Carol Maher is a Research Professor in the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at UniSA.
She's passionate about understanding how children's and adults' daily activity patterns (e.g. physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviours, like watching television) impact their health. In particular, her work explores how technologies such as wearables, online social networking, smartphone apps, gamification and artificial intelligence can support people to make better lifestyle choices, in an engaging, convenient way. She's uses system-level approaches to improve people's activity patterns and health, and which can be delivered at scale, to positively impact Australians in the... Read more
About me
Carol Maher is a Research Professor in the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at UniSA.
She's passionate about understanding how children's and adults' daily activity patterns (e.g. physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviours, like watching television) impact their health. In particular, her work explores how technologies such as wearables, online social networking, smartphone apps, gamification and artificial intelligence can support people to make better lifestyle choices, in an engaging, convenient way. She's uses system-level approaches to improve people's activity patterns and health, and which can be delivered at scale, to positively impact Australians in the general community and in healthcare settings.
Her work is currently supported by an MRFF Investigator Grant (2021-2025), MRFF Project Grant (2021-2024), NHMRC Partnership Grant (2021-2025) and NHMRC Project Grant (2019-2022). In addition, she's a CI on 3 other NHMRC funded projects. In total, she's received $18M in research funding and was named as a Clarivate Highly Cited Research in 2020 and 2021 (a distinction awarded to 1 in 1000 researchers). She is a Section Editor for BMC Public Health, and former Chair of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity's e- & mHealth Special Interest Group.
Carol is interested in supervising PhD and Masters by research students - send her an email to start a conversation.
About me
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia
Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours University of South Australia
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Improving physical activity and screen time in Outside School Hours Carethrough evidence-based guidelines: an effectiveness-implementation hybridtrial, NHMRC - Partnership Project, 01/03/2022 - 28/02/2026
Industry: Improving physical activity and screen time in Outside School Hours Carethrough evidence-based guidelines: an effectiveness-implementation hybridtrial, SA Dept of Education & Children's Services, 01/03/2022 - 28/02/2026
Annual rhythms in weight gain, activity and diet compositions in parents – identifying opportunities to prevent cycles of weight gain, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2022
Life on Holidays: Fitness lost, fatness regained?, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2022
Using online social technologies to improve health behaviour, NHMRC - Career Development Fellowship, 01/04/2017 - 31/03/2022
Active Team - Examining an online social networking intervention to increase physical activity in controlled (RCT) and ecological (ET) settings, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/08/2015 - 31/12/2019
"A-Team": A team-based Facebook application to help adults get more physical activity, NHF-Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 01/07/2014 - 31/03/2017
Development of a Facebook and iPhone application to promote physical activity in adults, Catalyst Research Grants (DSD), 01/07/2013 - 31/07/2015
Retirement activity planning: a randomised controlled trial, ARC - Discovery Projects, 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2014
"Step up" - a pedometer based physical activity self-management program for adolescents with physical disability, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation of SA, 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2014
Iscole, A 12-Nation Study of Lifestyle and Weight Status in School Children, Louisiana State University, 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2014
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
Open access
|
2022 |
Open access
|
2021 |
Open access
5
|
2021 |
Open access
15
13
25
|
2021 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
Open access
3
2
8
|
2021 |
Open access
6
3
41
|
2021 |
Open access
|
2021 |
1
|
2021 |
Open access
|
2021 |
Open access
1
1
1
|
2021 |
Open access
2
12
|
2021 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
8
|
2021 |
Open access
|
2021 |
Open access
3
4
2
|
2021 |
Open access
1
1
10
|
2021 |
Open access
3
3
53
|
2021 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
Open access
10
1
|
2020 |
Open access
12
12
7
|
2020 |
Open access
8
6
1
|
2020 |
Open access
1
4
|
2020 |
Open access
4
2
1
|
2020 |
Open access
19
18
13
|
2020 |
18
16
9
|
2020 |
Open access
8
8
4
|
2020 |
Open access
11
12
3
|
2020 |
Open access
5
5
168
|
2020 |
Open access
3
43
|
2020 |
Open access
1
1
16
|
2020 |
Open access
12
15
1
|
2019 |
Open access
103
59
2
|
2019 |
2
1
1
|
2019 |
Open access
32
29
3
|
2019 |
Open access
21
21
16
|
2019 |
Open access
25
25
2
|
2019 |
11
11
3
|
2019 |
Open access
8
32
102
|
2019 |
Open access
12
10
34
|
2019 |
Open access
8
9
4
|
2019 |
Open access
11
10
51
|
2019 |
Open access
138
130
189
|
2019 |
Open access
23
22
4
|
2019 |
Open access
7
56
|
2019 |
Open access
31
31
19
|
2019 |
Open access
8
13
|
2019 |
Open access
35
32
3
|
2019 |
Open access
3
|
2019 |
Open access
5
4
40
|
2019 |
Open access
9
10
5
|
2018 |
Open access
15
15
9
|
2018 |
Open access
9
6
1
|
2018 |
4
2
10
|
2018 |
Open access
28
29
3
|
2018 |
Open access
33
32
2
|
2018 |
Open access
31
29
2
|
2018 |
44
40
11
|
2018 |
Open access
178
166
23
|
2018 |
Open access
49
50
2
|
2018 |
Open access
21
16
23
|
2018 |
Open access
9
9
6
|
2018 |
Open access
6
6
5
|
2018 |
Open access
21
18
12
|
2018 |
Open access
62
61
53
|
2018 |
Open access
13
15
13
|
2018 |
7
6
|
2018 |
5
4
1
|
2018 |
Open access
108
97
78
|
2018 |
Open access
13
11
26
|
2018 |
40
36
11
|
2018 |
Open access
32
32
35
|
2018 |
Open access
19
20
2
|
2017 |
Open access
35
27
4
|
2017 |
Open access
70
67
14
|
2017 |
32
25
1
|
2017 |
Open access
26
23
7
|
2017 |
Open access
68
64
43
|
2017 |
Open access
23
22
79
|
2017 |
19
17
4
|
2017 |
Open access
53
50
4
|
2017 |
Open access
145
115
98
|
2017 |
Open access
77
68
159
|
2017 |
8
9
4
|
2017 |
Open access
41
56
16
|
2017 |
Open access
11
9
24
|
2017 |
Open access
22
17
5
|
2017 |
Open access
43
44
5
|
2017 |
Open access
20
18
1
|
2017 |
Open access
11
10
|
2017 |
Open access
11
8
3
|
2016 |
Open access
11
11
447
|
2016 |
Open access
21
18
43
|
2016 |
Open access
13
14
2
|
2016 |
Open access
12
11
7
|
2016 |
11
11
|
2016 |
39
38
4
|
2016 |
Open access
39
38
29
|
2016 |
34
24
88
|
2016 |
Open access
36
33
2
|
2016 |
Open access
68
55
4
|
2016 |
Open access
4
5
106
|
2016 |
Open access
154
150
84
|
2016 |
4
4
3
|
2016 |
Open access
12
13
50
|
2016 |
Open access
200
179
20
|
2016 |
Open access
68
66
151
|
2015 |
Open access
2
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
319
295
82
|
2015 |
Open access
19
18
2
|
2015 |
Open access
100
100
62
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
133
125
86
|
2015 |
Open access
72
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
165
85
19
|
2015 |
Open access
93
85
72
|
2015 |
Open access
23
23
|
2015 |
Open access
3
1
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
36
|
2015 |
52
53
4
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
25
24
2
|
2015 |
Open access
8
8
1
|
2015 |
Open access
125
123
9
|
2015 |
Open access
2
|
2015 |
Open access
10
11
11
|
2015 |
Open access
12
11
3
|
2015 |
Open access
13
|
2015 |
Open access
5
|
2014 |
Open access
|
2014 |
Open access
8
20
108
|
2014 |
36
32
|
2014 |
Open access
30
29
2
|
2014 |
Open access
7
6
|
2014 |
Open access
79
73
43
|
2014 |
Open access
426
389
58
|
2014 |
Open access
29
28
31
|
2013 |
15
13
1
|
2013 |
Open access
15
14
1
|
2013 |
Open access
184
179
86
|
2013 |
Open access
113
109
138
|
2013 |
Open access
210
215
139
|
2013 |
15
16
5
|
2013 |
Open access
37
31
7
|
2013 |
Open access
7
6
2
|
2013 |
5
6
1
|
2013 |
Open access
11
10
2
|
2013 |
Open access
90
87
18
|
2012 |
Open access
19
18
3
|
2012 |
Open access
6
7
|
2012 |
Open access
6
6
2
|
2012 |
Open access
70
62
2
|
2012 |
Open access
19
18
1
|
2011 |
1
|
2011 |
11
11
|
2011 |
Open access
439
408
|
2011 |
Open access
17
15
|
2011 |
Open access
44
41
|
2011 |
Open access
170
166
|
2011 |
Open access
33
35
|
2010 |
Open access
35
33
|
2010 |
49
48
|
2010 |
Open access
16
15
|
2010 |
Open access
94
89
|
2010 |
Open access
72
71
|
2010 |
44
30
|
2010 |
Olds, TS, Tomkinson, GR, Ferrar, KE & Maher, CA 2010, 'Trends in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Australia between 1985 and 2008', International Journal of Obesity. |
2009 |
19
16
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
27
|
2008 |
Open access
134
124
|
Research
External engagement & recognition
Organisation | Country |
---|---|
African Population and Health Research Center | KENYA |
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | AUSTRALIA |
Center of Studies of the Physical Fitness Research Laboratory | BRAZIL |
Central Queensland University | AUSTRALIA |
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention | UNITED STATES |
Centro de Estudos do Laboratorio de Aptidao Fisica de Sao Caetano do Sul (CELAFISCS) | BRAZIL |
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario | CANADA |
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute | CANADA |
Clermont-Ferrand II University | FRANCE |
Coventry University | UNITED KINGDOM |
CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
Department for Education and Child Development | AUSTRALIA |
Dietary Survey Unit Nutritional Epidemiology | FRANCE |
Dublin City University | IRELAND |
Eastern Ontario Research Institute | CANADA |
Edge Hill University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Emory University | UNITED STATES |
Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | NETHERLANDS |
Federal University of Santa Catarina | BRAZIL |
Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
Ghent University | BELGIUM |
Government of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital | UNITED STATES |
Helsingin Yliopisto | FINLAND |
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital | CANADA |
Hunter New England Population Health | AUSTRALIA |
Kenyatta University | KENYA |
La Universidad de los Andes | COLOMBIA |
Loughborough University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Louisiana State University | UNITED STATES |
Macquarie University | AUSTRALIA |
McMaster University | CANADA |
Menzies School of Health Research | AUSTRALIA |
Metro South Health | AUSTRALIA |
Millersville University | UNITED STATES |
Mount Royal University | CANADA |
Municipal Health Service The Hague | NETHERLANDS |
National University of Singapore | SINGAPORE |
NOSHA SA Branch | AUSTRALIA |
Novita Children's Services | AUSTRALIA |
Ohio State University | UNITED STATES |
Oregon State University | UNITED STATES |
Palacky University | CZECH REPUBLIC |
ParticipACTION | CANADA |
Pennington Biomedical Center | UNITED STATES |
Pennington Biomedical Research Center | UNITED STATES |
Pennington Biomedical Research Center1 | UNITED STATES |
Queen Elizabeth Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
Queen's University | CANADA |
Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
Ramon Llull University | SPAIN |
Reactivate Group | AUSTRALIA |
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience | NETHERLANDS |
SA Health | AUSTRALIA |
Sonder | AUSTRALIA |
South Australia Department for Education and Child Development | AUSTRALIA |
Sport and Recreation New Zealand | NEW ZEALAND |
St Johns Research Institute | INDIA |
St John's Research Institute | INDIA |
St Pius X School | AUSTRALIA |
Staffordshire University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Swansea University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) | SWITZERLAND |
Syracuse University | UNITED STATES |
Texas A and M University | UNITED STATES |
The National Research Center for Work Environment | DENMARK |
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte | UNITED STATES |
The University of Wollongong | AUSTRALIA |
Tianjin Women's and Children's Health Center | CHINA |
Ulster University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Universidad de los Andes | COLOMBIA |
Universita Degli Studi Di Verona | ITALY |
Université Laval | CANADA |
University College London | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
University of Alberta | CANADA |
University of Antwerp | BELGIUM |
University of Arizona | UNITED STATES |
University of Auckland | NEW ZEALAND |
University of Bath | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Bedfordshire | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Birmingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of California | UNITED STATES |
University of Cape Town | SOUTH AFRICA |
University of Chicago | UNITED STATES |
University of Copenhagen | DENMARK |
University of Girona | SPAIN |
University of Gothenburg | SWEDEN |
University of Helsinki | FINLAND |
University of Iowa | UNITED STATES |
University of Leicester | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Lethbridge | CANADA |
University of Limerick | IRELAND |
University of Los Andes | COLOMBIA |
University of Maastricht | NETHERLANDS |
University of Malaya | MALAYSIA |
University of Massachusetts Amherst | UNITED STATES |
University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
University of Ottawa | CANADA |
University of Ottawa Heart Institute | CANADA |
University of Oxford | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Porto | PORTUGAL |
University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University Of South Carolina - Columbia | UNITED STATES |
University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
University of Texas at San Antonio | UNITED STATES |
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | UNITED STATES |
University of the Andes Colombia | COLOMBIA |
University of Toronto | CANADA |
University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Wollongong | AUSTRALIA |
University Paris Nord (Paris 13) | FRANCE |
Univesity of Ghent | BELGIUM |
Victoria University | AUSTRALIA |
Vrije University | NETHERLANDS |
VU University Medical Center | NETHERLANDS |
Western Sydney University | AUSTRALIA |
Wilhelmina Children's Hospital | NETHERLANDS |
Wolfson Research Institute UK | UNITED KINGDOM |
External engagement & recognition
Engagement/recognition | Year |
---|---|
Award for Most Cited Observational PaperInternational Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2020 |
Fulbright ScholarshipAustralian and American Fulbright Commission |
2020 |
Grant Review PanellistNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2020 |
Invited Consultant for Health and Medical Industries Sector PlanDepartment for Trade and Investment |
2020 |
MRFF Investigator Grant - Emerging Leader Level 2Medical Research Future Fund |
2020 |
National Finalist, iTNews Health Innovation AwardiTNews |
2020 |
National Finalist, Zurich Global Innovation ChallengeZurich Group |
2020 |
Section EditorBMC Public Health |
2020 |
Team Commendation Award for Research ExcellenceInternational Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2020 |
Co-convenor of Healthy Development AdelaideHealthy Development Adelaide (HDA), University of Adelaide |
2019 |
Evaluation Committee MemberSwiss National Science Foundation |
2019 |
Grant Review PanellistNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2019 |
High-Impact Award for Highly Cited 2016 PaperJournal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour |
2019 |
Invited Consultant for Health and Medical Industries Sector PlanDepartment for Trade and Investment |
2019 |
Invited PresentationIBM Think Summit, Sydney |
2019 |
Invited Visiting ScholarGhent University |
2019 |
Section EditorBMC Public Health |
2019 |
Award for Most Cited Methodological Paper 2015International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2018 |
Co-Convenor of the e- and mHealth Special Interest GroupInternational Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2018 |
Grant Review PanellistNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2018 |
Invited SpeakerAustralasian Diabetes Congress, Perth |
2018 |
Keynote speakerReal Big Things Seminar Series, Hardhat Consultancy, Melbourne |
2018 |
Panellist, Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Project GrantsNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2018 |
Section EditorBMC Public Health |
2018 |
Career Development Fellowship: Using online social networks to improve healthNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2017 |
Co-Convenor of the e- and mHealth Special Interest GroupInternational Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2017 |
Grant Review PanellistNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2017 |
Section EditorBMC Public Health |
2017 |
Women's Excellence in Research AwardHealthy Development Adelaide (HDA) |
2017 |
Career Development FellowshipNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2016 |
Chair, e- and mHealth Special Interest GroupInternational Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2016 |
Invited committee memberSA Early Career Research Expert Network |
2016 |
Invited distinguished discussantInternational Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2016 |
Invited member of Scientific Advisory BoardNational Bone Foundation |
2016 |
Postdoctoral Research FellowshipNational Heart Foundation |
2016 |
Section EditorBMC Public Health |
2016 |
Associate EditorBMC Public Health |
2015 |
Best New InvestigatorSports Medicine Australia National Conference |
2015 |
Co-chair, e- and mHealth Special Interest GroupInternational Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2015 |
Invited member of Scientific Advisory BoardNational Bone Foundation |
2015 |
Postdoctoral Research FellowshipNational Heart Foundation |
2015 |
Associate EditorBMC Public Health |
2014 |
Australian Postdoctoral AwardAustralian Research Council (ARC) |
2014 |
Award for most cited paediatric paper of 2010 (awarded in 2014)International Journal of Obesity |
2014 |
Co-chair, e- and mHealth Special Interest GroupInternational Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity |
2014 |
Governors Leadership FoundationLeaders Institute of South Australia |
2014 |
Invited distinguished discussantInternational Society of Physical Activity and Health - international congress |
2014 |
Invited member of Scientific Advisory BoardNational Bone Foundation |
2014 |
Postdoctoral Research FellowshipNational Heart Foundation |
2014 |
Australian Postdoctoral AwardAustralian Research Council (ARC) |
2013 |
Finalist, Tall Poppy AwardAustralian Institute of Policy and Science |
2013 |
Invited member of Scientific Advisory BoardNational Bone Foundation |
2013 |
Outstanding Poster PrizeThe Obesity Society |
2013 |
South Australian Tall Poppy AwardAustralian Institute of Policy and Science |
2013 |
Australian Postdoctoral AwardAustralian Research Council (ARC) |
2012 |
Runner-up - SA Science Excellence Awards - Early Career STEM ProfessionalDepartment of State Development, Government of South Australia |
2012 |
Australian Postdoctoral AwardAustralian Research Council (ARC) |
2011 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
Annual rhythms in daily activity in Australian adults | Current |
Annual rhythms of diet in Australian adults | Current |
Empirical allocation of time | Current |
Evaluation of the South Australian universal sports voucher program | Current |
Interventions to address children's summer holiday inequities and health losses | Current |
Use of wearable activity monitors in South Australian clinical settings: protocol development and evaluation | Current |
A randomised controlled trial of a school-based sleep education program in pre-adolescents | Completed |
Changes in time use, associated enjoyment and social interaction across the retirement transition: a longitudinal study | Completed |
Cluster analysis and usability testing for “Active Team”: an online social networking intervention to increase physical activity | Completed |
Real-world implementation of a physical activity smartphone app: applying marketing principles to promote a health intervention | Completed |
Social networking and gamification for health behaviour change | Completed |
Testing the activitystat hypothesis: a randomised controlled trial | Completed |
The development of physical activity and screen time guidelines for Australian outside school hours care | Completed |
The Mums Step It Up Program: a social networking team based physical activity intervention for post-partum women | Completed |
Time use patterns of Australian and New Zealand young people: the potential of cluster analysis | Completed |
Time use: a case for compositional data analysis | Completed |