Hi, I’m Dr. Shruti Kinkel-Ram, PhD
I am a clinical health psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. My research examines how people sense and interpret internal bodily cues—known as interoception—and how these processes shape sleep, eating behavior, emotion regulation, and cardiometabolic health across key developmental and reproductive transitions.
My work integrates ecological momentary assessment (EMA), multimodal measurement (self-report, behavioral tasks, actigraphy), and advanced quantitative methods to understand how physiological and emotional processes unfold in daily life. I am particularly interested in the perinatal period, a time of rapid change in the body’s internal signaling systems, when sleep disruption and shifts in appetite and energy needs are common—and meaningful for long-term health.
Ultimately, my goal is to identify modifiable biobehavioral pathways that can be targeted through mechanistically informed interventions to improve health and well-being for women and families.
Research Focus Areas:
Interoception & Body Awareness: How individuals detect, interpret, and respond to internal bodily signals
Sleep & Circadian Rhythms: Day-to-day fluctuations in sleep quality, timing, and restoration
Eating Behavior & Appetite Regulation: How physiological cues and emotional contexts shape food intake
Current Research Projects:
I am currently leading projects examining:
- How interoceptive awareness during pregnancy relates to sleep disruption and fatigue in late pregnancy.
- How dynamic, real-time changes in internal sensations relate to sleep and daily functioning using EMA.
- The feasibility and acceptability of mobile health assessment approaches in pregnant and postpartum populations.
These studies are laying the foundation for future clinical intervention development aimed at improving sleep and health behaviors during the perinatal transition.
About Me:
I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Miami University and completed my clinical internship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Across undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate training, I have worked to integrate behavioral science, developmental theory, and health psychology to better understand how internal experiences guide daily functioning and long-term wellness.
Outside of research, I love hiking, art, being a Pittsburgh foodie, and talking about my two cats.
Shruti Kinkel-Ram 