Christopher Kline

Dr. Christopher Kline is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Human Development at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education. His research focuses on the interplay between physical activity, sleep, and cardiometabolic health, with a particular emphasis on sleep disturbances like insomnia and sleep apnea. He holds a BA in Sports Science from Malone College and an MS/PhD in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining the School of Education in 2015, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Kline’s research group, ExerSleep, explores how physical activity can mitigate sleep disorders and their health impacts, while also studying how poor sleep affects physical activity patterns. His work spans topics such as athletic performance optimization through sleep science, circadian rhythms, and the combined effects of sleep and exercise on cardiovascular health. He has contributed to large-scale studies like the Pregnancy 24/7 cohort and the Sleep and Dementia Consortium.

Key research interests include sleep architecture’s role in dementia risk, the effects of sedentary behavior on cardiovascular health, and interventions like yoga to improve sleep and mood in insomnia patients. His publications span clinical trials, observational studies, and meta-analyses addressing sleep’s broader implications for public health.

Dr. Kline actively mentors students seeking research experience in sleep and exercise science, requiring a minimum 5-10 hour weekly commitment for 2 semesters. He emphasizes hands-on training in sleep assessment techniques like actigraphy and polysomnography.

His work has been recognized through collaborations with organizations like the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. Current projects include investigating the impact of circadian timing on energy balance and the relationship between sleep reactivity and health outcomes in adults with insomnia.