Dr. Angel B Algarin's research interests are focused on analyzing and addressing stigma as a fundamental driver of health inequities. Specifically, the Stigma and HIV-related Health lab (SHH lab) under his direction acknowledges the silence surrounding stigmatized identities and our seeks to break that silence through research. The lab is also interested in the development and implementation of interventions that aim to buffer the impact of stigma to improve health outcomes. For  current news and updates follow us on instagram: @shhlab_asu

Dr. Fiorella Carlos Chavez applies qualitative and mixed-methodologies to understand the implications of culture, family and work-life related stressors on Latino migrant youths' health and development. She also focuses on the role of cultural values and gender in discordant reports of household food security among Latinx parents and adolescents.  

Dr. Angela Chia-Chen Chen's research focuses on developing and implementing tech-based interventions to address behaviors associated with HPV vaccination, HIV/STI, substance abuse and mental health issues in vulnerable populations including ethnic minority and immigrant youth and young adults.

Dr. Felipe González Castro’s research interests include health promotion and relapse prevention in Hispanic populations, with a focus on social and personal aspects (such as stress, coping, resilience, acculturation, etc.) in the prevention of drug abuse, diabetes mellitus, and other chronic degenerative diseases.

Dr. Kelly Cue Davis’s research interests include health risk behaviors, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of sexual violence, sexual risk, and substance use. Her work has targeted sexual assault assessment, response, prevention, and policy in both K-12 and higher education institutions as well the military and legal system, with an emphasis on the role of alcohol in sexual assault perpetration and victimization.

Dr. Joseph Daniels focuses on developing interventions to improve HIV, TB and cancer treatment outcomes for MSM and men globally. He has expertise in implementation science, global health, mHealth, and community-based participatory research methods.

Dr. Julia Hammett is an assistant professor in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation and a licensed clinical psychologist. Her research investigates intimate partner violence (IPV) from the angle of socioeconomics. She conducts basic correlational and longitudinal research examining sociocultural and economic predictors of IPV and then applies the knowledge gained from this work towards the development and evaluation of innovative and accessible interventions aimed at decreasing risk for IPV specifically among vulnerable and underserved groups.

Dr. Rodney Joseph’s research interests include the development, implementation, and evaluation of theory-based, culturally relevant behavioral interventions to promote physical activity and reduce cardiometabolic disease risk among racial/ethnic minority women, with a particular focus on the use of innovative technologies (i.e., websites, Smartphone apps, text messages, social media) to deliver these interventions. His research emphasizes the role of culture, behavioral theory, and emerging communication technologies to reduce cardiometabolic health disparities among African American and Hispanic women.

Dr. Sunny Kim's research focuses on understanding mechanisms to promote better psychosocial health and quality of life for cancer patients and family caregivers, including those who are members of underserved and vulnerable populations. Her primary line of investigation focuses on developing and testing the efficacy of narrative-based storytelling as a psychosocial coping intervention to alleviate distress and improve emotion regulation in both cancer patients and their family caregivers. She is also investigating Heart Rate Variability (HRV) rhythms that represent positive vs. negative emotional state as an objective and neurophysiological assessment.

Dr. Shelby Langer’s research interests include dyadic communication and emotion regulation within the context of chronic illness (e.g., couple communication in cancer, parent-child dynamics in pediatric pain); cancer survivorship; palliative care; cancer caregiving; and pediatric and adult obesity.

Dr. Linda Larkey’s research interests include examining the role of meditative movement (Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga) in cancer recovery, weight and wellness management, and cognitive function (with emphasis on neurophysiological mechanisms such as heart rate variability). Additionally, she has a body of research testing culturally adapted health messages/media (e.g., cultural narratives/storytelling or patient navigators from the community) for promoting cancer screening and primary prevention behaviors (diet and physical activity) as well as emotional well-being.

Dr. Rebecca E. Lee’s research interests include community and policy strategies to increase physical activity and improve dietary habits in Hispanic and Latino children and adults in the US and Mexico. She partners with community organizations and government agencies to embed cultural relevance and fun into rigorous prevention science.

Dr. Chung Jung Mun ("Moon")  directs the Biobehavioral Pain, Addiction, Sleep, and Momentary Experience (Bi-PAS ME) Research Laboratory. Utilizing smartphones, wearable devices, and quantitative sensory testing, his lab aims to understand the biopsychosocial individual differences in pain coping and adjustment, the role of sleep/circadian rhythm and cannabis use in pain and opioid use, as well as treatment and prevention of chronic pain and opioid use disorder.

Dr. Megan E. Petrov's research interests include investigating the role of sleep in the prevention and pathology of chronic diseases and disorders, namely cardiometabolic conditions, pain, and mental health, across the lifespan from pregnancy through older adulthood. She also focuses on sleep health disparities across populations and adapting behavioral sleep medicine interventions for better adherence, and prevention and mitigation of associated chronic diseases.

Dr. Elizabeth Reifsnider’s research focuses on public health nursing interventions to improve the nutrition and growth of pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, especially regarding breastfeeding and prevention of failure to thrive and overweight/obesity.

Dr. Alyssa Robillard studies health equity using a social-ecological framework to understand and address inequalities, with a focus on HIV among groups where the burden of disease is comparatively higher and the web of social and structural deterimants more complex. She examines community-engaged approaches using storytelling to promote health.

Dr. Gabe Shaibi’s research focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk (insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes) in overweight and obese populations. A major emphasis of work examines the associations between fitness and disease risk and the impact of exercise and physical activity on the health status of high-risk youth and families.

Dr. Shawn Youngstedt's research focuses on: 1) risks of long sleep and 2) nonpharmacologic means of improving sleep and mental health (research examining the effects of exercise and bright light on insomnia, sleep apnea, and PTSD).

For additional faculty information, visit The Team.