Our lab uses two primary research methods: epidemiology and clinical research. Epidemiology focuses on observing patterns at the population level, while clinical research involves interacting with individuals through structured studies and interventions.

In our lab, we examine sleep patterns, circadian behaviors, and related social, behavioral, and environmental factors to understand how sleep affects specific groups of people across pregnancy and the postpartum period.

By analyzing these population-level data, we aim to identify how different dimensions of sleep may affect groups differently. A classic way to frame epidemiologic thinking is time, place, and person: When is the issue occurring? Where is it most prominent? Who is most affected?

These insights help us guide what we measure next and inform which interventions are most promising to develop and test in clinical research.

Clinical research is where epidemiologic observations meet the real world. It includes studies designed to measure health behaviors and outcomes in real people, often over time, using structured protocols and validated tools.

In our lab, clinical research often focuses on pragmatic, real-world approaches such as internet-assisted programs, wearable or home-based monitoring, and lifestyle interventions that fit into daily life during pregnancy and postpartum.

This work helps us understand not only whether something works, but how it functions in realistic settings and how well it fits into people’s daily lives.