestern University
Research Interest: Minority stress and mental health functioning among transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse children, adolescents, and young adults; Medical decision-making in gender-and sex-diverse youth; Health promotion in gender minority youth populations
Research Summary: My research broadly focuses on health promotion and medical decision-making in gender minority youth populations. I am currently funded by NICHD to develop a web-based decision aid to support fertility-related decision-making among transgender and non-binary (TNB) youth. I am also interested in developing app-based interventions that can attenuate the impact of minority stress processes and improve mental health functioning in TNB youth.
Research Summary: My research broadly focuses on health promotion and medical decision-making in gender minority youth populations. I am currently funded by NICHD to develop a web-based decision aid to support fertility-related decision-making among transgender and non-binary (TNB) youth. I am also interested in developing app-based interventions that can attenuate the impact of minority stress processes and improve mental health functioning in TNB youth.
Hongying "Daisy" Dai | PhD
Associate Professor | University of Nebraska Medical Center
Research Interest: Mixture Modeling, E-Cigarette Use and Prevention, Tobacco Regulatory Research
Research Summary: My research has been focusing on developing statistical methodology and applying advanced statistical methods in public health research, including 1) Behavioral modeling, assessment, and intervention for tobacco policy research and substance use behaviors; 2) Social media research using big data (Google Trends, Twitter data, disease surveillance); 3) Development of novel statistical methods for big data and high dimensional data; 4) Hierarchical modeling, asymptotic theory, and mixture modeling.
Research Summary: My research has been focusing on developing statistical methodology and applying advanced statistical methods in public health research, including 1) Behavioral modeling, assessment, and intervention for tobacco policy research and substance use behaviors; 2) Social media research using big data (Google Trends, Twitter data, disease surveillance); 3) Development of novel statistical methods for big data and high dimensional data; 4) Hierarchical modeling, asymptotic theory, and mixture modeling.
Alison El Ayadi | ScD, MPH
Assistant Professor | University of California, San Francisco
Research Interest: Maternal Healthcare, Intervention Development, Low-Resource Populations
Research Summary: Dr. Alison El Ayadi, ScD MPH is Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on improving quality of and access to the full continuum of maternal health care, largely in low-resource settings, through high quality research and intervention development and assessment.
Research Summary: Dr. Alison El Ayadi, ScD MPH is Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on improving quality of and access to the full continuum of maternal health care, largely in low-resource settings, through high quality research and intervention development and assessment.
Emily Hébert | DrPH
Assistant Professor of Research | U of TX Health Science Center
Research Interest: Technology and Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, EMAs, JITAIs
Research Summary: Emily Hébert, DrPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) School of Public Health in Austin. Her research focuses on the use of technology for tobacco prevention and cessation, more specifically on the use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to identify momentary risk factors for tobacco use, and the development of just-in-time adaptive interventions for smoking cessation. She is the recent recipient of a K99/R00 award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to use supervised machine learning to predict smoking lapse using EMA and passively collected sensor data, and to evaluate the feasibility of delivering a personalized, just-in-time adaptive intervention driven by machine learning in real time.
Research Summary: Emily Hébert, DrPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) School of Public Health in Austin. Her research focuses on the use of technology for tobacco prevention and cessation, more specifically on the use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to identify momentary risk factors for tobacco use, and the development of just-in-time adaptive interventions for smoking cessation. She is the recent recipient of a K99/R00 award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to use supervised machine learning to predict smoking lapse using EMA and passively collected sensor data, and to evaluate the feasibility of delivering a personalized, just-in-time adaptive intervention driven by machine learning in real time.
Manish Motwani | MD
Consultant Cardiologist | Manchester - NHS Foundation Trust
Research Interest: Cardiac Imaging (MRI, CT, and PET), Machine Learning, Cardiac Screening & Disease Prevention
Research Summary: I am a clinical cardiologist & physician-scientist in the UK. My research has focused on developing advanced cardiac imaging techniques including cardiac MRI, CT & PET. Prior work has involved developing 3-dimensional & high-resolution cardiac MRI techniques to accurately assess myocardial blood flow in patients with coronary artery disease; utilizing 3D-printing to guide structural cardiac interventions, and developing sophisticated coronary CT plaque analysis techniques. More recently I have focused on the application of machine learning techniques to cardiac imaging data with the aim of facilitating and ultimately automating clinical interpretation & risk stratification. I am interested in potential interfaces between mHealth, clinical cardiology & cardiac imaging with the goal of developing an innovative cardiac screening & cardiac disease prevention platform.
Research Summary: I am a clinical cardiologist & physician-scientist in the UK. My research has focused on developing advanced cardiac imaging techniques including cardiac MRI, CT & PET. Prior work has involved developing 3-dimensional & high-resolution cardiac MRI techniques to accurately assess myocardial blood flow in patients with coronary artery disease; utilizing 3D-printing to guide structural cardiac interventions, and developing sophisticated coronary CT plaque analysis techniques. More recently I have focused on the application of machine learning techniques to cardiac imaging data with the aim of facilitating and ultimately automating clinical interpretation & risk stratification. I am interested in potential interfaces between mHealth, clinical cardiology & cardiac imaging with the goal of developing an innovative cardiac screening & cardiac disease prevention platform.
Lindsey Potter | PhD, MPH
Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Utah
Research Interest: Stress & Negative Health Behaviors, EMAs, Multi-level Modeling, Intersectionality, Minority Populations
Research Summary: My research extends the use of novel methodological (e.g., ecological momentary assessment [EMA]), statistical (e.g., multilevel modeling) and theoretical (e.g., intersectionality) approaches to discover how minority-specific stressors influence processes giving rise to health risks among underserved populations. In particular, my work focuses on individuals who may experience multiple forms of disadvantage due to their sociodemographic identities (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation), and how psychosocial, interpersonal, and contextual factors (e.g., discrimination, vigilance, neighborhood disadvantage) influence stress and negative health behaviors such as smoking.
Research Summary: My research extends the use of novel methodological (e.g., ecological momentary assessment [EMA]), statistical (e.g., multilevel modeling) and theoretical (e.g., intersectionality) approaches to discover how minority-specific stressors influence processes giving rise to health risks among underserved populations. In particular, my work focuses on individuals who may experience multiple forms of disadvantage due to their sociodemographic identities (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation), and how psychosocial, interpersonal, and contextual factors (e.g., discrimination, vigilance, neighborhood disadvantage) influence stress and negative health behaviors such as smoking.
Michelle L. Redmond | PhD, MS
Assistant Professor | University of Kansas
Research Interest: Health Disparities, Digital Health Interventions (w/Chronic Disease), Community-Based Research
Research Summary: As a health disparities researcher, I am interested in understanding how social determinants adversely affect health in the context of psychosocial, environmental, and behavioral factors. A key component of my research interest is understanding the influence of behavior on health outcomes. As a result, I am currently conducting a web-based intervention using problem-solving to improve chronic disease outcomes. My primary research addresses health disparities among racial/ethnic minority populations to include food security/chronic disease, digital health interventions, infant mortality, and behavioral health. As a community psychologist, I see the value of community-engaged research and strive for opportunities to work with community partners on research projects to improve the health and well-being of individuals.
Research Summary: As a health disparities researcher, I am interested in understanding how social determinants adversely affect health in the context of psychosocial, environmental, and behavioral factors. A key component of my research interest is understanding the influence of behavior on health outcomes. As a result, I am currently conducting a web-based intervention using problem-solving to improve chronic disease outcomes. My primary research addresses health disparities among racial/ethnic minority populations to include food security/chronic disease, digital health interventions, infant mortality, and behavioral health. As a community psychologist, I see the value of community-engaged research and strive for opportunities to work with community partners on research projects to improve the health and well-being of individuals.
Jennifer Sumner | PhD
Assistant Professor | University of California, Los Angeles
Research Interest: Traumatic Stress, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Accelerated Aging, Cardiovascular Disease
Research Summary: My work examines how the experiences of trauma and severe stress relate to accelerated aging and risk for chronic disease. Most of the studies in my lab focus on elucidating the psychological and biological mechanisms linking trauma and severe stress with disease risk, with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. My work examines mechanisms across multiple levels of analysis, from genes to physiology to behavior. The goal of this research is to delineate the pathways by which trauma and severe stress get embedded under the skin to contribute to poor health. I aim to use this knowledge to develop targeted interventions to offset risk for adverse health outcomes.
Research Summary: My work examines how the experiences of trauma and severe stress relate to accelerated aging and risk for chronic disease. Most of the studies in my lab focus on elucidating the psychological and biological mechanisms linking trauma and severe stress with disease risk, with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. My work examines mechanisms across multiple levels of analysis, from genes to physiology to behavior. The goal of this research is to delineate the pathways by which trauma and severe stress get embedded under the skin to contribute to poor health. I aim to use this knowledge to develop targeted interventions to offset risk for adverse health outcomes.
William Vincent | PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor | Temple University
Research Interest: Psychology, Epidemiology, Mental & Physical Health Disparities, Vulnerable Patient Populations, Strengths-Based Approaches
Research Summary: I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. I am a clinical and community psychologist (Ph.D.) with training in epidemiology (MPH). Broadly, I am interested in both mental and physical health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minorities. For example, I am focused on increasing engagement in care and treatment for vulnerable patient populations, as indicated by my NIMH K23-funded study in which I am developing a combination in-person and mobile-messaging intervention to increase retention in the HIV continuum of care among HIV-positive Black sexual-minority men. I also examine the interplay between social-ecological contexts and biological mechanisms in the onset and maintenance of adverse health outcomes. Additionally, I build quantitative models of the mechanisms of action of health-related interventions and biopsychosocial theories of health.
Research Summary: I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. I am a clinical and community psychologist (Ph.D.) with training in epidemiology (MPH). Broadly, I am interested in both mental and physical health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minorities. For example, I am focused on increasing engagement in care and treatment for vulnerable patient populations, as indicated by my NIMH K23-funded study in which I am developing a combination in-person and mobile-messaging intervention to increase retention in the HIV continuum of care among HIV-positive Black sexual-minority men. I also examine the interplay between social-ecological contexts and biological mechanisms in the onset and maintenance of adverse health outcomes. Additionally, I build quantitative models of the mechanisms of action of health-related interventions and biopsychosocial theories of health.
Julian Wolfson | PhD
Associate Professor | University of Minnesota
Research Interest: Biostatistics, Public Health
Research Summary: My research seeks to develop novel techniques for identifying important predictors of clinical outcomes from large and complex data. The techniques I use merge traditional statistical methods with machine learning approaches to make most efficient use of the data and account for challenges such as missing data, measurement error, and selection bias. I have applied my methods to problems such as finding surrogate endpoints in clinical trials, identifying relevant explanatory variables in the presence of correlation and measurement error, predicting the risk of heart attacks using electronic health data, and understanding human behavior patterns using smartphone sensor data. In 2018 I co-founded Daynamica, Inc., a University of Minnesota-backed startup company that offers data collection, storage, and processing services to researchers and organizations who want to efficiently collect human activity and travel behavior data. I currently serve in a part-time role as Chief Innovation Officer of Daynamica, while remaining a full-time academic appointment.
Research Summary: My research seeks to develop novel techniques for identifying important predictors of clinical outcomes from large and complex data. The techniques I use merge traditional statistical methods with machine learning approaches to make most efficient use of the data and account for challenges such as missing data, measurement error, and selection bias. I have applied my methods to problems such as finding surrogate endpoints in clinical trials, identifying relevant explanatory variables in the presence of correlation and measurement error, predicting the risk of heart attacks using electronic health data, and understanding human behavior patterns using smartphone sensor data. In 2018 I co-founded Daynamica, Inc., a University of Minnesota-backed startup company that offers data collection, storage, and processing services to researchers and organizations who want to efficiently collect human activity and travel behavior data. I currently serve in a part-time role as Chief Innovation Officer of Daynamica, while remaining a full-time academic appointment.
Nicholas Allan | PhD
Assistant Professor | Ohio University
Research Interest: Intervention Protocols, Maladaptive Processes, Etiology, EMIs
Research Summary:Nicholas Allan, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Ohio University and a VA Researcher at the VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Allan completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Florida State University. Dr. Allan’s research is focused on improving our understanding of transdiagnostic treatment targets for emotional distress disorders. Dr. Allan is interested in ecological momentary assessment and ecological momentary intervention approaches to clarify the mechanisms through which transdiagnostic risk factors impose risk as well as to personalize treatment for these risk factors.
Research Summary:Nicholas Allan, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Ohio University and a VA Researcher at the VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Allan completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Florida State University. Dr. Allan’s research is focused on improving our understanding of transdiagnostic treatment targets for emotional distress disorders. Dr. Allan is interested in ecological momentary assessment and ecological momentary intervention approaches to clarify the mechanisms through which transdiagnostic risk factors impose risk as well as to personalize treatment for these risk factors.
Jennifer Blaine Christen | PhD
Associate Professor | Arizona State University
Research Interest: Bioelectrical and Embedded Systems, Edge Computing, Machine Learning
Research Summary: Jennifer Blain Christen received her Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She is an associate professor at Arizona State University where she directs the BioElectrical Systems and Technology lab. Her research includes edge computing-enabled systems for point of care, implantable, and wearable technology. Her work includes embedded systems for sensing and implementing machine learning or adaptive algorithms to create autonomous or human-in-the-loop systems. She has both research and entrepreneurial interest in translational medicine, specifically monitoring and diagnostics. She has several research endeavors that focus on underserved populations both within the US and LMICs.ns’ barriers toward personal health data sharing.
Research Summary: Jennifer Blain Christen received her Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She is an associate professor at Arizona State University where she directs the BioElectrical Systems and Technology lab. Her research includes edge computing-enabled systems for point of care, implantable, and wearable technology. Her work includes embedded systems for sensing and implementing machine learning or adaptive algorithms to create autonomous or human-in-the-loop systems. She has both research and entrepreneurial interest in translational medicine, specifically monitoring and diagnostics. She has several research endeavors that focus on underserved populations both within the US and LMICs.ns’ barriers toward personal health data sharing.
Lauren Chernick | MD, MSc
Associate Professor | Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Research Interest: Digital Health, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Adolescent Medicine, Sexual and Reproductive Health
Research Summary: I am a pediatric emergency medicine physician board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine with a Masters of Biostatistics from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. I have dedicated my career to both the clinical care of children and the study of how to improve the health of high-risk adolescents who present for care to the emergency department (ED). My specific research focus is improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the ED setting. Specifically, I design and test innovative and engaging mobile health platforms. As an investigator, I have extensive experience with qualitative and quantitative data analysis, user-centered design, digital health and ED-based trials.
Research Summary: I am a pediatric emergency medicine physician board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine with a Masters of Biostatistics from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. I have dedicated my career to both the clinical care of children and the study of how to improve the health of high-risk adolescents who present for care to the emergency department (ED). My specific research focus is improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the ED setting. Specifically, I design and test innovative and engaging mobile health platforms. As an investigator, I have extensive experience with qualitative and quantitative data analysis, user-centered design, digital health and ED-based trials.
Katie Davis | EdD
Associate Professor | University of Washington
Research Interest: Adolescent Development, Mobile Technologies, Family Relationships
Research Summary:My research explores the role of new media technologies in young people’s personal, social, and academic lives, with a particular focus on the intersection between networked technologies, identity development, and well-being during adolescence and emerging adulthood. I also investigate the role of digital technologies in family activities and relationships.
Research Summary:My research explores the role of new media technologies in young people’s personal, social, and academic lives, with a particular focus on the intersection between networked technologies, identity development, and well-being during adolescence and emerging adulthood. I also investigate the role of digital technologies in family activities and relationships.
Jessica Golbus | MD, MS
Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Fellow | University of Michigan
Research Interest: Digital health interventions for patients with cardiovascular disease
Research Summary: I am interested in leveraging digital health technology to improve the delivery of cardiovascular care with a particular interest in applying this technology to patients with heart failure. I am currently developing a just-in-time-adaptive intervention to promote physical activity for patients who have graduated center-based cardiac rehabilitation, with the goal of encouraging participants to maintain best practices for secondary disease prevention.
Research Summary: I am interested in leveraging digital health technology to improve the delivery of cardiovascular care with a particular interest in applying this technology to patients with heart failure. I am currently developing a just-in-time-adaptive intervention to promote physical activity for patients who have graduated center-based cardiac rehabilitation, with the goal of encouraging participants to maintain best practices for secondary disease prevention.
Rebecca Krukowski | PhD
Associate Professor | U of TN Health Science Center
Research Interest: Digital Health Technologies, Behavioral Weight Management, Self-Monitoring Behaviors
Research Summary: Becca Krukowski, PhD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Associate Professor My research focuses on using digital health technologies to design or adapt evidence-based treatments to meet the needs of populations who do not have currently access to effective treatment, with a particular focus on behavioral weight management interventions and self-monitoring behaviors. My current funding focuses on: 1) evaluating approaches to reduce post-cessation weight gain; 2) testing interventions to improve healthy gestational weight gain, postpartum weight loss, maternal/child health, and military readiness among active duty military personnel and their dependents; 3) examining the efficacy of monitoring medication adherence and adverse symptoms using an app among patients with breast cancer; and 4) studying the efficacy of financial incentives for outcomes and behaviors among participants in an online weight management program. I have a particular interest in testing strategies to optimize self-monitoring, in order to reduce burden and increase intervention effectiveness.
Research Summary: Becca Krukowski, PhD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Associate Professor My research focuses on using digital health technologies to design or adapt evidence-based treatments to meet the needs of populations who do not have currently access to effective treatment, with a particular focus on behavioral weight management interventions and self-monitoring behaviors. My current funding focuses on: 1) evaluating approaches to reduce post-cessation weight gain; 2) testing interventions to improve healthy gestational weight gain, postpartum weight loss, maternal/child health, and military readiness among active duty military personnel and their dependents; 3) examining the efficacy of monitoring medication adherence and adverse symptoms using an app among patients with breast cancer; and 4) studying the efficacy of financial incentives for outcomes and behaviors among participants in an online weight management program. I have a particular interest in testing strategies to optimize self-monitoring, in order to reduce burden and increase intervention effectiveness.
Marta I. Mulawa | PhD, MHS
Assistant Professor | Duke University
Research Interest: Social & Behavioral Interventions, HIV Treatment & Prevention, Global Populations, mHealth
Research Summary: My research focuses on the development and evaluation of social and behavioral interventions to improve HIV treatment and prevention outcomes in global settings. In my primary research project, I am currently customizing and pilot testing a smartphone app-based intervention to promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adolescents with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa.
Research Summary: My research focuses on the development and evaluation of social and behavioral interventions to improve HIV treatment and prevention outcomes in global settings. In my primary research project, I am currently customizing and pilot testing a smartphone app-based intervention to promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adolescents with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa.
Amir M. Rahmani | PhD, MSc, MBA
Assistant Professor | University of California, Irvine
Research Interest: e-Health, Wearable Internet-of-Things, Healthcare/Nursing Informatics, Ubiquitous Computing
Research Summary: My research is in medical cyber-physical systems, Internet-of-Things (IoT), and e-health. My work spans ubiquitous computing, wearable technology, applied machine learning, bio-signal processing, health informatics, and fog/edge computing. I am especially excited about novel sensing, computation, analytics, informatics, communication, and networking paradigms, applied to healthcare and wellbeing applications. I received my Ph.D. from the IT department at University of Turku, Finland, and my M.Sc. from ECE department at University of Tehran. I also received my MBA jointly from Turku School of Economics and European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Digital. I worked as a visiting researcher in the department of Industrial and Medical Electronics of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (2/15-2/16). I am the recipient of the UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s inaugural Faculty Innovation Fellowship, Nokia Foundation's Research Excellence Award (2 consecutive years), Ulla Tuominen Foundation's research excellence award, UTU's Teacher of the Year candidate, UTU's Rector awarded life-time Docent title, and the European Union's awarded Global Marie Curie Fellowship.
Research Summary: My research is in medical cyber-physical systems, Internet-of-Things (IoT), and e-health. My work spans ubiquitous computing, wearable technology, applied machine learning, bio-signal processing, health informatics, and fog/edge computing. I am especially excited about novel sensing, computation, analytics, informatics, communication, and networking paradigms, applied to healthcare and wellbeing applications. I received my Ph.D. from the IT department at University of Turku, Finland, and my M.Sc. from ECE department at University of Tehran. I also received my MBA jointly from Turku School of Economics and European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Digital. I worked as a visiting researcher in the department of Industrial and Medical Electronics of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden (2/15-2/16). I am the recipient of the UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s inaugural Faculty Innovation Fellowship, Nokia Foundation's Research Excellence Award (2 consecutive years), Ulla Tuominen Foundation's research excellence award, UTU's Teacher of the Year candidate, UTU's Rector awarded life-time Docent title, and the European Union's awarded Global Marie Curie Fellowship.
Marie Sillice | PhD
Assistant Professor of Research | City University of New York
Research Interest: Mobile phone technologies, wearable technology, behavioral health, cultural relevance in health promotion
Research Summary: My research focuses on improving intervention and prevention programs that address the reciprocal relationship between individual, social, and environmental factors in health disparity among minority populations, particularly African Americans. I am also interested in culturally relevant approaches and novel technology to augment participant engagement and outcome. I am currently working primarily on an NIH-sponsored project, a mobile phone app physical activity program to help Black women to adopt and maintain regular engagement in physical activity.
Research Summary: My research focuses on improving intervention and prevention programs that address the reciprocal relationship between individual, social, and environmental factors in health disparity among minority populations, particularly African Americans. I am also interested in culturally relevant approaches and novel technology to augment participant engagement and outcome. I am currently working primarily on an NIH-sponsored project, a mobile phone app physical activity program to help Black women to adopt and maintain regular engagement in physical activity.
Kathy Trang | PhD
Postdoctoral Associate | New York University
Research Interest: Trauma, HIV, Digital Mental Health, JITAIs
Research Summary: I am interested in the potential of mobile and wearable technology to characterize the ongoing impact of trauma exposure on everyday stress reactivity and regulation and to deliver just-in-time adaptive interventions to cater to the contextually varying needs of individuals in low-resource settings. My work thus far has focused on the intersection of mental health and HIV among high-risk, young men who have sex with men in Vietnam; and on trauma and early childhood development among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Syrian refugees in Jordan.
Research Summary: I am interested in the potential of mobile and wearable technology to characterize the ongoing impact of trauma exposure on everyday stress reactivity and regulation and to deliver just-in-time adaptive interventions to cater to the contextually varying needs of individuals in low-resource settings. My work thus far has focused on the intersection of mental health and HIV among high-risk, young men who have sex with men in Vietnam; and on trauma and early childhood development among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Syrian refugees in Jordan.
Hua "Helen" Wang | PhD
Associate Professor | University at Buffalo
Research Interest: Sexual & Reproductive Health, Underserved Communities, Emerging Technologies, Behavior Change
Research Summary: I am a communication scientist who is passionate about working with underserved communities around the world to address complex issues such as sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence. My work focuses on using innovative strategies to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate entertainment programs that leverage powerful storytelling, emerging technologies, and social networks for health promotion and behavior change.
Research Summary: I am a communication scientist who is passionate about working with underserved communities around the world to address complex issues such as sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence. My work focuses on using innovative strategies to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate entertainment programs that leverage powerful storytelling, emerging technologies, and social networks for health promotion and behavior change.
Oleg Zaslavsky | PhD, MHA, RN
Associate Professor | University of Washington
Research Interest: mHealth, Frailty, Dementia, Behavioral Change
Research Summary: Broadly speaking my program of scholarship is focused on understanding mechanisms and developing interventions for frailty and health improvement in older adults. Specifically, my research agenda has three interrelated foci: assessing and improving health outcomes in older persons at risk for and with frailty; understanding and promoting health equity and healthy aging; and examining the ways in which innovative technological solutions support quality of life and function in older and frail persons.
Research Summary: Broadly speaking my program of scholarship is focused on understanding mechanisms and developing interventions for frailty and health improvement in older adults. Specifically, my research agenda has three interrelated foci: assessing and improving health outcomes in older persons at risk for and with frailty; understanding and promoting health equity and healthy aging; and examining the ways in which innovative technological solutions support quality of life and function in older and frail persons.
Sherif Badawy | MD, MS
Northwestern University | University of Michigan
Research Interest: mHealth Behavioral Interventions, Medication Adherence, Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and other Patient-reported Outcomes (PROs)
Research Summary: I am an Assistant Professor in the Data Science for Dynamic Intervention Decision Making Center (d3c) at the University of MichigMy research interest relates to the development and implementation of mHealth behavioral interventions using user-centered design principles, behavior change theory and medication adherence, or the electronic assessment and clinical use of PROs, including HRQOL, in adolescents and young adults with chronic medical conditions, including sickle cell disease (SCD). Tracking medication adherence and HRQOL data overtime, using ecological momentary assessment (e.g., MED-GO app), will give us an opportunity to provide patients with biofeedback on their behavior (i.e., adherence), informed by their scores (i.e., HRQOL). My overarching career goal is to become an independent physician-scientist, focused on pediatric non-malignant hematological conditions, including SCD.
Research Summary: I am an Assistant Professor in the Data Science for Dynamic Intervention Decision Making Center (d3c) at the University of MichigMy research interest relates to the development and implementation of mHealth behavioral interventions using user-centered design principles, behavior change theory and medication adherence, or the electronic assessment and clinical use of PROs, including HRQOL, in adolescents and young adults with chronic medical conditions, including sickle cell disease (SCD). Tracking medication adherence and HRQOL data overtime, using ecological momentary assessment (e.g., MED-GO app), will give us an opportunity to provide patients with biofeedback on their behavior (i.e., adherence), informed by their scores (i.e., HRQOL). My overarching career goal is to become an independent physician-scientist, focused on pediatric non-malignant hematological conditions, including SCD.
Luisa Blanco | PhD
Professor | Pepperdine University
Research Interest: mHealth, Behavior Change, Public Policy, Development & International Economics, Household Finance
Research Summary: Luisa Blanco (Ph.D. in economics, MBA, BBA) is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. She specializes in development and international economics. Blanco’s current work is in the area of household finance, with a focus on minorities in the United States. In relation to research focused on the use of mobile technologies to promote behavioral change, Blanco is currently working on the design of the mobile intervention on financial capability “Mind your Money” focused on Hispanics to study the effectiveness of such intervention in retention, financial behavior, and stress. She also led the “Mobile Financial Diary” project, which collected data about financial behavior and health among Hispanics in California. Additionally, she conducted a community-based mobile intervention among college students to promote financial knowledge and good money management skills and measure the impact of such intervention on financial behavior and stress.
Research Summary: Luisa Blanco (Ph.D. in economics, MBA, BBA) is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. She specializes in development and international economics. Blanco’s current work is in the area of household finance, with a focus on minorities in the United States. In relation to research focused on the use of mobile technologies to promote behavioral change, Blanco is currently working on the design of the mobile intervention on financial capability “Mind your Money” focused on Hispanics to study the effectiveness of such intervention in retention, financial behavior, and stress. She also led the “Mobile Financial Diary” project, which collected data about financial behavior and health among Hispanics in California. Additionally, she conducted a community-based mobile intervention among college students to promote financial knowledge and good money management skills and measure the impact of such intervention on financial behavior and stress.
Deepti Chittamuru | PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow | University of California, Merced
Research Interest: Digital Health Interventions, Health Disparities, Marginalized Populations
Research Summary: Dr. Deepti Chittamuru's research is at the intersection of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) and public health with an emphasis on social justice and health equity. She examines how digital health interventions can be leveraged to reduce health disparities experienced by ethnic, racial and sexual minorities and other marginalized populations. Currently as a postdoctoral research fellow in the public health department at UC Merced, Dr. Chittamuru is investigating online health information seeking behaviors among Americans from a digital epidemiological perspective. In the past her research has examined mobile-phone based Tuberculosis medication adherence intervention and a mobile phone based maternal health surveillance intervention for low income populations in rural India. Dr. Chittamuru earned a PhD in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Information Management and Systems from the University of California Berkeley and a Bachelors in Computer Science and Systems Engineering from Andhra University.
Research Summary: Dr. Deepti Chittamuru's research is at the intersection of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) and public health with an emphasis on social justice and health equity. She examines how digital health interventions can be leveraged to reduce health disparities experienced by ethnic, racial and sexual minorities and other marginalized populations. Currently as a postdoctoral research fellow in the public health department at UC Merced, Dr. Chittamuru is investigating online health information seeking behaviors among Americans from a digital epidemiological perspective. In the past her research has examined mobile-phone based Tuberculosis medication adherence intervention and a mobile phone based maternal health surveillance intervention for low income populations in rural India. Dr. Chittamuru earned a PhD in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Information Management and Systems from the University of California Berkeley and a Bachelors in Computer Science and Systems Engineering from Andhra University.
Assistant Professor | PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher | Duke University
Research Interest: Biomedical Data Science, mHealth
Research Summary: Jessilyn Dunn is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at Duke University. She is also a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute, a MEDx Investigator, and a Whitehead Scholar. Dr. Dunn’s primary areas of research focus on biomedical data science and mobile health; her work includes multi-omics, wearable sensors, and electronic health records integration and digital biomarker discovery. Dr. Dunn completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford in the NIH B2DK Mobilize Center, her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, and her BS in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Dunn was a visiting scholar at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cardiovascular Research Institute in Madrid, Spain. Her work has been internationally recognized with media coverage from the NIH Director’s Blog to Wired, Time, and US News and World Report.
Research Summary: Jessilyn Dunn is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at Duke University. She is also a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute, a MEDx Investigator, and a Whitehead Scholar. Dr. Dunn’s primary areas of research focus on biomedical data science and mobile health; her work includes multi-omics, wearable sensors, and electronic health records integration and digital biomarker discovery. Dr. Dunn completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford in the NIH B2DK Mobilize Center, her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, and her BS in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Dunn was a visiting scholar at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cardiovascular Research Institute in Madrid, Spain. Her work has been internationally recognized with media coverage from the NIH Director’s Blog to Wired, Time, and US News and World Report.
Minda Gowarty | MD
Postdoctoral Researcher | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Research Interest: Tobacco Use Disorders, Vulnerable Populations, Technology-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention
Research Summary: Minda Gowarty, M.D., is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, who is completing a primary care postdoctoral research fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Her primary research interest is optimization of tobacco use disorder treatments for vulnerable populations, such as adolescents and adults with concomitant substance use disorders, severe mental illness, and/or low socioeconomic status. Her previous work used mixed methods analysis to evaluate delivery and perceptions of inpatient tobacco treatment for patients with concomitant substance use disorders. She is currently the principal investigator of a pilot project funded by the Centers for Technology and Behavioral Health at Dartmouth, the aim of which is to assess usability and acceptability of freely available smoking cessation apps among young adults with serious mental illness. She hopes to use the information gained in the pilot study to inform a technology-based smoking cessation intervention that is tailored to this population.
Research Summary: Minda Gowarty, M.D., is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, who is completing a primary care postdoctoral research fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Her primary research interest is optimization of tobacco use disorder treatments for vulnerable populations, such as adolescents and adults with concomitant substance use disorders, severe mental illness, and/or low socioeconomic status. Her previous work used mixed methods analysis to evaluate delivery and perceptions of inpatient tobacco treatment for patients with concomitant substance use disorders. She is currently the principal investigator of a pilot project funded by the Centers for Technology and Behavioral Health at Dartmouth, the aim of which is to assess usability and acceptability of freely available smoking cessation apps among young adults with serious mental illness. She hopes to use the information gained in the pilot study to inform a technology-based smoking cessation intervention that is tailored to this population.
Alex Mariakakis | PhD
Assistant Professor | University of Toronto
Research Interest: mHealth, Sensor Data Collection, Ubiquitous Computing, Human-Computer Interaction
Research Summary: As a ubiquitous computing and human-computer interaction researcher, Alex Mariakakis’ work broadly identifies applications of machine learning and computer vision on sensor data for human-centered issues. His primary research is in mobile health, leveraging smartphone sensors to objectively measure symptoms that are typically judged qualitatively. Alex's two most cited projects, PupilScren and BiliScreen, leverage the smartphone camera to identify cases of an impaired pupillary light reflex (for traumatic brain injuries) and scleral jaundice (for pancreatic cancer). Alex's current research program seeks to combine passively collected sensor data with momentary assessments to support Bayesian diagnostics in contexts like influenza, Parkinson's disease, and mental health. Alex is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. Alex's work is published in top-tier venues in his field, including CHI and IMWUT. His work has also been featured by many media outlets (e.g., BBC, National Geographic, and USA Today). Alex is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduation Research Fellowship, the Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship, and the Gaetano Borriello Outstanding Student Award at UbiComp 2018.
Research Summary: As a ubiquitous computing and human-computer interaction researcher, Alex Mariakakis’ work broadly identifies applications of machine learning and computer vision on sensor data for human-centered issues. His primary research is in mobile health, leveraging smartphone sensors to objectively measure symptoms that are typically judged qualitatively. Alex's two most cited projects, PupilScren and BiliScreen, leverage the smartphone camera to identify cases of an impaired pupillary light reflex (for traumatic brain injuries) and scleral jaundice (for pancreatic cancer). Alex's current research program seeks to combine passively collected sensor data with momentary assessments to support Bayesian diagnostics in contexts like influenza, Parkinson's disease, and mental health. Alex is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. Alex's work is published in top-tier venues in his field, including CHI and IMWUT. His work has also been featured by many media outlets (e.g., BBC, National Geographic, and USA Today). Alex is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduation Research Fellowship, the Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship, and the Gaetano Borriello Outstanding Student Award at UbiComp 2018.
Nhung Nguyen | PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar | UCSF
Research Interest: mHealth, Tobacco & Cannabis Use Among Young People
Research Summary: My research focuses on understanding substance use behaviors and related health impacts among priority populations. I am specifically interested in applying mHealth (e.g., ecological momentary assessments, just-in-time adaptive interventions) and machine learning to prevent co-use of tobacco and cannabis among young populations.
Research Summary: My research focuses on understanding substance use behaviors and related health impacts among priority populations. I am specifically interested in applying mHealth (e.g., ecological momentary assessments, just-in-time adaptive interventions) and machine learning to prevent co-use of tobacco and cannabis among young populations.
Venktesh R. Ramnath | MD
Associate Clinical Professor | UCSD
Research Interest: Early prediction analytics using machine learning and deep learning methodologies, Tele-ICU systems, patient/family empowerment in the ICU, healthcare disparities, augmented/mixed reality platforms in healthcare.
Research Summary: My research interests include studying the efficacy and application of remote monitoring systems in critical care (e.g. Tele-ICU); machine learning methodologies to a variety of mobile and EHR data streams to improve outcomes in hospitalized patients suffering from pulmonary disease (e.g. COPD) and critical care medicine (e.g. sepsis, shock, and acute lung injury); improving clinician, patient, and family experience of healthcare using Tele-ICU systems and mixed reality (augmented/virtual reality) platforms.
Research Summary: My research interests include studying the efficacy and application of remote monitoring systems in critical care (e.g. Tele-ICU); machine learning methodologies to a variety of mobile and EHR data streams to improve outcomes in hospitalized patients suffering from pulmonary disease (e.g. COPD) and critical care medicine (e.g. sepsis, shock, and acute lung injury); improving clinician, patient, and family experience of healthcare using Tele-ICU systems and mixed reality (augmented/virtual reality) platforms.
Claire Adams Spears | PhD
Associate Professor Research | Georgia State University
Research Interest: mHealth Interventions for Smoking Cessation, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Health Disparities
Research Summary: My research focuses on developing and evaluating mindfulness-based interventions to improve coping with stress, reduce health risk behaviors, and enhance quality of life. I am particularly interested in mHealth strategies to enhance and disseminate mindfulness-based smoking cessation interventions in underserved populations. I have developed a text messaging intervention and am now developing a smartphone app to deliver mindfulness-based smoking cessation for low-income smokers. I am also interested in using wearable sensors and ecological momentary assessment to trigger just-in-time mindfulness interventions for targeting health risk behavior (smoking, excess alcohol use, unhealthy diet).
Research Summary: My research focuses on developing and evaluating mindfulness-based interventions to improve coping with stress, reduce health risk behaviors, and enhance quality of life. I am particularly interested in mHealth strategies to enhance and disseminate mindfulness-based smoking cessation interventions in underserved populations. I have developed a text messaging intervention and am now developing a smartphone app to deliver mindfulness-based smoking cessation for low-income smokers. I am also interested in using wearable sensors and ecological momentary assessment to trigger just-in-time mindfulness interventions for targeting health risk behavior (smoking, excess alcohol use, unhealthy diet).
Linda Valeri | PhD
Assistant Professor | Columbia University
Research Interest: Biostatistics, mHealth, Psychiatry
Research Summary: Linda Valeri, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, is an expert in causal inference with a focus on statistical methods to investigate causal effects, mediating and interactive mechanisms in data streams arising from mobile health studies in Psychiatry. Furthermore, she develops statistical approaches for measurement error correction, missing data imputation, and for bias analyses in observational studies.
Research Summary: Linda Valeri, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, is an expert in causal inference with a focus on statistical methods to investigate causal effects, mediating and interactive mechanisms in data streams arising from mobile health studies in Psychiatry. Furthermore, she develops statistical approaches for measurement error correction, missing data imputation, and for bias analyses in observational studies.
Rujuta B. Wilson | MD
Assistant Professor | UCLA
Research Interest: Autism, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Pediatric Populations, Motor Phenotyping, Motor Development
Research Summary: I am a behavioral child neurologist specializing in autism spectrum disorders and related neurodevelopmental disorders. She is an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART). Dr. Wilson leads the motor phenotyping core at UCLA CART. Her NIH funded research is focused on developing quantitative measures of motor phenotyping to improve characterization of motor development, better understand how specific motor impairments can impact cognition and language, and develop more targeted interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Wilson’s work also extends to measuring the physical and behavioral benefits of organized physical activity for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Wilson is an invited member of the United States Tennis Association Sports Science Committee and the American Academy of Neurology Education Committee.
Research Summary: I am a behavioral child neurologist specializing in autism spectrum disorders and related neurodevelopmental disorders. She is an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART). Dr. Wilson leads the motor phenotyping core at UCLA CART. Her NIH funded research is focused on developing quantitative measures of motor phenotyping to improve characterization of motor development, better understand how specific motor impairments can impact cognition and language, and develop more targeted interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Wilson’s work also extends to measuring the physical and behavioral benefits of organized physical activity for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Wilson is an invited member of the United States Tennis Association Sports Science Committee and the American Academy of Neurology Education Committee.
