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Associate Professor
The University of Texas Medical Branch
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
I am a behavioral scientist with over 15 years of experience in qualitative, quantitative, observational, and intervention research related to behavior change and health. The goal of my research program is to investigate novel methods to motivate individuals to maintain healthy behavior change related to energy balance. My primary area of expertise lies in technology-mediated intervention trials that increase motivation among aging women. I study mobile applications, video games, social media, wearable technology, and texting as media by which to deliver behavior change interventions. I am also interested in testing theoretical constructs from Self-Determination Theory and Social Cognitive Theory as well as specific game elements, to investigate their individual and joint impacts on behavior change. Because personal identity, values, and enjoyment (all aspects of Self-Determination Theory) are impacted by an individual's gender, age, and chronic health diagnoses, I am interested in midlife and older women who either have breast cancer or are at increased risk of developing cancer. My research trajectory includes several parallel lines, all focused on increasing autonomous motivation for physical activity: 1) adjusting wearable monitoring interventions to add meaning to numerical data feedback, 2) using narrative techniques to impact perceptions of identity and personal values, and 3) adding game elements to interventions to impact enjoyment.
I have received funding from the NIH as Principal Investigator via the K07, R21, and R01 mechanisms. I have also received funding from the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and intramural awards. I am currently Deputy Editor of the Games for Health Journal and on the editorial board of Psychology and Health. I regularly review on an ad-hoc basis for numerous major journals in the fields of behavioral science, behavioral medicine, human-computer interaction, psychology, communication, exercise science, and nutrition. I am a standing member of the Health Promotion in Communities NIH study section. Additionally, I have reviewed fellowship and research grants for the American Heart Association and research grants for the Veterans Administration.
