Danielle Jake-Schoffman, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Health Education & Behavior

  • NCI R25 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School (2018)
  • PhD in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina (2016)
  • BA in Human Biology, Stanford University (2008)
  • Secondary BA in Anthropological Sciences, Stanford University (2008)

Jake-Schoffman CV

 Jake-Schoffman Exhale Laboratory Website: https://exhalelab.weebly.com/

 

 


Dr. Jake-Schoffman has opportunities for undergraduate and master's students to get involved in research in her lab. Please contact her via email for more information.


Biography:

Danielle Jake-Schoffman, PhD joined faculty of the Department of Health Education and Behavior as an Assistant Professor in August 2018. Dr. Jake-Schoffman is a behavioral scientist dedicated to developing and implementing evidence-based strategies for chronic disease prevention and treatment, specifically those that leverage connected technologies (e.g., wearable sensors, mobile apps, and online social networks). Her research centers on technology tools for the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating and prevention and treatment of obesity and cancer and she has contributed to a variety of projects to develop and test interventions supported by physical activity devices, apps, and social media. She has a particular interest in innovative methods for trial delivery and evaluation, including remotely-delivered trials that use technology tools to engage and retain participants. Dr. Jake-Schoffman also has expertise in implementation science methods, including work to integrate faith-based physical activity and healthy eating interventions into church settings in both rural and immigrant communities.

Prior to joining the faculty of the Department of Health Education and Behavior, Dr. Jake-Schoffman completed a postdoctoral research fellowhip in the PRACCTIS (Prevention and Control of Cancer Training in Implementation Science) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She received her PhD in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, BA in Human Biology and Secondary BA in Anthropological Sciences from Stanford University.

Dr. Jake-Schoffman is active in the leadership of the health technology special interest groups of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) and The Obesity Society (TOS). She has received numerous early career awards in recognition of her research from local and national organizations and has been selected for competitive national trainings focused on physical activity and public health, behavioral randomized clinical trials, optimization of behavioral and biobehavioral interventions, and innovative approaches to obesity prevention and treatment. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice and International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity and is an ad hoc reviewer for over twenty journals publishing research in behavioral medicine, mHealth and digital health technologies, obesity prevention and treatment interventions, and public health approaches to health promotion.

Research Interests

  • Innovative approaches to the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating
  • Behavioral weight management
  • Family-based health behavior interventions
  • Development, implementation, and evaluation of digital health tools
  • Academic-industry partnerships for technology development
  • Physical activity as an adjunct treatment for substance abuse

Publications

  • Engaging adults with obesity in organic online communities to support weight loss: a mixed methods pilot study (Link)
  • Engaging primary care patients with existing online tools for weight loss: A pilot trial (Link)
  • The Relationship Between How Participants Articulate Their Goals and Accomplishments and Weight Loss Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot of a Web-Based Weight Loss Intervention (Link)
  • Methods-Motivational Interviewing Approach for Enhanced Retention and Attendance (Link)
  • The mFIT (Motivating Families with Interactive Technology) Study (Link)

Research in the News