O’Connor Lab Members

I received my B.S. in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and my M.D. from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. I joined Baylor College of Medicine for the first time as a pediatric intern in 1999 and completed a pediatric residency. After a brief stint as a Texas Children's pediatrician, I returned to Baylor and completed a fellowship in Academic General Pediatrics and obtained a MPH from the UT School of Public Health. I joined the faculty at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center in 2007 and am currently an associate professor of pediatrics. I have the privilege of working with a great group of colleagues in the CNRC focusing on obesity prevention and behavioral research, while spending 20 percent of my time in Academic General Pediatrics where I continue to see patients and teach in the Texas Children's Hospital Resident Continuity Clinic. Outside of work, I love cooking, traveling, gardening, hiking, exercising, all while spending time with family. I am passionate about promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors for families and understanding how that can be achieved for all families within a culturally-centered lens.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Nutrition and Food Science at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. After that, I pursued my Master’s of Science degree at the Gerald J and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy at Tufts University. There, I specialized in food policy and applied nutrition with a focus in nutrition intervention programs and nutrition communication. In 2006, after working in research at the National School of Public Health in Mexico and being head of the Mexican five-day campaign, I joined the Children’s Nutrition Research Center as a research coordinator. Since then, I have coordinated multiple studies focusing on behavioral research for childhood obesity prevention under the guidance of Dr. Tom Baranowski and currently with Dr. Teresia O’Connor. I’m currently a certified Functional Nutrition practitioner from the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy. On my free time I enjoy barre and spin classes and play tennis.

I have been working in Dr. O’Connor’s lab since 2017. I am originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico and grew up in the Ciudad Juarez-El Paso, Texas border. I have a B.A. in anthropology and a M.S. degree in public health promotion from the University of Texas at El Paso. I have worked in different areas of public health including mental health and smoking prevention research, as well as cultural adaptation of health promotion programs. I have also worked as a health educator helping patients manage their chronic conditions. I love working in Dr. O’Connor’s lab because the members are a great team of people who work hard and get along great with each other. In my personal life I love spending time with my husband, daughter and cat. I love learning about world history and gardening in my free time.

I joined the O’Connor Lab in the summer of 2018. I am a native Texan and was raised in the Rio Grande Valley, near South Padre Island and the border of Mexico. I have a B.S. in exercise science and worked in public health promoting healthy lifestyles programs for children, as well as leading summer camp programs. My main role is the lead facilitator for multiple projects across the CNRC like Papas Saludables, Ninos Saludables and Fit5Kids. My favorite part of working at the O’Connor lab is working with such an enthusiastic and proficient team. Outside of the lab, I enjoy working out, spending time outdoors, traveling and spending time with my family.

I am a University of Houston graduate with a B.S. in psychology. I joined the Children's Nutrition Research Center in October of 2020. My role includes recruiting/screening research participants, conducting enrollment appointments remotely and face-to-face for data collection, and coding/labeling video data. My favorite thing about this lab is being a part of a healthy work environment and in a supportive team. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading novels, exercising, and trying new restaurants in Houston.

I have been doing research at the Children's Nutrition Research Center since 1999. I was born in the suburbs of Houston and over the past 30 plus years have raised a family of five here. It is a privilege to work with Dr. O'Connor's Lab on various projects, the work is challenging and innovative. The best part is that the projects target the specific demographic that I have gained vast experience with throughout my career. My expertise is recruitment and public relations which is how I fit into Fit 5 Kids team and the FLASH study team. I do my best to practice health and well-being, when not working on our projects I enjoy kickboxing, swimming, traveling, and reading. 

I am the oddball in Dr. O'Connor's lab. I work as a research engineer at Computational Imaging Lab at Rice University. I collaborate with Dr. O'Connor's team on the FLASH project where I help with the development and validation of objective methods for measuring screen-time among children. In particular, I develop computer vision techniques for screen-time measurement using state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms for FLASH-TV and FLASH-mobile. Prior to joining Rice, I obtained my M.S. in electrical engineering from IIT Madras, Chennai, India. And outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with friends, cooking along with my wife, and playing table tennis!

I am a proud Mexican, born and raised in Mexico City. After I received my Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Food Science, I started a Specialty in Obesity and Comorbidities due to the current situation of my country: being number one worldwide in childhood obesity. Aiming to be better prepared to help those most in need, I started a Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition. Throughout the course of my studies and practice, I became passionate about working with children and helping them improve and enjoy their quality of life. I traveled across all of Mexico, creating and applying health and nutrition programs, focusing on children and their families. Today, it makes me proud to be a part of Dr. O’Connor’s Lab and be able to work among such passionate individuals, advocating for a balanced and healthy lifestyle. In my other job (motherhood), I love spending every minute possible watching my babies grow, doing the best I can to make them feel loved and happy. I am also very passionate about conscious motherhood and an advocate for women's rights. I really enjoy some self-time when possible, to be able to decompress and improve everyday as a human being.

I’ve spent my whole life looking for ways to help people improve their health and physical performance and working at Dr. O’Connor’s lab gave me a great opportunity to continue my mission.

My main role is delivering the PSNS program which helps encourage healthy weight management and increase physical activity. I find an indescribable joy watching the smiles of the kids and their parents while they are learning and having fun. I have a B.S. in nutrition from Universidad Central de Venezuela and a M.Sc. degree in Physical Education (Exercise Physiology) from UPEL in Caracas, Venezuela.

In my spare time I enjoy running, exercising, or biking with my family in The Woodlands. I’m more than happy to bring all my energy and experience to the table for this team that is making the most beautiful thing in this world that is helps families become healthier.

I am a UTHealth graduate with a master's in public health. I joined the Children's Nutrition Research Center in September 2022. I am a research coordinator, and my roles include recruiting, screening research participants, and collection of data in person. My favorite thing about this job is that I have amazing co-workers and study participants! Outside of the lab, I enjoy painting, doing yoga, and going for walks with my dog.

My name is Raul Reyes and I will be graduating from Rice University with a B.A. in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology as well as Health Sciences in May of 2023. I was born and raised in Waco, TX to a family from San Luis, Mexico. I began working in Dr. O’Connor’s Lab in December of 2022 as an Assistant Research Coordinator. My role consists of implementing the Papas Saludables, Ninos Saludables program as a coach, aiding in recruitment, and more. My favorite aspect of my role is being able to see fathers spend quality time with their children while also developing healthy lifestyle skills. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time caring for my plants, going hiking/camping, and listening to music.

I received my B.S in Health from the University of Houston on May 2022. Since then, I joined the O'Connor lab in August of that same year where I have been working as a research coordinator. My favorite thing about the O'Connor lab has been working with children and families, not only has it been a rewarding work experience watching them be a part of the PSNS study program, but I get to work with an incredibly team passionate about what they do here in the CNRC. I am currently working on going back to school to pursue my Masters in Public Health. Outside of the office, I enjoy reading books, dancing, going to church and spending quality time with my friends, family and dogs. 

I completed my bachelor’s degree in Sport and Leisure Science at the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Colombia, and my master's and doctorate degrees at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. During my graduate studies, my research combined physical literacy, motor development theory, and biomechanics to promote safe physical activity in children. I focused on developing and testing the validity and reliability of an instrument to measure motor competence and the risk of musculoskeletal injury, as well as designing and implementing an exercise-based intervention. Currently, I am working with Dr. Teresia O’Connor in the Papás Saludables, Niños Saludables (PSNS) program, where I study how the relationship between Hispanic fathers and their children influences weight reduction/prevention and physical activity levels in both. I feel inspired to work on the PSNS program because it gives me the opportunity to connect with my Hispanic roots. I enjoy playing sports and being active. I played volleyball and beach volleyball at national and international levels (the good old times!), and I love running and a good cup of coffee.

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 O’Connor 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 Family Level Assessment of Screen use in the Home (FLASH) study and Technology Effects on Children’s Health (TECH) study led by Dr. O’Connor. In my free time, I enjoy practicing piano, rock climbing, and learning languages.

I am a Mexican dietitian specialized in obesity and related diseases. With a bachelor's degree in nutrition and certifications in Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Management, I have established a solid educational foundation over the past decade. My experience includes an internship at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, as well as roles as a dietitian at daycares focusing on children's nutrition and as a clinical dietitian at The American British Cowdray Hospital in Mexico City, specifically in the Obesity and Nutrition Center. Throughout these positions, I have refined my skills and fostered a compassionate environment for my patients.

Recently, I relocated to Houston, where I have embraced a multicultural environment that allows me to gain insights into different cultures. Currently, I serve as a Research Coordinator in Dr. O'Connor's lab at the Children's Nutrition Research Center (CNRC). I am actively involved in the "Papás Saludables, Niños Saludables" (Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids) program, contributing to data collection and recruitment efforts. This opportunity allows me to deepen my understanding of the importance of healthy habits and their impact on quality of life.

In addition to my professional pursuits, I find great joy in learning to play the piano, doing exercise, and creating beautiful memories with my family.

With a genuine and a strong commitment to the field of nutrition and research, I am dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families. 
 

I received my B.S. in biology and B.S.A. in biochemistry from UT Austin, and recently graduated with my MPH in epidemiology from UT Health Houston. I’ve worked in health education/promotion projects while completing my masters, and recently joined Dr. O’Connor’s "Papás Saludables, Niños Saludables” study as a research coordinator. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with people who are passionate about improving our local communities, and interacting with the community has been so fulfilling and motivates me to become a better professional and a better person. Outside of the lab, I love spending my time rock climbing, traveling, and exploring new coffee shops around the city!