Moreno Lab Members

I grew up on a farm outside of Raleigh, N.C. and then moved to New Orleans. La. where I graduated with a bachelor’s of arts in psychology from Tulane University. I then moved west along Interstate 10 to Baton Rouge, La. where I obtained a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University. I journeyed a little further west down Interstate 10 to Houston where I completed a clinical internship and post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, specializing in pediatric psychology at Texas Children’s Hospital. I am currently an associate professor of pediatrics in the Children’s Nutrition Research at Baylor College of Medicine. My research focuses on understanding behavioral factors related to the development of obesity among children and the development of  behavioral interventions for the prevention of childhood obesity. I am particularly interested in translating circadian research into interventions for the prevention of childhood obesity. In my free time, I can usually be found in my garden where I focus on planting native Texas plants and taking close-ups of the pollinators that visit my flowers. I also enjoy spending time with my family, exercising, exploring Texas, collecting sea glass (outside of Texas), and snuggling with my tuxedo cat and Havanese.

I am one of our more experienced team members and serve as senior research coordinator in the Moreno Research Lab. After moving from Irvine, California, I completed my undergraduate at the University of Houston in human nutrition. During this time I was a member of ADA, HADA, Student Nutrition Association, and Nutrition Graduate Student Association. I then went on to do the combined master of science degree and dietetic internship through Texas Women’s University and became a registered and licensed dietitian. Not only did this dietetic internship prepare me to work with patients with various dietary needs, it also sparked an interest in research and prevention. My research thesis: The Impact of Switching to Lower Fat Milk as a Simple dietary Modification in Adolescents, focused on how a simple dietary modification from whole milk to reduced, or fat free milk in children can reduce calories and calories from fat in their dietary intake. I am bilingual (Urdu/Hindi) and have also studied some Spanish. I have been working at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at BCM since 2005 on projects including: Food Intake Recording Software Development and Validation for Children (FIRSST4) (2008-2011); PROP sensitivity and Obesity among Ethnic Children (2006-2008 Video games for Obesity and Diabetes Prevention (2008-2009); Digital Food Photography for FIRSST software (2007-12); Validation of the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Recall for Children (ASA24-Kids) (2013); Parenting Game App (KIDDIA)(2013-14); DIAB-NANO-G4H (2013-16); Active Video Game (AVG) (2013-14); SUN-ASA24-KIDS (2013-16); School Summer Sleep Study (2016-17); and the i♥rhythm Project (2017-current). I currently have 14 peer reviewed publications.

I am a Houston native and have lived in and around the city my whole life. I graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a minor in Biology. I have a strong interest in research focused on vulnerable populations. I come from a large Nigerian family full of healthcare workers, which has fueled my passion for community health and health equity and health education. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, learning about different cultures, practicing sign language. I also love watching Japanese anime and zombie apocalypse movies.

During my last final weeks of completing my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology at the University of St. Thomas, where I also minored in Global Cybersecurity and International Studies, I was invited to join the Moreno Lab. I am a native Houstonian and am happy to be continuing my career in my hometown. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked in both legal and healthcare environments, which deepened my interest in the ways behavioral and environmental factors impact child development. I plan to pursue a graduate degree in School Psychology and hope to support children and families through work in educational and clinical settings. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

I began my career in the coordination of research studies at BCM when I was an undergraduate at the University of Houston. After graduating with a degree in nutrition, I joined the BCM staff as a research coordinator and served as a lead interventionist and outcome specialist for several school based obesity prevention programs with elementary and middle school students. In addition, I assisted with the Fort Bend ISD study in which we collected heights and weights from the 2005 kindergarten cohort at the beginning and end of each school year through fifth grade. Dr. Moreno and I began working together in 2007 when she joined the research team as an intern. The Fort Bend ISD data led to the discovery that elementary school children increased their standardized BMI at a faster rate during summer compared to the school year, a paper that was published by Dr. Moreno in 2013. After taking some time off to start a family, I decided to team up with Dr. Moreno again, as she begins her own independent research lab, to further study the causes of accelerated summer weight gain in children. I am currently serving as an outcome specialist on the i♥rhythm project, a study which aims to examine the feasibility of a mobile health intervention designed to prevent accelerated summer weight gain in children by promoting healthy sleep and circadian rhythms. I am also working toward obtaining a master’s in public health from Lamar University. When I am not working or studying, I enjoy spending time with my family and watching the Texans.

I received my B.S. in Health from the University of Houston and my Master of Public Health in Global Heath with a concentration in Public Health Nutrition from Emory University. During my time at Emory, I contributed to impactful Public Health research with the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) where I conducted a cost benefit analysis on wheat flour fortification in Türkiye. My interests include the role of nutrition in non-communicable disease prevention and management, life course epidemiology, and maternal and child health. When I am not working, I love to read, explore the outdoors with my dog Reese, practice my Greek, and try new recipes. I am so excited to be apart of the Moreno Lab team!

Born and raised in Houston, I earned my B.S. in Biology with a minor in Public Health from the University of Houston. I then continued my work at the University of Houston, to complete my Master's in Biology and Biomedical Sciences with a focus in Health Systems Science. Along the way, I’ve worked as a clinical intern, health education specialist, and research assistant -- experiences that deepened my interest in both patient care and the broader systems that shape healthcare delivery.

My experience as a clinical intern and patient coordinator at an Advanced Therapeutic Intervention Center, the understanding I gained of the effect of social determinants on an individuals' health outcomes ignited my passion for the confluence of public health and medicine. As a Research Assistant for MD Anderson, through the evaluation of the development of radio-resistance in the primary treatment of metastatic breast cancer, I enhanced my proficiency in clinical research methodologies and the interpretation of cross-scale systemic interactions of the body. My work on a Community Cookbook initiative, as a Health Education Specialist for Bridged Health, aimed to empower individuals with essential nutrition knowledge, focusing on understanding food labels and the significance of various nutrients. After conducting population assessments to identify prevalent micronutrient deficiencies, I helped to develop culturally relevant recipes to address the nutritional gaps in order to promote healthier dietary habits within the community.

Currently, I am excited to be part of the Moreno Lab, where I'll continue to dedicate myself to improving health outcomes through research and care. Transitioning into a research coordinator position, I am eager to leverage my understanding and the skills I've learned to support patients throughout the research process. All of these roles have given me valuable perspective as I work toward my goal of becoming a physician, with a passion for providing high-quality, accessible care. But outside of all of this, I love to spend my free time crocheting and experimenting in the kitchen with new baking recipes! 

I am from Houston, born and raised. I joined the Moreno lab in 2025 as a Research Coordinator while being an undergraduate at the University of Houston. Where I will receive my bachelor's degree of Science in Public Health with a minor in Biology. During my undergrad I worked as a medical assistant for an Interventional Pain and Recovery Center, where I was able to gain more knowledge on patient care and an appreciation for all aspects of medicine. I plan to apply to graduate school and pursue a career in medicine in the future. When I’m not working, I enjoy reading, traveling, and enjoying time with my adorable schnauzer Bruno. 

Hi, I’m Insia Raza. I was born in London and moved to the Houston area in 2001. I earned my B.S. in Public Health with a minor in Psychology from the University of Houston and completed my MPH in Epidemiology at the UTHealth School of Public Health.

Since February 2024, I’ve worked as a coordinator for pediatric circadian rhythm research in the Jennette Moreno Lab at Baylor College of Medicine. I lead in-home and lab-based data collections with children and families and assist projects in the lab from end to end, including REDCap database design, survey development, and protocol compliance. This role has deepened my understanding of circadian biology and strengthened my skills in clinical coordination, data integrity, and family-centered research.

During graduate school, I collaborated with Houston Methodist on a quality improvement initiative to improve resident training in central venous catheter (CVC) placement. I contributed to the manuscript writing and led the statistical analysis of pre- and post-intervention data, showing significant gains in trainee confidence and procedural knowledge.

In my graduate studies, I developed a machine learning model to classify breast cancer tumors as benign or malignant, achieving 99% training accuracy and 94% accuracy on test data. These experiences sparked my passion for applying statistical tools and programming to improve clinical research and public health outcomes.

Outside of work, I speak Urdu/Hindi and spend quality time with my family and friends. I love staying active—my husband and I are avid hikers with a goal to visit every U.S. national park. I also lead a book club that explores everything from fiction to religious studies. In my free time, I frequently experiment with new recipes, explore the Houston food scene, and follow the latest in health policy and world events. 

I’m originally from Kansas and lived in Maryland for a few years before I moved to Texas in 2009. I received my B.S. in biomedical engineering from the University of Houston and my M.S. in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan. My research interests are in machine learning and signal processing for biomedical applications. I started working with the Moreno Research Lab in the CNRC at the beginning of 2023. As a scientific programmer, I’m mainly involved in data processing, programming, software testing, and device management for studies. I’m currently assisting with the i♥rhythm project and Goodnight Screen Media (GNSM) study led by Dr. Moreno. I am also a part of the Digital Assessment Core led by Dr. Moreno. In my free time, I enjoy practicing piano, rock climbing, and learning languages. 

I am originally from India and moved to the United States to pursue my master's degree. I hold a B.E. in Electronics and Communication and a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University, with a focus on Computer Vision. My research interests lie in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision. Currently, I am part of the Digital Assessment Core led by Dr. Moreno, where I contribute to the Family Level Assessment of Screen Use in the Home-Television (FLASH-TV) project. I am also involved in the Goodnight Screen Media (GNSM) study, led by Dr. Moreno. I am multilingual and know four languages: English, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities, traveling, sketching, and dancing.

I am interested in child sleep and weight status. I gained my PhD at Arizona State University, with specialized training in parent-child interactions and interventions for the prevention of infant sleep problems. While working as a staff nurse in Singapore after my master’s study, with witnessing of firsthand the challenges children face when dealing with their health issues, I've seen how crucial it is to have dedicated healthcare professionals to understand the unique needs and development of children. These clinical experiences have ignited a passion within me to delve deeper into child health research and practice, aiming to contribute to advancements in pediatric health. Subsequently, I worked as a research assistant/associate at the National University of Singapore. While conducting the home-visit interventions in a postnatal project, I observed parents' eagerness to gain knowledge about infant sleep development and how to improve young infants’ sleep, and better understand and interact with their infant. This experience motivated me to embark on a PhD journey focused on infant sleep development and interventions, and parent-child interactions. After graduation, I would like to seek more postdoctoral training on child sleep and obesity, to better understand the relationship and mechanism between child sleep and circadian health, children’s energy expenditure, and risk of overweight or obesity.

I am a Houston native and have lived in Houston my entire life! I am a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin where I double majored in Neuroscience and Nutrition. I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences through UT. I worked as a medical assistant for a pain management clinic during my time at UT. During my undergraduate years, I came to truly enjoy learning about nutrition through my classes. My classes, in conjunction with my time as a pain management medical assistant, that’s where I developed my love for nutrition and its role in prevention and overall developing better lifestyles. I joined the Moreno Lab as a Research Coordinator to further explore my passion for nutrition and I am excited to further understand the role of the brain and nutrition through our studies. I plan to pursue a career in medicine in the future!

Outside of my responsibilities, I love to spend time with my family and friends. I love to weight lift and also stay active through various avenues such as hikes or trying out new workout classes. I have been enjoying trying out new coffee shops in the Houston area as well as the food scene in Houston. 

I graduated from the University of Houston in May 2024 with a B.S. in Health and minors in Nutrition and Business Administration. For the past three years, I’ve been involved in public health research focused on food and housing insecurity, especially within Spanish-speaking immigrant communities. My work has included everything from moderating focus groups in Spanish to translating transcripts, analyzing data in REDCap, and helping develop more culturally appropriate food insecurity tools. Before joining the Moreno Lab, I worked on several community-centered health initiatives, including cooking classes for people with type 2 diabetes, culinary medicine workshops, and neighborhood walking groups in Houston’s East End and Second Ward. I’ve also worked as a medical assistant in a podiatry clinic, where I supported both patient care and front office operations. I’m passionate about making healthcare more accessible and inclusive, and I plan to pursue a career in nursing with a focus on research-informed, community-based care. Outside of work, I enjoy running, dancing, and cuddling with my two cats.

I received my B.S. in psychology from Florida State University and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I completed my pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, followed by post-doctoral fellowships at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center. During my time at the CNRC, I worked with Dr. Moreno and Dr. O’Connor on projects related to infant and early childhood sleep as a novel predictor of risk for later childhood obesity. Currently, I am an assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. I have a passion for helping children, adolescents, and their families improve their day-to-day functioning and overall quality of life, and have a special interest in improving access to behavioral health services. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, painting, and going on long walks with my dog Rosie.