Erin Dooley

Erin Dooley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She holds additional roles as an Associate Scientist in the School of Medicine, Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC), and UAB Center for Study of Community Health. Her work focuses on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and their impacts on cardiovascular health, sleep, and chronic disease risk across the lifespan, particularly in adolescents and older adults.

Education:

• PhD in Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (2019)
• MS in Health and Physical Education, University of Texas System (2016)
• BS in Psychology, University of Texas System (2013)

Research Interests:

Dr. Dooley's research examines how lifestyle behaviors like physical activity and sedentary patterns influence cardiometabolic health, cardiovascular disease risk, and quality of life. She focuses on vulnerable populations, including adolescents, older adults, and individuals with chronic conditions. Her work integrates objective measures (e.g., accelerometry) and large-scale datasets (e.g., ABCD Study, CARDIA). Key themes include:

• Early life adversity and sleep health
• Physical activity fragmentation and falls prevention
• 24-hour movement guidelines and mortality risk
• Sociodemographic disparities in health behaviors

Awards & Grants:

While no specific awards are noted in the provided texts, her consistent publication record and leadership in large cohort studies like ABCD and CARDIA reflect recognition in her field.

Advising & Mentorship:

Dr. Dooley mentors numerous graduate students and serves on dissertation committees, focusing on training the next generation of epidemiologists. Her advisees include Taishayla K Nash, Michael J Hankes, and Gabrielle F Gloston.

Labs/Teams:

She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in UAB's NORC and the Center for Study of Community Health, emphasizing community-based and translational research.