C.J. Brush

Dr. C.J. Brush is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Movement Sciences at the University of Idaho, within the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology & Applied Physiology from Rutgers University and completed postdoctoral training in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience at Florida State University. His research focuses on understanding interactions between health behaviors (e.g., physical activity, sleep) and cognitive-affective vulnerability factors related to depression across the lifespan.

Education: Ph.D., Rutgers University (2019); B.S., Rutgers University (2014).

Research interests include exercise and health psychology, psychophysiology, and psychopathology. He employs multidisciplinary methods such as self-reports, interviews, and both behavioral and psychophysiological measures. Key projects examine how health-oriented behaviors influence risk for psychopathology and how exercise interventions impact cognitive and emotional functioning in individuals with depression.

Selected awards include the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Regional Doctoral Scholar Award from the American Kinesiology Association. His work is published in top-tier journals like Neuroimage and Biological Psychiatry.

His research also explores age-related effects, including cognitive function in older adults and neural responses in adolescents. Collaborations involve labs like the Biomechanics Lab (ISMMAL) and Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Idaho.