The PAWH Lab is affiliated with the University of Iowa and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as a research lab in the Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology. Kara Whitaker, PhD, MPH established the lab when starting as faculty in January 2018. Our team includes undergraduate research assistants, graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and a lab manager and study coordinator.  Graduate students can enter the lab through the Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology through the MS with thesis or PhD programs. We also host undergraduates from other departments and institutions through the BEST Research Summer Training Program.

Our focus is research, mentorship, and community engagement. We work collaboratively and conduct our research transparently with high methodological quality and rigor. We take a team approach that emphasizes communication, growth, and professional development. We hope our lab offers an experience where students are comfortable to speak up, ask questions, engage in open dialogue, and listen and learn to others from diverse perspectives.

Our research is funded by both external and internal funding sources. The largest source of external funding is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which has funded our research on lifestyle behaviors and maternal-child health since 2020. We also have collaborative projects that have been funded by the National Institutes of Aging (NIA) and NHBLI. Students have successfully competed for fellowships through the American Heart Association (AHA).