Staff: Chloe O. Huelsnitz, PhD, MPH

Chloe O. Huelsnitz

Chloe O. Huelsnitz, PhD, MPH

(she/her/hers)
Current Fellow

Cancer Prevention Fellow
Organization: Contact:
chloe.huelsnitz@nih.gov
240-276-7222

Chloe Huelsnitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a Cancer Prevention Fellow (CPF) in the Office of the Associate Director of the Behavioral Research Program.

Dr. Huelsnitz's research focuses on understanding how close relationships (e.g., friends, family, romantic partners) affect individuals' engagement in cancer prevention behaviors (e.g., diet, physical activity, vaccination, sleep). Dr. Huelsnitz is especially interested in understanding the ways in which relationship partners intentionally and unintentionally affect each other's health beliefs and behaviors in ways that can be helpful or harmful to the relationship. Her previous work has focused on building theoretical and empirical understanding of the different paths of influence between partners; for instance, partners can serve as behavioral models, they can cultivate a supportive interpersonal environment within which a partner can manage their health behavior, and they can use strategies designed to influence their partner's behavior.

Additionally, Dr. Huelsnitz is interested in understanding how individuals' health beliefs and risk perceptions affect their health-related decision-making across different behavioral domains, such as dietary behavior, exercise, vaccination, receipt of genetic testing results, sun safety behaviors, and alcohol use. Dr. Huelsnitz is also interested in using mixed methods for social/behavioral science research.

Dr. Huelsnitz received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Minnesota (minor: Interpersonal Relationships) and her M.P.H. in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Minnesota (minor: Epidemiology).



Current and/or past BRP mentors include William Klein.


Research Areas

  • Social Relationships
  • Risk Perception and Risk Communication
  • Dyadic Processes
  • Health Beliefs and Health Behavior

Selected Publications and Presentations

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