Gail A. Kerver, Ph.D., HSPP
Assistant Professor
Affiliate Faculty, IU Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing
Research
Dr. Kerver will be reviewing applications for a new student for Fall 2026.
Broadly, my program of research aims to elucidate biopsychosocial factors associated with the development and maintenance of maladaptive eating behavior among a variety of clinical populations, including individuals with eating disorder psychopathology, individuals with obesity, and patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Much of my research utilizes ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to study the naturalistic relationships between maladaptive eating behaviors and various other biobehavioral, neurocognitive, and affective constructs. My recent work has also incorporated passive digital sensor technology (e.g., continuous glucose monitoring) to better understand the mechanisms of disordered eating among individuals who have undergone MBS. My research has been supported by the National Institute for General Medical Sciences (P20GM134969-01A1, sub-project ID 8457).
The ultimate goal of my research is to develop novel treatment approaches for maladaptive eating behavior that can be tailored to the needs of the individual patient in real time, such as with digital Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) programs. Importantly, my history of clinical work as a licensed psychologist has allowed me to gain insights from patients on the experience of maladaptive eating behavior in the context of weight management and MBS, which helps to inform my program of research.
Research areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Health
Education
- 2010 BS, Psychology, Texas A&M University
- 2012 MS, Clinical Psychology, Missouri State University
- 2018 Clinical Psychology Internship, Hennepin Healthcare
- 2018 PhD, Clinical Psychology, Kent State University
- 2020 Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Institute of Mental Health T32 Midwest Regional Training Program in Eating Disorder Research (T32MH082761), Sanford Research