Research Goal
The ultimate goal of our research group is to understand the physiology of weight gain and loss, to find new ways to prevent weight gain, to help overweight people lose weight more easily, and to prevent the consequences of excess adiposity. To achieve these overarching goals, one aspect of our research is focused on developing new methods and technologies for assessing and monitoring energy expenditure and energy intake in free-living conditions over extended periods of time.
Current Research
Our group is interested in understanding the determinants of the energy balance equation (energy intake and energy expenditure) and their role in contributing to body weight change. Specifically, our research focuses on identifying and characterizing human metabolic phenotypes (spendthrift vs. thrifty phenotypes, carbohydrate vs. fat oxidizers) by measuring energy metabolism during overfeeding or caloric restriction to understand the different inter-individual predisposition to weight gain or weight loss. I am also interested in the genetic determinants of energy metabolism and metabolic rate that may predispose individuals to obesity.
Thesis Projects
for Master’s Degree Candidates in Biomedical Engineering and Bionics Engineering
- Analysis of physiological signals from wearable sensors for prediction of whole-body metabolic rate.
- Filtering of time series measurements collected from a whole room indirect calorimeter system to improve the accuracy of human energy metabolism parameters.
- Development of mathematical models of human energy metabolism.