Laura Akers
Research Scientist
Judy Andrews Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
- Etiology of substance use • Substance use prevention • Tobacco cessation • Etiology of at-risk sexual behaviors
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Etiology of substance use • Substance use prevention • Tobacco cessation • Etiology of at-risk sexual behaviors
Dr. Andrews has a strong background in methodology and statistics. Her interests include development of prevention programs using an iterative approach that incorporates evaluation of components, longitudinal data analysis, and integrative data analysis
B. Grace Bullock Ph.D.
Research Scientist and Board Member
- Interventions to reduce stress and health • Mind-body intervention across the lifespan • Curriculum design, development, training & evaluation • Development of observational, mixed methods and quantitative assessment strategies
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Interventions to reduce stress and health
• Mind-body intervention across the lifespan • Curriculum design, development, training & evaluation
• Development of observational, mixed methods and quantitative assessment strategies
Gulcan Cil
Health Economist
- Large-scale data analysis • Population-level program evaluation • Policy evaluation • Quasi-experimental modeling • Cost-effectiveness analysis
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Large-scale data analysis • Population-level program evaluation • Policy evaluation • Quasi-experimental modeling • Cost-effectiveness analysis
Brian G. Danaher Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
- eHealth intervention design and evaluation • Behavioral self-management strategies • Interventions for depression and tobacco cessation
Expertise and Professional Interests
- eHealth intervention design and evaluation • Behavioral self-management strategies • Interventions for depression and tobacco cessation
Edward G. Feil Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist and Secretary, Board of Directors
- Digital Health • Incorporating internet technology to deliver evidence-based interventions to hard-to-reach populations • Parent & Teacher Training • Pediatric Dental Health • Depression Treatment
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Digital Health • Incorporating internet technology to deliver evidence-based interventions to hard-to-reach populations • Parent & Teacher Training • Pediatric Dental Health • Depression Treatment
Barbara Gunn Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
- Early language and literacy acquisition • English language learners • Instructional design and curriculum development
Expertise and Professional Interests
- Early language and literacy acquisition • English language learners • Instructional design and curriculum development
Barb is interested in early reading instruction, curriculum development, and school-based intervention research. Her current research focuses on the prevention and remediation of reading disabilities, the observation of teaching behaviors and their effects on student achievement, and approaches for promoting English language acquisition among beginning English language learners.
Deb Johnson-Shelton Ph.D.
Research Scientist
- Obesity prevention • Child and youth violence prevention • Physical activity and fitness across the lifespan • Agriculture and health • Community housing and health
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Obesity prevention • Child and youth violence prevention • Physical activity and fitness across the lifespan • Agriculture and health • Community housing and health
I conduct public health research at the intersection of children, families, and communities. My work is focused on improving youth physical fitness, promoting housing and health enhancing community design, and teaching children behavioral skills for resisting violence and victimization through a national program called radKIDS.
Jessie Marquez
Senior Program Designer & Developer
- Community engagement • Developing multimedia & technology to deliver evidence-based interventions • Writing, producing & directing for English and Spanish language audiences
Expertise and Professional Interests
- Community engagement • Developing multimedia & technology to deliver evidence-based interventions • Writing, producing & directing for English and Spanish language audiences
Jessie uses her background in language and the arts to help translate evidence-based interventions into meaningful learning experiences. Her goal is to increase access to behavioral interventions that improve health outcomes.
Paul Rohde Ph.D.
Research Scientist
- Adolescent Depression • Eating Disorders and Obesity • Treatment of Comorbid Depression and Substance Use Disorders • Licensed Psychologist
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Adolescent Depression • Eating Disorders and Obesity • Treatment of Comorbid Depression and Substance Use Disorders • Licensed Psychologist
John Seeley Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist and Chair, Board of Directors
Herb Severson Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
- Tobacco cessation and prevention • Mindfulness research & applications for substance abuse treatment • e-cigarettes and vaping • Web delivery of health promotion programs • Assessment & treatment for behavior disorders in children
Expertise and Professional Interests
- Tobacco cessation and prevention • Mindfulness research & applications for substance abuse treatment • e-cigarettes and vaping •
Web delivery of health promotion programs • Assessment & treatment for behavior disorders in children
Dana K. Smith Ph.D.
Research Scientist
- Treatment of delinquency and co-occuring problems • Substance use treatment • Smoking cessation
Expertise and Professional Interests
- Treatment of delinquency and co-occuring problems
• Substance use treatment • Smoking cessation
Dr. Smith’s research has focused primarily on the development and treatment of adolescent offending and co occurring disorders. She has developed and tested the use of treatment interventions and mobile apps for adolescents with co-occurring delinquency, substance use and trauma exposure, and has co-led additional related juvenile justice and child welfare studies.
David R Smith Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Chief Strategy Officer & President
- Digital Health • Innovation • Voice-first interfaces • STEM education and data literacy
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Digital Health • Innovation • Voice-first interfaces • STEM education and data literacy
Dr. Smith is a cognitive scientist with over 20 years experience as a strategist working at the intersection of technology, human behavior, and business innovation at Fortune 50 companies, small businesses, and research institutions. During his career, he has held senior leadership roles in research and development, design, marketing, and IT and has served in the Innovation Corps program at NIH.
Keith Smolkowski Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
- Student Social and Academic Behavior • Ethnic, Racial, and Gender Disparities in Schools' Discipline and Academic Practices • Academic Instruction in Literacy and Mathematics • Design and Analysis of Clustered Trials
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Student Social and Academic Behavior • Ethnic, Racial, and Gender Disparities in Schools’ Discipline and Academic Practices • Academic Instruction in Literacy and Mathematics • Design and Analysis of Clustered Trials
Dr. Smolkowski has over 25 years of experience in social science, education, and public health research. He has become an expert in the design and analysis of complex research projects, such as cluster-randomized trials. His substantive interests include research on the academic and social behavior of children and adolescents as well as the research methods that allow for tests of interventions.
Patricia Vadasy Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
- Early reading development and interventions • Vocabulary learning and instruction • Alphabet knowledge development and instruction • Literacy and language interventions for English learners
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Early reading development and interventions
• Vocabulary learning and instruction • Alphabet knowledge development and instruction
• Literacy and language interventions for English learners
Mark Van Ryzin Ph.D.
Research Scientist
- Child Development • Peer Relations • Prevention Science • Family Systems • Educational Psychology
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Child Development • Peer Relations • Prevention Science • Family Systems • Educational Psychology
Erika Westling Ph.D.
Research Scientist
- Substance use, especially focusing on tobacco and marijuana • Adolescents • Early adulthood • Ecological Momentary Assessments • Pubertal maturation
Expertise & Professional Interests
- Substance use, especially focusing on tobacco and marijuana • Adolescents • Early adulthood • Ecological Momentary Assessments •
Pubertal maturation
Erika has a broad interest in health behaviors throughout the lifespan. Recently she began studying adolescence and young adulthood as vulnerable periods for substance use with potential lifelong implications. Her current research focus is on the use of e-cigarettes and marijuana by youth, as they have become increasingly popular and accessible.
