Dipti Dev

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Dipti Dev

Betti and Richard Robinson Associate Professor and Childhood Health Behaviors Extension Specialist

Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Contact

Address
CPEH 368
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
Phone
402-472-7295 On-campus 2-7295
Email
ddev2@unl.edu
Website
Website

"My research focuses on improving adult caregivers (parents and child care providers) feeding practices for preschool children (2-5 years) in their care. The goal of this research is to help children develop long-term healthful eating behaviors and prevent childhood obesity. I am also interested in developing low cost and easily implemented strategies using behavioral economics principles to encourage healthier meal choices in preschoolers. My Extension focus at UNL would be to develop and evaluate programs for educating families and child care providers regarding responsive feeding and healthful feeding strategies. I would like to use technology for developing and evaluating programming. I am also passionate about childhood obesity prevention policy research, including assessing, strengthening and providing support for Head Start, USDA's Child and Adult Care food Program nutrition regulations and child care quality rating systems. By focusing on Head Start and CACFP programs I hope to serve low income and minority children and their families at a higher obesity risk.

Dr. Dev currently supervises student research in the following program areas:

Learn more about
Dipti Dev's Research and Extension Work Group

Education

2013 Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.S., Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Mumbai
B.S., Dietetics, Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) University

Honors and Recognition

  • 2022 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Early Professional Achievement International Award for notable and novel contributions through leadership in the field of nutrition education and behavior during the early stages of her career
  • 2021 Early Childhood Child Care Training National Award category titled “Nebraska Go NAP SACC: An Impactful and Scalable Statewide Training Program for Improving the Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Childcare Settings”
  • 2019 Early Childhood Child Care Training National Award for leading the development and implementation of "An Ecological Approach to (EAT) Family Style Dining: A Child Care Training Program to Improve Children's Healthier Food Choices"
  • 2018 College-wide Emerging Scholar Research and Creative Award, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
  • 2018 Platinum ProjectAwardproject for leading the development of the Sensi-Plate in partnership with Raikes School.The Sensi-plate was selected for the platinum award out of 29 teams by the Raikes School of Computer Science Design Studio.
  • 2018, National Family Life and Human Development State Extension Specialist Early Achievement Award in 2017 by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • 2017, Dinsdale Family Faculty Award for outstanding teaching, research and outreach in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2017, Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research, Agricultural Research Division(ARD), University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2017, Betti and Richard Robinson Professorship in Early Childhood Extension, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • 2016, Innovation to Team Programming Award, NE Extension2014, Fellow, Scholarly Enhancement Program, College of Education and Human Sciences University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • 2014, David H. Baker Nutrition Scholar Award, Division of Nutritional Sciences Symposium University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
  • 2013, Toshiro Nishida Research Award Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
  • 2013, Poster Presentation Award 1st Place, Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program symposium

Experience

  • 2009-2013, Graduate Research Assistant: STRONG Kids Program (Trans-disciplinary research program from cell to society to prevent Childhood Obesity), University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
  • 2012-2013, Research Scientist (Intern): International Regulatory Affairs, Abbott Nutrition
  • 2010-2011, Research Apprentice Program, PepsiCo and University of IL at Urbana Champaign
  • 2010-2011, Graduate Teaching Assistant: CPSC 440. Applied Statistical Methods, University of IL at Urbana Champaign

Memberships

  • Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
  • American Society for Nutrition
  • Society for Research in Child Development
  • International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity