Dr. Valerie Carson
Affiliate Investigator
Email

Position and Rank

  • Assistant Professor, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta
  • Affiliate Investigator, CHEO – Research Institute

Degrees and Certifications

  • Postdoctorate, HALO, CHEO – Research Institute (Physical Activity Epidemiology)
  • Postdoctorate, Deakin University (Behavioural Epidemiology)
  • PhD, Queen’s University (Physical Activity Epidemiology)
  • MA, University of Alberta (Behavioural Medicine)
  • BEd, University of Winnipeg (Kinesiology and Geography)
  • BA, University of Winnipeg (Kinesiology and Geography)

Recent Awards and Distinctions

  • CIHR – Institute Community Support Travel Award – Institute of Population and Public Health (2013)
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada – Research Fellowship (2012)
  • Australian Government Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations –  Endeavour Research Fellowship (2012)
  • CIHR – National Research Poster Competition – Travel Award (2012)
  • CIHR – Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Award (2010-2013)
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2009-2010)
  • Alberta Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Graduate Student Scholarship (2009)
  • CIHR – Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Award (2008-2009)
  • University of Alberta – Walter H Johns Graduate Fellowship (2008-2009)
  • University of Alberta – Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (2008-2009; Declined)
  • University of Alberta Master’s Scholarship (2007-2008)

Research Interests

  • Relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, obesity, and other health outcomes
  • Determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour
  • Objective measurement of physical activity and sedentary behaviour
  • Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the early years

Administrative and Professional Activities/Interests

  • Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute Member
  • Sedentary Behaviour Research Network Member
  • Canadian Obesity Network Member

Mini Biography

Dr. Carson was a postdoctoral fellowship in the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research group (HALO) at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute from November, 2012 to mid-March, 2013 under the supervision of Dr. Mark Tremblay. Prior to this position she completed a short postdoctoral fellowship at Deakin University in Australia under the supervision of Dr. Jo Salmon. Her graduate training was from Queen’s University where she completed her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Ian Janssen and University of Alberta where she completed her Master’s degree under the supervision of Dr. John Spence. In mid-March, 2013 Dr. Carson officially started her Assistant Professor position at the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. She remains an Affiliate Investigator with HALO. Dr. Carson’s research thus far has primarily focused on the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, obesity, and related health outcomes as well as the determinants and measurement of physical activity and sedentary behaviour among young people.Her current focus is on children of the early years (<5 years old). She is currently the Primary Investigator of three funded studies in this research area.

Other tidbits

Outside of work Val enjoys engaging in several outdoor physical activities with her husband including walking their dogs Copper and Maggie, golfing, kayaking, hiking, cycling, and cross-country skiing.