Stephanie L. Albert, PhD

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health. My research focuses on three general areas: (1) determinants of eating behaviors, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, and policy factors; (2) adolescent health and well-being; and (3) media consumption. Within these areas, I’m specifically interested in studying novel ways to mitigate weight-bias and stigma at a population level.

I am currently the principal investigator of a National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities funded study of the impact of a social media campaign promoting body positivity on weight stigma and mental health among youth (5K01MD018721). I have led evaluations of a plant-based lifestyle medicine program; a faith-based, family-oriented obesity prevention program in the South Bronx and Harlem; and a co-located, integrated, multiservice model to improve positive youth development.

Additionally, I have been a co-investigator on a wide range of NIH, CDC, and foundation-funded projects. I am currently co-investigator on a Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-funded study investigating the impact of social media policies on adolescents’ exposure to food and beverage advertisements. I am also leading the evaluation component of the National Center for Engagement in Diabetes Research (CEDER) funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

I currently serve on the leadership committee of the NYU Food Environment & Policy Research Coalition.

I earned my PhD in Public Health from the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA where I was a trainee at the UCLA Center for Population Health and Disparities training program. I also earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Prior to that I served as a Legislative Aide in the California State Senate and Senior Advisor for State Affairs at Americans for Gun Safety.