Our Team

Dr. Amanda Staiano is a faculty member and Director of the Pediatric Obesity & Health Behavior Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. She also holds an adjunct appointment in LSU's Department of Psychology. Dr. Staiano earned her PhD in developmental psychology and master of public policy at Georgetown University, followed by a master of science in clinical research at Tulane University. Her primary interest is developing and testing family-based healthy lifestyle interventions that utilize innovative technology to decrease pediatric obesity and its comorbidities. Her research has involved over 2500 children and adolescents, including randomized controlled trials and prospective cohorts, to examine the influence of physical activity and sedentary behavior on body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Due to Dr. Staiano's specific interest in using technology to promote physical activity and healthy behaviors, she was recently PI of the GameSquad study, a randomized controlled trial that tested the efficacy of a 6-month physical activity program for children’s weight management delivered via exergaming, wireless activity monitoring, and telehealth counseling, funded by the American Heart Association (AHA 15GRNT24480070). Her other current trials utilize technology for behavior change, including developing and testing a mobile app for parents of preschoolers to increase children’s physical activity and improve self-regulation skills (NIH R21HD095035) and the use of telehealth counseling in a primary care-based pragmatic trial of children with obesity (PCORI PCS-2017C2-7542 and CDC U18DP006425 Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration/ CORD 3.0).

Her previous studies include two large epidemiological studies of children’s physical activity: an NIMHD-funded study of 175 preschool-aged children in daycare centers (U54MD008602-P02UAB) and a USDA-funded study of 342 adolescents 10 to 16 years of age, including 41% ethnic minority and 50% with overweight or obesity (USDA 3092-51000-056-04A). Dr. Staiano's research studies employ a variety of innovative behavioral tools including exergaming, mobile apps, and telehealth counseling, coupled with study designs that utilize dietary recall, remote data collection and intervention delivery, physical activity assessment via accelerometry and heart rate monitors, observational behavioral analysis of activity, the development and implementation of age-specific exercise protocols, and other behavioral and psychological assessments.

Drawing from her public policy training, Dr. Staiano participates in scientific advocacy at the national, state, and local level.

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Katherine (Katie) E. Spring, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Katie joined the lab as a postdoctoral research fellow Summer 2023. After attending Holmes Community College to play tennis and obtain her Associate of Arts degree, she then went on to receive her bachelor's and master's degrees in Kinesiology from Mississippi State University. In the Fall of 2019, she began her doctorate work at Auburn University. Her research primarily focuses on the effects of physical activity and play on young children's physical, behavioral, and learning outcomes. She is especially interested in school-based approaches that incorporate movement into learning objectives.

Priyanka Chaudhary, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher

2017 | Amity University, Noida, India | Bachelor of Science | Pharmacy

2020 | University of Nebraska Medical Center | Master of Public Health | Health Promotion

2024 | University of Nebraksa Omaha | PhD in Biomechanics and Kinesiology: Physical Activity Concentration

Priyanka joined the lab as a postdoctoral fellow in January 2025. She earned her Bachelor's in Pharmacy from Amity University in India and a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Priyanka recently completed her Ph.D. in Biomechanics and Kinesiology, focusing on Physical Activity at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Her research explores the intersection of physical activity, maternal and child health, and health disparities, with a special interest in community-centered approaches to promoting well-being. She is particularly passionate about advancing health outcomes through innovative interventions and collaborative research efforts.

Natalie Malek

Assistant Director, Pediatric Obesity & Health Behavior Lab

Natalie.Malek@pbrc.edu

Natalie is the Assistant Director and manages multiple clinical trials, including the design and implementation of operations, utilization of data entry systems, and financial tracking. Natalie supervises clinical team members to ensure participant safety and compliance with GCP and research study protocols. She also serves as the central hub for trial communications within the team and the study sponsor, investigators, and collaborators.

Angelle Graham Ullmer, RDN

Manager - Pediatric Nutrition

Angelle is the Master Health Coach for the Louisiana clinics participating in the PCORI Pediatric Obesity Project called TEAM UP. She is certified in Family Based Behavioral Treatment for the treatment of child obesity. After graduating Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, Angelle began working in the outpatient clinic at Pennington Biomedical as a study coordinator. She went back to school to become a Registered Dietitian and completed a Master in Science Health and Human Performance at McNeese. She returned to PBRC as a health coach for the PROPEL Study in New Orleans and currently works with the TEAM UP study.

Lauren Himel Cherry, MS, CHES

Project Manager

2018 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Bachelor of Science | Kinesiology and Health Education and Promotion

2021 | Southeastern Louisiana University| Master of Health and Kinesiology

Lauren Himel is a project manager who joined the lab in Summer 2021. She received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Education and Promotion from Southeastern Louisiana University. She worked as a health coach for a year before going back to school to receive her Master of Science in Health and Kinesiology with a concentration in Health Studies. During graduate school, Lauren worked with professors who research related to health promotion and education for various population groups. She also did an internship with the health center on campus to provide health education to the student body on campus. Lauren is currently a Certified Health Education Specialist.

Phillip Nauta, MBA

Program Manager

2017 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Science | Kinesiology

2021 | Louisiana State University | Master of Business | Business Administration and Project Management

Phillip started his career in clinical research at Pennington Biomedical during undergrad at LSU in 2013. Since, he has worked with a variety of research trials including pediatrics, diversity, Department of Defense, obesity and diabetes interventions, and oncology with a focus on the role of exercise and nutrition in those areas. He holds an MBA from Louisiana State University- Shreveport and a BS from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, as well as a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification. In 2025, he joined the lab as a Program Manager, focusing on community trials specializing in physical activity.

N'Jaya Bethancourt, MSW, MBA

Social Worker

2015 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Bachelor of Arts | Social Work

2021 | Louisiana State University | Master of Business Administration

2025 | Walden University | Master of Social Work

N'Jaya is a social worker with experience in child welfare, mental health, substance abuse, and homeless services. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work, as well as a Master of Business Administration. In her current role, she provides community-based support, connecting individuals and families with essential resources and services. She is involved in implementing evidence-based practices and supporting community-driven initiatives aimed at improving health and well-being. Her work aligns with broader efforts to promote accessible care and holistic interventions for diverse populations.

Kaitlyn Corkern

Research Specialist I

2021 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Arts | Sociology

Kaitlyn Corkern is a Research Specialist for the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Lab. She is a Baton Rouge native and began working for Pennington in April of 2023. Kaitlyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Louisiana State University with a minor in Leadership and Human Resource Management and Political Science. She comes from a research administration background, and her primary interests are ways to help underprivileged communities make sustainable changes towards a healthy diet and exercise in their day to day lives.

Ethan Abbenante, BS

Research Specialist I

2024 | Louisiana State University | Bachelor of Science

Ethan Abbenante is a Research Specialist in the Pediatric Obesity Health and Behavior Lab. He joined the team in 2022 and currently assists on the TEAM UP and Greaux Healthy research studies. He completed a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology at LSU and intends to apply to medical school.

Rebecca Hill

Administrative Coordinator

Rebecca Hill is the administrative coordinator for the Pediatric

Obesity and Health Behavior Lab, where she recently joined in July

of 2024. She comes from an administrative and accounting background and is excited to put her extensive skill set to use within this lab and organization that has made an incredible impact on the local community, as well as communities around the world.

Peyton Murray, MA

Data Manager

2015 | Louisiana Tech University | Bachelor of Science | Family and Child Studies

2017 | Louisiana Tech University | Master of Arts | Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Peyton Murray is the data manager for the lab working on the RYSE and GamerFit studies. She has been working in research since 2014 starting out as an undergraduate Research Assistant at Louisiana Tech University. Her experience in research includes project management, regulatory coordination, and data management. While her research focus has been pediatric obesity, she’s also worked on projects focusing on breast cancer, COVID-19, early literacy, & classroom management.

Affiliated Team Members

Renee Underwood, PhD, CHES

Dr. Underwood earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2008 and 2011. She has 10 years of field experience working in Health Education and Promotion and Public Health. Much of her work experience was with the Office of Public Health where she managed a variety of CDC funded grants and grant activities focused on chronic disease prevention and health promotion. Dr. Underwood earned a PhD in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences from LSU Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health in New Orleans in 2021. She works full time as an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she teaches Program Planning and Evaluation to undergrad and grad students in the Kinesiology and Health Studies department. Dr. Underwood joined the Pediatric Obesit and Health Behavior laboratory in June 2024 as a consultant and enjoys working with the team on grant reporting, manuscript development, mentorship of team members, and evaluation planning.

Ricky Brock, RN

Ricky is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, following with an RN Diploma from the Baton Rouge General School of Nursing. He trained in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care working at a large, local medical center, and then as a travel nurse in hospitals across the U.S. for a couple of years. From his start at Pennington Biomedical as a Nurse Coordinator, he has moved into several diverse roles helping set up and manage the Inpatient Metabolic Unit at Pennington and managing the Clinical Trials Outpatient Unit for over 8 years. Also, during this time he managed several larger, multi-center trials helping to establish a Coordinating Center at Pennington Biomedical along with a network of physicians and clinical sites across Louisiana, and helped create a private company to expand the Coordinating Center capabilities for Pennington. After working as a Senior Research Associate with a group of research consultants based in New Orleans for a few years, he returned to Pennington Biomedical in 2011 as Director of Medical Services, working as the Project Director for Heads Up, a large, multicenter behavioral and bariatric surgery program for state employees. He is managing the Data Coordinating Center and clinical operations for the TEAM UP study.

Students

Alexis Bourgeois

Undergraduate Student Worker, 2024-present

Louisiana State Univeristy | Bachelor of Science

Alexis Bourgeois is a student worker in the Pediatric Obesity Health and Behavior Lab. She joined the team in October 2024 and currently assists on different studies by collecting data and conducting literature searches. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med Biochemistry.

Postdoctoral Fellows Alumni

Mónica Suárez Reyes, Ph.D.

Postdoc Fellow (Dr. Staiano was Co-Mentor), 2023-2025

Currently Assistant Professor of School of Physical Activity, Sport and Health.

Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Alyssa Button, PhD

Postdoc Fellow (Dr. Staiano was Primary Mentor), 2022-2024

Currently Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrcis, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Chelsea Kracht, PhD

Postdoc Fellow (Dr. Staiano was Primary Mentor), 2018-2021

NICHD K99 Recipient

Currently Assistant Professor in the Division of Physical Activity & Weight Management, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center

Maura Kepper, PhD

Postdoc Fellow (Dr. Staiano was Co-Mentor), 2016-2019

Currently Assistant Professor- Tenure Track, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis

Staff Alumni

Sophia Ramirez, MS

Research Specialist II, 2023-2024

Currently Lab Manager for the Body Composition Lab at Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Nicholas Bennett, MS

Research Specialist I, 2023-2024

Lindsay Hall, MA

Data Manager, 2018-2023; previously in Dr. Corby Martin's Lab, 2010-2018

Currently REDCap Administrator at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Sydney Vidrine, MPH

Research Specialist II, 2021-2023

Ken Singletary, MHS, CCRA, CCRC

TEAM UP Regulatory Research Specialist, 2018-21

Director of Ninja Warrior Program at Athletes in Motion (AIM)

Jill Hancock, MPH

TEAM UP Research Specialist, 2020-21

Currently Clinical Research Coordinator II at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Megan Herold

TEAM UP Research Specialist, 2018-21

Megan Lee

TEAM UP Research Specialist, 2020-21

Arwen Marker, PhD

Project Manager, 2012-15

PhD, Clinical Psychology, 2020, University of Kansas

Completed Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah

Currently Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, University of Utah School of Medicine

Erika Rodriguez-Guzman

TEAM UP Research Specialist, 2018

Clinical Research Coordinator II, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Graduate Alumni

Gabrielle Gonzales, MPH, BS

Graduate Student Intern, 2020-2021

MPH, 2021, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Louisiana State University Health Sciences

BS, 2019, Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University

Current PhD candidate in Community Health Sciences, Louisiana State University Health Sciences

Caroline Barbaree, MBA, BS

Policy Intern, 2016-17

MBA, 2017, Flores MBA Program, Louisiana State University

BS, 2015, Business, E. J. Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University

Current Client Associate at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Lanell Kent-Craig, PhD, MSN, RN

Research Trainee, 2019
PhD, Nursing, Southern University Current Assistant Professor at Southern University School of Nursing

Nicole Dominique, MD, MPH, BS, BA

Medical Student Trainee, 2018

BS, 2017, Microbiology, Louisiana State University

BA, 2017, English Literature, Louisiana State University

MD, MPH, 2021, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center- New Orleans
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Recipient
Won 2nd place at annual LSUHSC Medical Student Research Day for Project Power Current Pediatric Resident at Stanford Medicine

Neelima Gonugunta, MBBS

Research Trainee, 2014 Current Clinical Research Assistant at Eye Associates of Northeast Louisiana

Noelle Hadley, MPH, BS

Research Trainee, 2015
MPH, Biostatistics, Tulane University Current Biostatician Manager at BRIGHT Research, Minnesota

Amber Jarrell, MD, BS

Medical Student Trainee, 2016-17

BS, 2012, Biology, Southern University and A&M College

MD, 2019, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
Won 3rd place at the annual LSUHSC Medical Student Research Day for Our Lifestyles Our Lives
Co-authored manuscript (Staiano et al., Childhood Obesity 2017;13:4)
Current Board Certified Pediatrician at Pediatric Center, LLC in Texas

Erica Joseph, PhD, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, NP-C

Research Trainee, 2018

PhD, Doctor of Philsophy, Nursing, 2020

DNP, 2015, Southern University & A&M College

Post-Masters, 2012, Southeastern Louisiana University

MSN, 2008, Southern University & A&M College

BSN, 1999, Southern University & A&M College

Current Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System

Michelle Liu, BS, BA

Research Assistant, 2015

BS, 2013, Neuroscience, Tulane University

BA, 2013, Anthropology, Tulane University

Currently an MD candidate (2018), Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Madeline Morrell, MPH, BS

Graduate Trainee, 2015

MPH, 2015, Epidemiology, Tulane University

Formerly a Data Management Specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Currently a Health Informatics Epidemiologist with the State of Tennessee Department of Health's Outbreak and Chronic Disease Division

Jessica Seay, BS

Graduate Trainee, 2019

MD/MPH (Candidate), 2021, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Amanda Weathers-Meyer, MS
Graduate Trainee, 2017-19
Currently pursuing a PhD in Kinesiology and MEd in Counseling, Louisiana State University

Undergraduate Alumni

Lucia O-Byrne, BS

Undergraduate Student Worker, 2024

BS, 2024, Biological Sciences, Minor in Psychology, Louisiana State University

Hannah Abney, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2014

BS, 2017, Pre-Dental and Biology, Minor in Psychology, Louisiana State University

Maggie Bain Brill, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2014

BS, 2016, Kinesiology, Louisiana State University

Currently Director of Student Development at Fusion Academy & Learning Center in Houston, TX

James Burns Jr, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2017

BS Candidate (2017), Kinesiology / Fitness Studies, Louisiana State University

Gabriella “Gabbi” Chauvin, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2017

BS, 2021, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Alexandra DeWitt, BS, PharmD

Graduate Trainee 2017

Doctor of Pharmacy, 2020, University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy

BS, 2016, Biology, Louisiana State University

Beatriz Fernando-Coelho, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2018-19

Pursuing MPA (2024), LSU Health Sciences Center BS, 2021, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Louisiana State University

Johannah Frelier, BS

Research Assistant, 2014-2015

BS, 2014, Psychology, Louisiana State University

MPH, 2017, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Research Assistant at Harvard School of Public Health with Dr. Sara Bleich (2017-2019)
Currently Louisiana Farm to School Manager at LSU AgCenter

Alexandra Gillio, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2014

BS, 2015, Kinesiology, Louisiana State University

Caroline Goodner, BS, MD

Undergraduate Trainee, 2016

BS, University of Texas
MD, 2021, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine

Hayden Guidry, MD, MPH

Undergraduate Trainee, 2017

BS, 2020, Biology, Louisiana State University
Currently second year MD/MPH student at LSUHSC New Orleans

Hannah Haddad, BS, DO

Undergraduate Trainee, 2016-

BS, 2018, Pre-Medical, Nutrition and Food Sciences Minors in Health Sciences and Sociology, Louisiana State University

Ogden Honors College DO, 2023, Kansas City University Currently a first year resident at LSU Health New Orleans

Ellery Hayden, BS, MD

Research Assistant, 2015

BS, 2018, Rhodes College

MD, 2022, LSU School of Medicine New Orleans

LSUHSC Medical School student, 2018-22

Alex Henderson

Undergraduate Trainee, 2017

BS Candidate (2018), Microbiology, Louisiana State University

Cullen Hodges, BS

Student Worker, 2014-2015

BS, 2017, Pre-Med, Biology, Louisiana State University Current graduate student, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University

Elizabeth Joseph, BS, PhD

Undergraduate Trainee, 2017-19

Ogden Honors College Graduate

Recipient of the LSU Undergraduate Distinguished Researcher Medal
First authored manuscript (Joseph et al., Global Pediatric Health 2019)
Co-authored manuscript (Kracht, Joseph, & Staiano, Current Obesity Reports, 2020;9(1))

Presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine conference, 2018 (Ann Beh Med 2018;25(Suppl 1):S304)

PhD, 2023, Experimental Psychology, Texas Christian University Currently a visiting professor at University of North Texas

Amelie Kramer, BS, MA

Undergraduate Student Worker, 2016-19

BS, 2019, Child and Family Studies, Louisiana State University MA, 2021, Higher Education Administration, Louisiana State University

Molly Mallory, MHA

Undergraduate Trainee, 2016

BS, 2017, Psychology, Minor in Kinesiology, Louisiana State University

MHA, 2021, Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Currently Senior Project Manager at Children's Hospital New Orleans

Annie McLemore, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2016

BS, 2016, Nutrition & Food Sciences: Dietetics, Louisiana State University

Currently a Clinical Dietitian at Children's National Hospital, Washington DC

Paige Menier, BS, CCRC

Undergraduate Student Worker, 2017

BS, 2013, Business Management, Louisiana State University

BS, 2017, Dietetics, Louisiana State University

Clinical Research Coordinator at Ochsner Heath Center - Summa
Currently Regional Director of Clinical Operations, Circuit Clinical

Sai Pochana

Student Worker, 2018-2021

BS, 2021, Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University

LSUHSC Medical Student, 2022-26

Abigail Randolph

Undergraduate Trainee, 2021-2022

BS, 2022, Biological Science and Psychology, Louisiana State University
Currently pursuing a PhD in neuroscience at Florida State University to examine how early life adversity influences neural circuit adaptations and the physiological processes that mediate these behaviors.

Recipient of National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award, 2024.

Claire Tate

Undergraduate Trainee, 2021

BA, 2024, Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society, Vanderbilt University

Currently attending medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas

Ansleigh Thibodeaux

Undergraduate Trainee, 2016

BS Candidate (2019), Psychology, Minors in Health Sciences and Sociology, Louisiana State University

Currently a secretary at Lisa Jordan Dale - Attorney at Law

Aimee Troxclair, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2015

BS, 2015, Kinesiology, Southeastern University

Jordan "Gracie" Wilburn

Student Worker, 2019-2021

BS, 2021, Psychology, Sociology, Louisiana State University

Currently pursuing MS, 2023, Northwestern State University

Zoe Wilhelm

Louisiana Service and Leadership (LASAL) Trainee, 2017

BS Candidate (2018), Pre-Medical, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Minor in Music, Louisiana State University

Ogden Honors College
Currently Clinical Research Coordinator II at Baylor College of Medicine

Courtney Wright, BS

Undergraduate Trainee, 2014

Robert Noyce Research Scholar, Summer 2014

BS, 2016, Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University

Student teacher at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School (2016-)

Andrew Sellers

Student Worker, 2022-2023

BS Candidate (2025), Psychology, Louisiana State University

Kathy Hu

Undergraduate Trainee

BS Candidate (2028), Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Chosen as Presidential Scholar, awarded scholarship for future female STEM graduates

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