Staff Directory

Leadership

 

Jane M. Simoni, Ph.D.

Jane M. Simoni, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH
Director, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)

Janine M. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
Wendy B. Smith, MA, Ph. D., BCB
Associate Director, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
Areas of expertise: clinical pain research, complementary and alternative medicine, research methodologies, patient reported outcomes, public private partnership development.
Rosalind (Roz) King, Ph.D.

Rosalind (Roz) King, Ph.D.
Chief, Scientific Development and Coordination Section, OBSSR
Areas of expertise: social and behavioral research on reproductive health, social stratification, biosocial research, career development and research infrastructure support.

Kathryn Morris

Kathryn (Katie) Morris, M.P.H.
Chief, Policy, Planning and Analyses Section, OBSSR
Areas of expertise: global health, portfolio analysis, policy and evaluation, public health, maternal and child health intervention research, reproductive health research.

Staff

Farheen Akbar

Farheen Akbar, M.P.H.
Health Science Policy Analyst
Areas of expertise: portfolio analysis, policy and evaluation, public health, population health, behavioral and social science research in aging.

Deshirée Belis

Deshirée Belis, M.P.H.
Health Science Policy Analyst
Areas of expertise: global health, implementation research, non-communicable diseases, portfolio analysis, evaluation, public health, health inequities.

Kristin Brethel-Haurwitz

Kristin Brethel-Haurwitz, Ph.D.
Social & Behavioral Scientist Administrator
Areas of expertise: empathy, social decision making, cognitive neuroscience.

Alyssa Dolge

Alyssa Dolge, M.P.H.
Health Science Policy Analyst
Areas of expertise: budget, contracts, cancer control research, health care delivery research.

Lauren Fordyce, Ph.D.

Lauren Fordyce, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Areas of expertise: maternal and child health, clinical interventions, social science research.

Jessica Gowda, M.S.

Jessica Gowda, M.S.
Health Science Policy Analyst
Areas of expertise: reporting and portfolio analysis, policy and evaluation, interested party engagement.

Dana Greene

Dana Greene, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Areas of expertise: behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, circadian biology, radiation biology, animal models.

Priyanka Joseph, MPA, MFA [C]

Priyanka Joseph, MPA, MFA [C]
Scientific Writer
Areas of expertise: researching/writing/editing technical information in a variety of formats, survey design, cross cultural communication, front-facing outreach, proofing, cross-checking, documentation support, updating and maintaining style guide consistencies.

Sydney O’Connor, Ph.D.

Sydney O’Connor, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Areas of expertise: theories of health behavior, mHealth and ecological momentary assessment methodologies, environmental and social determinants of health, obesity and cancer prevention, 24hr behavioral patterns, climate change and health.

Sarika Parasuraman

Sarika Parasuraman, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Health Science Policy Analyst
Areas of expertise: health services research, child and adolescent health, policy and evaluation, social determinants of health, health systems, portfolio analysis.

Marie Rienzo, M.A.

Marie Rienzo, M.A.
Communications Director
Areas of expertise: health communications, strategic communications, digital strategy, social media and email marketing, message and content development, and website management.

Lizette M. Rivera- Arnold

Lizette M. Rivera- Arnold, MPA, PMP [C]
Project Manager
Areas of Expertise: project management, program management, strategic planning, stakeholder coordination, event coordination, operational efficiency, project/program administration.

Paula Roberts

Paula Roberts
Program Analyst
Areas of expertise: budget, Co-Funding, Personal Property, procurement.

Mike Spittel

Michael Spittel, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Areas of expertise: innovative methodology and statistics, survey and data systems, and population health.

Erica Spotts

Erica Spotts, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Areas of expertise: behavior genetics, developmental psychology, interpersonal relationships, family systems, depression.

Deborah Young-Hyman

Deborah Young-Hyman, Ph.D., CDE
Health Scientist Administrator
Areas of expertise: bio-psychosocial interventions, psychosocial treatment of diabetes, adherence to prevention/treatment behaviors, clinical trial design in BSSR.