Jane Lee, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Framingham, Massachusetts, United States

Research expertise centers on cardiovascular disease epidemiology by incorporating cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches to explore the association between cardiovascular diseases and related risk factors with lifestyle, environment, and inheritance. My projects as a research fellow encompassed identifying environmental and physiological determinants of risk factors related to the development of a broad array of traditional cardiovascular risk factors over the life course. The primary purpose of my research is to decipher the pathogenicity of ectopic adipose tissue that is associated with cardiovascular disease. The common denominator of my research is multidetector computed tomography-acquired adipose tissue depots, encompassing pericardial fat, intrathoracic fat, thoracic periaortic fat, abdominal subcutaneous fat, abdominal visceral fat, intrahepatic fat, renal sinus fat, intramuscular fat, and upper body subcutaneous fat. My projects are primarily focused on exploring whether ectopic fat quantity as an active pathogenic fat depot is associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis (i.e., coronary artery calcium and iliac artery calcium), cardiovascular disease risk factors, and cardiovascular disease events. The novel component is added by investigating the quality of adipose tissue, as assessed by the attenuation of computed tomography-acquired fat measures, which provides indirect assessment of fat quality. By using the unique measures of fat quality, we are underscoring the potential risk of fat quality on cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic regulatory biomarkers above and beyond the contribution of fat quantity. Our novel investigation also includes “built environment” neighborhood characteristics (i.e., walkability, greenspace, recreation land, and food stores) as assessed by a geographic information system to explore the cross-sectional and longitudinal association with a broad range of adiposity and glycemic measures.

The University Of Texas At Austin

▪ Fundamentals of Nutrition (NTR 306) for Profs. Lydia Steinman, Jeanne Freeland-Graves, Monica R Meadows, Deanne Staskel ▪ Culture and Nutrition (NTR 316) for Prof. Deanne Staskel▪ Field Experience in International Nutrition in Singapore & Vietnam, South Africa, and ItalyI spent three summers for 6 weeks each in Singapore & Vietnam (2010), South Africa (2012) and Italy (2013) as a secondary group leader for a group composed of 20 students with diverse cultural and ethnic background.▫ Class objectives:1) To increase awareness and knowledge of public health (infectious diseases) and food environment.2) To interact with health care professionals at schools, hospitals, and clinic facilities.

Body Composition Laboratory, Department Of Nutritional Sciences

Participated in academic endeavors, including project design, grant writing, data collection, data analysis, Institutional Review Board submissions, recruiting research subjects, and operation of laboratory instruments, such as the BOD POD® and 3-dimensional stereovision body imaging system. Human-based research focused on assessing the accuracy of devices used to measure body composition, including whole/regional body fat, body volume, lean mass, bone mineral density and body density. Validation of body imaging systems and analytical techniques used to assess body composition changes. Assessing the utility of scientific instruments, including magnetic resonance imaging systems, a stereovision body imaging system, air-displacement plethysmography, and bioelectrical impedance electronic scales. Examining the relationships between body composition, nutrition knowledge, levels of exercise, and dietary habits. ▪ As a project manager, I was involved in following projects:- Validation and Evaluation of a Portable Body Scanner for Determination of Central Obesity (supported by NIH R21 grant)- Validation and Evaluation of a Three-Dimensional Body Imager for Assessment of Obesity

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Nutritional Sciences, Gpa: 3.9/4.0

▪ Dissertation: Assessment of Body Composition: Total, Central and Regional Adiposity via Stereovision Body Imaging ▪ Dissertation.

Master’S Degree, Statistics And Computational Sciences, Gpa: 3.83/4.0

▪ Master’s Thesis: The Impact of Diabetes on Central Obesity: A Meta-Analysis ▪ Thesis Advisor: S. Natasha Beretvas, Ph.D.

Bachelor’S Degree, Food And Nutrition, Counseling, And Education, Gpa: 4.45/4.5

Activities and Societies: Volunteered as a medical assistant for non-profit medical organization assisting low-income families..