Stephen Kodish

Stephen Kodish, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Biobehavioral Health and Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. He holds affiliations with the Population Research Institute (PRI) and Social Science Research Institute (SSRI). His work focuses on designing and evaluating interventions to improve global nutrition in vulnerable populations, particularly maternal and child nutrition in low-resource settings. He earned his Ph.D. in International Health from Johns Hopkins University (2015).

Key research themes include formative research methodologies, social and behavioral change strategies, and global health program implementation. His work spans countries like Niger, Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Burkina Faso, addressing chronic and acute malnutrition through humanitarian food assistance programs. Recent studies emphasize understanding cultural determinants of feeding practices, pandemic impacts on nutrition, and innovative mHealth interventions.

Dr. Kodish collaborates with international organizations to strengthen monitoring systems for large-scale nutrition programs. His research integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to identify multi-level barriers in nutrition service delivery. Current projects explore decision-making autonomy in maternal nutrition and the efficacy of micronutrient supplements in crisis settings.

He has advised no formally listed graduate students but actively participates in interdisciplinary teams through PRI. His work is supported by NIH funding (P2CHD041025) and Penn State institutional grants.