What brought you to the UAB School of Public Health?

Working with all the incredible cohorts that UAB is a part of.

What is the broad focus of your research?

My research interests involve developing a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and sleep with chronic disease. I use wearable devices to measure these behaviors and hopefully this work will translate to sustainable public health recommendations.

Where did you receive your training and degrees?

University of Texas School of Public Health - Hook 'Em. Postdoc at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda.

What is the most exciting project you are currently working on?

We are currently implementing devices to measure sleep and physical activity in 4 multi-center observational cohort studies - CARDIA, Jackson Heart Study, MESA, and REGARDS. I also work with devices in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) cohort. There is no way I could pick just one!

What is your favorite self-authored manuscript?

"Estimating Accuracy at Exercise Intensities: A Comparative Study of Self-Monitoring Heart Rate and Physical Activity Wearable Devices opens a new website." This was my Master's thesis and my first research baby. I really learned how to set up a research protocol, recruit participants, and run a study from start to finish. It set the foundation of my training and started my love for using devices for the measurement of lifestyle behaviors.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of so far in your career?

Receiving the AHA EPI Lifestyle Steven N. Blair Award for Excellence in Physical Activity Research in 2022. It recognizes the best abstract in the areas of exercise, physical activity, and cardiovascular health.

What is the coolest training or program you've been a part of, or your favorite conference you've attended?

The U.S. Ten-Day Seminar on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke was an amazing experience. It provides a blend of public health with an "intro to med school" feel to really understand the mechanisms for improving heart health. Plus I got to spend 2 weeks on beautiful Lake Tahoe, saw some black bears, and really got to know a lot of amazing researchers in cardiovascular health including our own Dr. Beth Lewis. Highly recommend for postdocs and early career folks!

What kind of research would you like to be doing that you haven’t yet had the opportunity to do?

I would be interested in incorporating 24-hour diet recalls with devices so we could get a complete picture of the 24-hour cycle and the timing of the interaction of behaviors.

If you had the funding to answer any one research question, what would that question be?

The best way to not only help people incorporate but rather sustain good physical activity and sleep practices.

If you weren’t in academia, what would your career be?

Dog trainer or sourdough bread baker. Though my dog once counter surfed and ate an entire loaf I just baked from the oven, so not sure how successful I would be...