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
Life on Holidays: Fitness lost, fatness regained?, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2022
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
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
Iscole, A 12-Nation Study of Lifestyle and Weight Status in School Children, Louisiana State University, 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
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
|
2021 |
Open access
5
|
2021 |
Open access
14
12
25
|
2021 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
Open access
2
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
3
2
|
2021 |
Open access
1
10
|
2021 |
Open access
3
3
53
|
2021 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
Open access
9
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
18
17
13
|
2020 |
16
14
9
|
2020 |
Open access
6
6
4
|
2020 |
Open access
11
11
3
|
2020 |
Open access
4
4
168
|
2020 |
Open access
3
43
|
2020 |
Open access
1
1
16
|
2019 |
Open access
102
57
2
|
2019 |
2
1
1
|
2019 |
Open access
31
28
3
|
2019 |
Open access
20
18
16
|
2019 |
Open access
24
22
2
|
2019 |
11
11
3
|
2019 |
Open access
8
30
102
|
2019 |
Open access
12
9
34
|
2019 |
Open access
8
9
4
|
2019 |
Open access
10
9
51
|
2019 |
Open access
136
120
189
|
2019 |
Open access
21
19
4
|
2019 |
Open access
7
56
|
2019 |
Open access
29
29
19
|
2019 |
Open access
8
13
|
2019 |
Open access
34
32
3
|
2019 |
Open access
3
|
2019 |
Open access
5
4
40
|
2019 |
Open access
11
14
1
|
2019 |
Open access
9
9
5
|
2018 |
Open access
15
13
9
|
2018 |
Open access
9
6
1
|
2018 |
4
2
10
|
2018 |
Open access
28
28
3
|
2018 |
Open access
32
32
2
|
2018 |
Open access
31
29
2
|
2018 |
43
40
11
|
2018 |
Open access
174
156
23
|
2018 |
Open access
48
47
2
|
2018 |
Open access
21
15
23
|
2018 |
Open access
9
9
6
|
2018 |
Open access
6
6
5
|
2018 |
Open access
20
17
12
|
2018 |
Open access
61
59
53
|
2018 |
Open access
13
14
13
|
2018 |
6
6
|
2018 |
4
3
1
|
2018 |
Open access
97
89
78
|
2018 |
Open access
12
11
26
|
2018 |
39
35
11
|
2018 |
Open access
31
28
35
|
2018 |
Open access
19
20
2
|
2017 |
Open access
35
27
4
|
2017 |
Open access
70
66
14
|
2017 |
31
24
1
|
2017 |
Open access
24
21
7
|
2017 |
Open access
67
62
43
|
2017 |
Open access
20
20
79
|
2017 |
18
16
4
|
2017 |
Open access
52
50
4
|
2017 |
Open access
139
111
98
|
2017 |
Open access
75
65
159
|
2017 |
7
9
4
|
2017 |
Open access
40
55
16
|
2017 |
Open access
11
9
24
|
2017 |
Open access
21
17
5
|
2017 |
Open access
43
43
5
|
2017 |
Open access
20
18
1
|
2017 |
Open access
11
10
|
2017 |
Open access
10
6
3
|
2016 |
Open access
10
10
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
38
35
29
|
2016 |
33
24
88
|
2016 |
Open access
34
30
2
|
2016 |
Open access
66
53
4
|
2016 |
Open access
4
5
106
|
2016 |
Open access
150
145
84
|
2016 |
4
4
3
|
2016 |
Open access
12
13
50
|
2016 |
Open access
193
171
20
|
2016 |
Open access
67
64
151
|
2015 |
Open access
2
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
317
293
82
|
2015 |
Open access
19
18
2
|
2015 |
Open access
99
99
62
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
132
123
86
|
2015 |
Open access
72
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
163
82
19
|
2015 |
Open access
91
85
72
|
2015 |
Open access
23
23
|
2015 |
Open access
3
1
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
36
|
2015 |
50
53
4
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
Open access
25
24
2
|
2015 |
Open access
8
8
1
|
2015 |
Open access
124
122
9
|
2015 |
Open access
2
|
2015 |
Open access
9
11
11
|
2015 |
Open access
12
10
3
|
2015 |
Open access
13
|
2015 |
Open access
5
|
2014 |
Open access
|
2014 |
Open access
8
20
108
|
2014 |
35
30
|
2014 |
Open access
29
29
2
|
2014 |
Open access
7
6
|
2014 |
Open access
77
72
43
|
2014 |
Open access
423
382
58
|
2014 |
Open access
28
27
31
|
2013 |
15
13
1
|
2013 |
Open access
15
14
1
|
2013 |
Open access
180
177
86
|
2013 |
Open access
113
109
138
|
2013 |
Open access
209
213
139
|
2013 |
15
16
5
|
2013 |
Open access
37
30
7
|
2013 |
Open access
7
6
2
|
2013 |
5
6
1
|
2013 |
Open access
11
10
2
|
2013 |
Open access
90
86
18
|
2012 |
Open access
19
18
3
|
2012 |
Open access
6
6
|
2012 |
Open access
6
6
2
|
2012 |
Open access
70
60
2
|
2012 |
Open access
19
18
1
|
2011 |
1
|
2011 |
11
11
|
2011 |
Open access
438
407
|
2011 |
Open access
17
15
|
2011 |
Open access
44
41
|
2011 |
Open access
169
164
|
2011 |
Open access
32
35
|
2010 |
Open access
34
32
|
2010 |
48
48
|
2010 |
Open access
16
15
|
2010 |
Open access
94
88
|
2010 |
Open access
72
71
|
2010 |
43
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 |
18
15
|
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 |