HDFS Faculty Research Award, 2021-22

Awarded based on demonstrated impact on fields related to the study of HDFS, the promotion of scholarship within HDFS, UConn, and national and international reputation, with emphasis on research in the prior five years, with consideration for engaged scholarship activities.

Kim Gans

Kim GansIn her 7 ½ years in UConn HDFS, and her many prior years at Brown, Kim has had enormous research productivity and impact. She has a strong national and international reputation, including 119 peer reviewed publications, many led by students, postdoctoral scholars, and early career faculty she has mentored; over 3500 citations of her published work; 68 funded grants totaling almost $50 million, with seven currently active from a range of sources including NIH, CDC, WT Grant, and Robert Wood Johnson; mentoring of graduate students, postdocs, and especially other faculty in their own research. Kim’s work addresses critical topics in the area of interventions in community-based settings with diverse populations to improve eating habits, increase physical activity, and prevent/control obesity. She has created innovative health communication technologies to change behavior and she studies interventions to improve home, work and neighborhood environments and how these interventions interface with behavior change interventions to enhance obesity prevention. Kim Gans is a prolific scholar with an impressive record. Moreover, Kim’s research addresses important health concerns with large implications for individuals, families, and society.  (Kim’s faculty profile webpage)