Darla M. Castelli

Darla M. Castelli is Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at Northeastern University's College of Bouvé Health Sciences. She holds a PhD in Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina, MS in Exercise Physiology from Northern Illinois University, BS in Kinesiology from Plymouth State University, and a Data Science Certificate from The University of Texas at Austin.

• PhD in Pedagogy – University of South Carolina
• MS in Exercise Physiology – Northern Illinois University
• BS in Kinesiology – Plymouth State University
• Data Science Certificate – University of Texas at Austin

Her research focuses on the intersection of physical activity, cognitive health, and metabolic outcomes in children and emerging adults. Using advanced methods like fNIRS and computational modeling, she investigates how movement impacts brain function, academic achievement, and social-emotional well-being. Current work includes NIH-funded obesity prevention studies among Latina mothers.

Recent publications highlight trends in gamification for health behavior change, integrated physical-computational education models, and neurophysiological responses to activity/sedentary patterns. Her Behavioral and Cognitive Health Lab at Northeastern explores these connections through multidisciplinary approaches.

• 2023 McCloy Research Award (SHAPE America)
• 2022 North American Society Fellow
• 2020-21 SHAPE Curriculum & Instruction Award
• 2020 Catherine Ennis Scholar (AERA)
• 2020 SHAPE America Scholar Award

Darla teaches advanced courses in Research Methods, Cognition & Exercise, Pediatric Exercise Science, and Physical Activity & Public Health. She directs the Behavioral and Cognitive Health Lab and contributes to the Whole Communities-Whole Health initiative at UT Austin.