معرفی
Dr. Jason Van Allen is an Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training at Texas Tech University’s Department of Psychological Sciences, holding the John G. Skelton, Jr. Regents Professorship. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Kansas (2013). His research focuses on pediatric health behaviors, obesity interventions, and human-animal interaction, emphasizing the integration of basic science with practical interventions. He leads the ENERGY Lab, dedicated to studying health behavior change in children and adolescents. Key projects include equine-assisted obesity interventions funded by NIH/USDA and examining pet dog impacts on child activity. Dr. Van Allen has secured grants as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on NIH, USDA, and foundation-funded studies. He has received awards such as the 2019 Excellence in Research Award (College of Arts and Sciences) and multiple doctoral research grants. His work spans pediatric psychology, sleep medicine, and technology-driven behavioral interventions.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology, University of Kansas (2013)
Research Interests:
Dr. Van Allen’s work combines basic research with intervention design, particularly in pediatric obesity, human-animal interaction, and sleep medicine. He explores goal-attainment processes (e.g., motivation, self-control) in health behavior change and leverages technology to enhance intervention dissemination. Recent efforts include USDA-funded studies on equine-assisted interventions and childcare gardening programs to prevent obesity. His lab also evaluates the role of hope and optimism in chronic illness management.
Grants & Funding:
- Current NIH/USDA grants focus on rural youth obesity through equine-assisted programs and climate-adapted childcare gardening.
- Past grants include NIH studies on suicide risk in aging caregivers and the impact of pet dogs on child activity.
Awards:
- Excellence in Research Award (2019)
- Routh Student Research Grant (2011)
- Pioneer Dissertation Award (2011)
Labs & Teams:
Lead researcher at the ENERGY Lab, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on obesity prevention, sleep, and technology-based interventions.
