Ruopeng An

Ruopeng An


Associate Professor at the Brown School

Contact Information
Media Contact

Ruopeng An conducts research to assess environmental influences and population-level interventions on weight-related behaviors and outcomes throughout the life course. In particular, his work assesses socioeconomic determinants and policies that affect individuals’ dietary behavior, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and adiposity in children, adults of all ages, and people with disabilities. His research aims to develop a well-rounded knowledge base and policy recommendations that can inform decision-making and the allocation of resources to combat obesity.

An’s research has been funded by federal agencies and private foundations. He serves as a research grant reviewer for NIH, HHS, NSF, and French National Research Agency. An has wide teaching and methodological interests, including applied artificial intelligence (machine and deep learning), quantitative policy analysis (causal inference, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis, and microsimulation), applied econometrics and regression analysis, systematic review and meta-analysis, and data storytelling.

An’s numerous publications (over 180) include articles in journals such as American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Obesity Reviews, Social Science & Medicine, and Pediatric Obesity. His research has been widely featured in media, such as TIME, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Reuters, USA Today, Bloomberg, Forbes, Harvard Health, Atlantic, Guardian, CBS, FOX, ABC, NPR, NBC, and CNN. In 2015, he received the Judy K. Black Early Career Research Award from American Academy of Health Behavior. In 2018, he was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology.

In the media

Stories

An named AAHB fellow

An named AAHB fellow

Ruopeng An, an associate professor at the Brown School, has been accepted as a fellow in the American Academy of Health Behavior, the professional home for health behavior scholars and researchers.
Brown School launches artificial intelligence certificate

Brown School launches artificial intelligence certificate

The Brown School has started a post-master’s certificate program in artificial intelligence applications for health data. The certificate program is designed for professionals interested in modern AI technologies and seeking to apply AI tools on health and other “big data” in their work or research.
An receives grant to study egg consumption

An receives grant to study egg consumption

Ruopeng An, assistant professor at the Brown School, has received a $90,000 three-year grant from the Egg Nutrition Center for a project titled “Influence of Whole Egg Consumption on Diet Quality and Cognitive Function among U.S. Older Adults.”
Some states may have missed optimal timing to enact virus mitigation efforts

Some states may have missed optimal timing to enact virus mitigation efforts

A recent study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis provides the first explicit analysis of the timing, determinants and impacts of mitigation interventions for all states and Washington, D.C., during the first five weeks of the pandemic. States initially with high prevalence rates of COVID-19 enacted mitigation interventions, like social distancing, in a delayed fashion, which explained why the case/death counts of COVID-19 in the U.S. remained high for a long period of time.