Siwei Liu

Dr. Siwei Liu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of California, Davis. Their research focuses on advanced statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal data in developmental and health psychology, with an emphasis on biobehavioral synchrony in close relationships and health disparities. They lead a lab investigating multi-layer contextual factors (e.g., environment, family characteristics) affecting health behaviors, prioritizing diversity in both research subjects and student recruitment.

Research Interests:

• Longitudinal data methodologies: multilevel modeling, time series analysis, functional data analysis
• Biobehavioral synchrony in parent-child and couples relationships
• Health disparities, environmental justice, and stress physiology
• Intensive longitudinal methods in health research

Key Projects:

• GROWell randomized controlled trial for dietary interventions in prenatal/postpartum populations
• Multimodal assessment of biobehavioral synchrony in autism spectrum disorder
• Analysis of family risk dynamics and parenting stress through cortisol contagion

Labs/Teams: Directs a lab prioritizing underrepresented students, focusing on innovative methods for studying emotions, well-being, and family systems. Collaborates on NIH-funded projects involving wearable devices and ecological momentary assessments.