Xiangli Gu

Dr. Xiangli Gu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at The University of Texas at Arlington. Her research focuses on minority health disparities, physical activity promotion, and interventions using innovative technologies like VR and wearable sensors. She holds a PhD from Louisiana State University and a BEd from East China Normal University.

• Education: PhD (2011, LSU), BEd (1999, East China Normal University)
• Affiliations: Fellow of Baylor Health Care Research Professorship, SHAPE America Research Fellow

Her work emphasizes reducing health disparities through behavioral and neuropsychological assessments, with funded projects targeting childhood obesity prevention in underserved communities. She leads initiatives like the MOVE project, combining school and home settings to improve motor skills and cognitive development in young children.

Key research interests include social determinants of health, technology-infused interventions, and 24-hour movement behavior analysis. Recent grants include NIH-funded studies on obesity prevention and VR-based health interventions for veterans.

Awards include the 2023 TAHPERD Graduate Student Research Award and recognition for mentorship. She advises over 20 students and contributes to interdisciplinary collaborations across kinesiology, public health, and engineering.