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Biobehavioral Health

@pennstatebbh

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Department in @pennstatehhd, home to undergrad programs in biobehavioral health and systems neuroscience, as well as a robust grad program 💙🤍

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There’s more to drinking patterns than counting drinks. ⌚🔬

Michael Russell, associate professor of @pennstatebbh, joined us at the PRC to share how wearable alcohol sensors can help researchers better understand drinking patterns and risk.

Swipe for the highlights! ➡️ Thank you to Dr. Russell and everyone who joined us! 💙

#PennState #PreventionScience #prcseminar by @pennstatebbh

Struggling to settle in at night? Researchers are learning why quality sleep is good for young adults and share tips on how you can get better sleep 😴

Read more at the link in our bio. by @pennstatebbh

The department is saddened to share the news that Frank Ahern, teaching professor emeritus of biobehavioral health, passed away last month.

Ahern came to Penn State in 1983 as a senior research associate in the Department of Health Policy and Administration. In 1991, he helped co-found the Department of Biobehavioral Health, which initially offered a graduate program of study. He was a pivotal member of the curriculum development committee that expanded the department to include a bachelor of science degree in 1996. He accepted the role of undergraduate professor-in-charge of the bachelor of science in biobehavioral health in 1997, serving until his retirement from the University in 2016.

Read more about his legacy at the link in our bio. by @pennstatebbh

See where your interests could take you at Penn State.

At Spend A Summer Day, we gave future Penn Staters a closer look at our 10 majors in Health and Human Development. Now it’s your turn to explore.

Swipe through to find the major you’re curious about—or discover one you hadn’t considered.

Submit your complete Penn State application by Nov. 1 for Early Action consideration. by @pennstatebbh

A historic drought in northern Kenya changed nearly every part of daily life—from health and food security to where families lived and how they made a living.

As livestock herds dwindled, more families turned to fishing on nearby Lake Turkana—an activity once stigmatized as a fallback for people without livestock. Over time, fishing became an important source of food and income, while its stigma began to fade.

Here, a woman stands in a well dug by a northern Kenyan community, illustrating how far community members must dig to access water for their daily needs during the drought.

➡️ Read more at the link in our bio.

A new Penn State-led study tracked 515 adults and 384 children before, during, and after the drought, revealing that its effects continued long after the rains returned. Nearly every aspect of life measured was affected by the drought, including nutrition, physical health, food and water security, livelihoods, and mobility.

In this photo, Asher Rosinger, associate professor of biobehavioral health and anthropology, measures the subscapular skinfold thickness as a measure of nutritional status on a northern Kenyan adult man during the height of the drought in July 2022. by @pennstatebbh

Meet Emma 👋, a current senior majoring in Biobehavioral Health with a minor in Biology, who plans to pursue a career in medicine. During her years at Penn State, Emma has pursued internships and opportunities that allowed her to connect with her peers and build her knowledge and skills.

Emma participated in an internship with Girls on the Run, and the connections she made there led her to help expand the program into Luzerne County, where she grew up.

“I have had the opportunity to apply what I've learned in my BBH coursework and see it come to life in a real-world setting — whether that's developing equitable educational materials or working to address barriers within these communities,” Emma said. “While that process has been challenging at times, it has been incredibly rewarding.”

She also worked as a research assistant for two years on the Healthy Mom Zone study, where she developed skills in data analysis, project management, and leadership.

Outside of professional experiences, Emma is a proud member of Phi Epsilon Kappa (PEK), a pre-health fraternity at Penn State. The fraternity offers service initiatives and experiences, including support for THON, and she said her participation in these initiatives deepened her commitment to helping others and gave her a strong sense of community and supportive friends at Penn State.

“Through all of my experiences during undergrad, I have developed a deep appreciation for the importance of effective communication in healthcare,” said Emma.

“I’ve learned to approach situations with perspective and recognize that what we see on the outside rarely tells the full story. This has helped me build genuine empathy and meet people where they are, rather than where I expect them to be.”

@PEKatPSU
@girlsontherun_lehighandpocono
@pennstatethon by @pennstatebbh

BBH graduate students Yiping Li and Emily Wright were awarded 2026 Fox scholarships from Penn State’s J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School.

These scholarships can be used to further research or participate in professional development opportunities.

Congratulations Yiping and Emily🎉! by @pennstatebbh

Meet Kayla 👋, a fourth-year student majoring in biobehavioral health, who plans to go on to earn a master’s degree in public health. Last year, Kayla worked as a lead research assistant and project manager at the Impact Incubator at Penn State, an organization that works to build bridges between classroom learning and real-world experiences. Kayla worked closely with the director to coordinate project timelines and tasks and develop new ideas. Part of her role was assessing whether “third-space activities” — curated events and opportunities focused on the arts, culinary sciences, nature, and more — benefit the student experience.

“Working at the Impact Incubator helped me improve my adaptability, leadership, and teamwork. The most important skill I gained, though, was being able to communicate the same idea in different settings and contexts. This experience mattered so much to me because I learned crucial skills and life lessons while establishing relationships and making a difference.”

Kayla is also the treasurer and data manager for Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Penn State. She said that getting involved in student organizations has been a great opportunity to build new skills and be involved in something meaningful.

“It is also a great place to find like-minded people and have some fun! For anyone unsure about getting involved at Penn State, I would definitely say just do it. There are so many opportunities to build skills and meet people.” by @pennstatebbh

Happy 250th birthday to the United States of America 🇺🇸! by @pennstatebbh

🎉 Congrats to Hannah Schreier, associate professor of biobehavioral health and professor-in-charge of the department's graduate program, who was recently recognized in a University "We Are" shout-out!

“Hannah reflects the best of Penn State through her thoughtful and effective leadership. She manages with a great balance of efficiency and empathy, keeping our team organized and motivated. My experience has been incredibly positive thanks to the supportive and encouraging environment she creates.” by @pennstatebbh

Meet Haley 👋, a fourth-year majoring in Biobehavioral Health with a minor in Global Health. Haley works as an undergraduate research assistant in the Prevention Research to Optimize (PRO) Health Lab. She handles interactions with project participants and assists with project execution on studies that examine alcohol-use behaviors and alcohol-related blackouts and consequences in young adults.

The experience has helped her prepare for a career in healthcare by learning how to effectively communicate with staff and participants, understand the factors that influence health outcomes and decision-making, and share scientific findings with others. She first started working at the PRO Health Lab after taking BBH 101: Introduction to Biobehavioral Health with Professor Rob Turrisi, who leads the lab.

“Dr. Turrisi has supported and encouraged my academic pursuits, provided extensive advice and assistance, and pushed me to the best I can be both in and out of the lab. I cannot thank him enough for taking a chance on me and providing me with one of the greatest opportunities of my college career.”

Outside of her time in the lab, Haley is involved in the Global Medical Brigades and THON, as well as her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII). For THON 2026, Haley earned a spot as an independent dancer couple — “I am lucky enough to get to say I danced in THON, the best 46 hours of my life!” She has served as THON Family Relations chair and Director of Philanthropy for AOII. by @pennstatebbh

Meet Shannon 👋, who graduated last week (congrats!) with a major in biobehavioral health and a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation. As a student, Shannon served as a learning partner with the BBH Student Center and an undergraduate teaching intern (UGTI).

As a learning partner, she provided academic support and tutoring to students in core BBH courses, including BBH 310: Research Strategies for Studying Biobehavioral Health and BBH 440: Principles of Epidemiology. She also assisted in planning and coordinating events in the center to foster community and learning for BBH students. As a UGTI, she further assisted students in understanding course content and supported the instructor with grading and feedback on assignments.

Shannon also served as a philanthropy chair and professional mentor in a business fraternity and worked at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.

"These experiences have been meaningful to me because they have helped me grow not only as a student, but also as an individual and a professional. I've truly enjoyed supporting others and engaging with the BBH community on campus. I'm deeply grateful for the opportunities I've had to be involved at Penn State, and I know I will carry these experiences with me long after graduation." by @pennstatebbh