01About
I use wearables and behavioral signals to build tools that make health more accessible, personal, and human.
I'm a scientist, founder, and builder working at the intersection of wearable sensing, machine learning, and community-engaged health. My work spans children's mental health screening and intervention, digital epidemiology, and K-12 AI literacy. I want everyday people to feel more literate in their bodies and the technologies shaping their lives, and better equipped to act on what they know. I co-founded and lead Biobe, where I'm currently running a Vermont EPSCoR SBIR Phase 0 study on Sprout Sense, a child-friendly home kit for episodic monitoring after pediatric mental health screening. Part-time, I'm a Translational Research Scientist at the Vermont Complex Systems Institute, where I co-lead the Vermont AI Literacy Initiative (VALI), conduct research on LEMURS (a longitudinal Oura Ring study of college students), and help build entrepreneurial culture through mentorships and workshops. I earned my PhD in Complex Systems & Data Science at the University of Vermont in August 2026 (dissertation and defense video here). In February 2027, I begin as an Impact+ Postdoctoral Fellow at SFU WearTech Labs in Vancouver, advised by Max Donelan.
My PhD was funded by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2023 to 2026), triple-advised by Dr. Ryan McGinnis (biomedical engineering), Dr. Nick Cheney (computational methods and ML), and Dr. Ellen McGinnis (child psychology and clinical research design). From 2021 to 2025, I collaborated with the Broad Institute / Sabeti Lab at Harvard and MIT on COVID-19 multimodal community health surveillance, before shifting my full focus to Biobe.
I care about the hard middle: scientifically rigorous, clinically translatable, actually deployable. The most meaningful work happens when the science is real and the tool is something someone can actually use. I think of myself as a pragmatic visionary: solve big problems, but start with the smallest first step that works, then build from there. At heart, the goal is body literacy: helping people, starting young, see how what they do connects to how they feel.
Life & path+ More
Outside of research I volunteer monthly with NAMI Vermont, coach and mentor students from high school through PhD level, play soccer multiple times a week, go on long walks, and look for any excuse to get outside or get together with friends and community.
Art and design aren't separate from the science for me. I paint (mostly acrylics), wood burn, sketch, work with clay, do graphic design, build UI/UX for side projects, and prototype sensor setups. Creativity and engineering have always been the same impulse. I've also worn wearables continuously since 2019, tracking my own biosignals every day.
I set lofty goals, follow creative ideas wherever they lead, and don't follow a traditional path. I believe in a life that is intentional, growth-oriented, and authored. (P.S. I'm writing my first memoir, Chaotic Good, coming 2027.)
2013
Blaine, Minnesota
Went to high school at the CEMS magnet program for engineering, math, and science. Spent eight summers at Concordia Language Villages (Skogfjorden, a Norwegian cultural immersion summer camp in Bemidji, Minnesota), which shaped how I see the world and made Norway feel like a second home.
2017
Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO
BSc Computer Science, 4.0 GPA. This is where I started building things: BPMBox (a homemade Bluetooth heart rate sensor) as a sophomore, two NSF REU research fellowships (NLP at U. North Texas, smart environments ML at Washington State), ICPC competitions, and the Colorado Space Grant grand prize. When the pandemic hit, I began collaborating with the Broad Institute / Sabeti Lab at Harvard and MIT on multimodal COVID surveillance (genomic, wastewater, mobility, and more). I also ran an art business, coordinated the international student mentorship program, and modeled for the art department.
2020
Folkehøgskole, Torvikbukt, Norway
A gap year studying sports, outdoor life, and adventure at Nordvestlandet Folkehøgskole. Continued working remotely with the Sabeti Lab as a visiting research associate throughout. Slowed everything down, reconnected with what matters, and made the PhD pivot possible.
2021
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Started my PhD in Complex Systems & Data Science (GPA 3.97). Joined the M-Sense Research Group and Neurobotics Lab, continued collaborating with the Broad Institute / Sabeti Lab, and received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in 2023. Led the UVM KID Study's wearable data analysis pipeline, first-authored papers at IEEE EMBC, BSN, and JBHI, with supporting work in Cell, Med, and Patterns (Cell Press), Sensors, and IEEE OJEMB, and served on the IEEE BSN Technical Program Committee. Co-founded Biobe in 2022 to translate the research into deployable tools.
2022
Co-Founded Biobe
Took the research out of the lab and started building something real. Sprout Foundations launched September 2025. First clinical orders followed.
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Technical skills
Python/
R/
C++
Multivariate Time Series Analysis
Physiological Signal Processing
Body Sensor Networks
Machine Learning
Complex Networks Analysis
End-to-End Data Science Lifecycle
Wearable Devices
Lean Launchpad Methodology
02Research
I believe the signals that matter most are already there, in how we move, breathe, and respond to the world. My job is to make them legible and turn them into tools that families, clinicians, and communities can actually use.
Wearable Sensing & Multimodal Signal Processing
End-to-end signal processing for on-body devices (Stello, Fitbit, Apple Watch, Oura Ring) and off-body sources (smartphones, WiFi routers, microphones, environmental sensors). HRV, postural sway, EDA, temperature, movement, and speech.
Digital Phenotyping & Predictive Health
Machine learning on biosignal data to surface clinically meaningful patterns. Applied to childhood internalizing disorders, panic attack prediction, perinatal risk, and longitudinal cardiovascular health.
Scalable Health Platforms
Research translated into deployable tools: the ChAMP screening app, adaptive digital interventions, and personalized recommender systems. Built for real clinical and community workflows.
Community Health Surveillance
Multimodal SARS-CoV-2 monitoring with the Broad Institute / Sabeti Lab. WiFi and Bluetooth proximity networks for tracking transmission and community behavior. Three Cell Press cover articles.
Publications+ More
23 publications since 2020, 12 first-authored. Expand for the full list, or scan by year:
2026
PhD Dissertation, University of Vermont · Open accessDissertation
Full dissertation presenting a translational pathway for digital phenotyping of pediatric mental health across three chapters: platform development (ChAMP), measurement optimization (multimodal sensor comparison, first pediatric validation of trapezius-derived far-field ECG), and family-facing translation (caregiver mental health literacy, customer discovery, co-design). Defended June 17, 2026. Conferred August 2026.
B. C. Loftness. PhD Dissertation, University of Vermont, 2026. hdl.handle.net/20.500.14849/10617
2026
Illness Signatures from Consumer Rings: Temperature, Respiration, Heart Rate, and Activity in a University Cohort
medRxiv · IEEE BSN 2026 (Accepted)First Author
Characterizes illness-related physiological signatures from consumer-grade smart rings (Oura) in a university student cohort, using temperature, respiration, heart rate, and activity signals. Establishes what everyday wearables can detect about acute health states in real-world settings.
B. C. Loftness, S. F. Rosenblatt, J. E. Hidalgo, N. Cheney, C. M. Danforth, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. medRxiv 2026 · IEEE BSN 2026 (Accepted). doi:10.64898/2026.08.12.26360301
2026
Multimodal, multi-device wearable phenotyping for early childhood mental health: balancing predictive performance and implementation burden
medRxiv · Under review at npj Digital MedicineFirst Author
Multimodal wearable phenotyping across six sensing modalities in children ages 4 to 8, with a practicality framework formalizing the burden-versus-performance tradeoff. AUCs from 0.65 to 0.91 across five diagnostic targets, identifying up to 2.4-fold more clinician-confirmed cases than parent-report CBCL alone. Shows near-optimal accuracy is reachable at substantially reduced sensor burden.
B. C. Loftness, J. G. Cohen, D. D. Kairamkonda, J. Cherian, G. Mascia, J. Halvorson-Phelan, C. Bradshaw, J. E. Hidalgo, I. Berman, A. J. Brown, A. Rees, W. E. Copeland, N. Cheney, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. medRxiv 2026 (under review at npj Digital Medicine). doi:10.64898/2026.08.07.26359979
2026
How Quickly Can You Know a Participant? A 3-Week Triage Point for Oura Ring Adherence in College Students
medRxiv · IEEE BSN 2026 (Accepted)First Author
Analyzes early Oura Ring adherence patterns in a longitudinal college student wearable study (LEMURS) to identify a 3-week triage point for predicting long-term wear. Informs recruitment, retention, and study design for large-scale consumer wearable research.
B. C. Loftness, J. Hidalgo, G. Mascia, M. Price, C. M. Danforth, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. medRxiv 2026 · IEEE BSN 2026 (Accepted). doi:10.64898/2026.07.30.26359360
2026
Development of Mental Health Digital Reference Tools for Pediatric Primary Care
JMIR Preprints
Development and prototype evaluation of mental health digital reference tools for pediatric primary care, co-designed with caregivers, pediatricians, and therapists. Informs how family-facing intervention tools can bridge the gap between screening and action.
J. Cherian, J. Halvorson-Phelan, M. C. Bradshaw, B. C. Loftness, I. Berman, E. Potts, J. E. Hidalgo, M. Burr, R. S. McGinnis, E. W. McGinnis. JMIR Preprints 2026. doi:10.2196/preprints.98563
2026
How Caregiver Mental Health Literacy Shapes Information- and Treatment-Seeking for Child Mental Health: A Cross-sectional Survey Study
JMIR PreprintsFirst Author
Cross-sectional survey of 290 caregivers examining how mental health literacy shapes information-seeking and professional treatment-seeking for child mental health. Identifies information-seeking source breadth and clinical search vocabulary as the strongest independent predictors of taking action.
B. C. Loftness, J. Halvorson-Phelan, G. J. O'Connor, J. Cherian, X. Ding, M. C. Bradshaw, I. Berman, E. Potts, J. E. Hidalgo, R. S. McGinnis, E. W. McGinnis. JMIR Preprints 2026. doi:10.2196/preprints.101508
2026
Wearable sensor data characterizes vigilance and avoidance behaviors in young children with mental health symptoms during a threat induction task
medRxiv
Uses wearable sensor data to characterize vigilance and avoidance behaviors in young children with mental health symptoms during a threat induction task. Extends the KID Study's multimodal analysis to behaviorally interpretable phenotypes.
J. G. Cohen, G. Mascia, B. C. Loftness, M. C. Bradshaw, J. Halvorson-Phelan, J. Cherian, D. Kairamkonda, D. C. Jangraw, R. S. McGinnis, E. W. McGinnis. medRxiv 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.03.31.26349900
2026
Measuring Mobility and Social Mixing to Inform Pandemic Prediction and Response
The COVID Information Commons · SpringerContributing author
Contributed chapter examining mobility and social mixing data as inputs for pandemic prediction and outbreak response. Part of The COVID Information Commons (Springer, Sustainable Development Goals Series), an interdisciplinary volume documenting tools and frameworks developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
P. Luiz, J. R. Gantenberg, S. F. Rosenblatt, G. Wei, A. Khanna, B. C. Loftness, M. N. Lurie. In: F. D. Hudson (Ed.), The COVID Information Commons. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham, 2026. doi:10.1007/978-3-032-06125-6_22
2025
Adaptive Digital Health Interventions for Childhood Mental Health: From Wearable Screening to Personalized Recommenders
IEEE BSN 2025 · Los AngelesFirst Author
Presents an adaptive digital health intervention framework that combines wearable-based behavioral health screening with personalized recommender systems for early childhood mental health. Demonstrates a pathway from research-grade digital phenotyping tools to scalable, family-facing products that bridge clinical assessment and everyday emotional wellness support.
B. C. Loftness, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis, N. Cheney. IEEE BSN 2025.
2024
Longitudinal Profiles of Heart Rate Variability in First-Year College Students Using Wearables
IEEE Body Sensor Networks (BSN) · ChicagoFirst Author
Examines longitudinal heart rate variability (HRV) profiles across the first year of college using consumer wearable devices. Characterizes how physiological stress markers shift during major life transitions and evaluates the feasibility of continuous wearable data for revealing temporal patterns in autonomic wellbeing over extended periods.
B. C. Loftness, J. Hidalgo, J. Cherian, G. Mascia, R. S. McGinnis, E. W. McGinnis. IEEE BSN 2024. doi:10.1109/BSN63547.2024.10780775
2024
Multimodal Markers of Transdiagnostic Childhood Mental Health Impairment
IEEE Body Sensor Networks (BSN) · Chicago
Identifies multimodal wearable-derived markers of transdiagnostic childhood mental health impairment, moving beyond disorder-specific classification toward broad phenotyping of behavioral and emotional difficulties in children ages 4-8. Leverages physiological and behavioral features collected during structured and unstructured assessment tasks as part of the ongoing UVM KID Study.
J. Cherian, B. Loftness, J. G. Cohen, J. Halvorson-Phelan, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. IEEE BSN 2024. doi:10.1109/BSN63547.2024.10780528
2024
Expecting the Unexpected: Predicting Panic Attacks from Mood, Twitter, and Apple Watch Data
IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology
Explores the feasibility of predicting panic attacks using passively and actively collected multimodal data streams including self-reported mood, Twitter sentiment, and Apple Watch physiological signals. Demonstrates that digital biomarkers derived from consumer devices and social media can surface early warning signs of acute mental health events, opening pathways for just-in-time adaptive interventions.
E. W. McGinnis, B. C. Loftness, S. Lunna, I. Berman, S. Bagdon, G. Lewis, M. Arnold, C. M. Danforth, P. S. Dodds, M. Price, W. L. Copeland, R. S. McGinnis. IEEE OJEMB 2024. doi:10.1109/OJEMB.2024.3354208
2024
Using Wearable Digital Devices to Screen Children for Mental Health Conditions: Ethical Promises and Challenges
Sensors
In response to a burgeoning pediatric mental health epidemic, recent guidelines have instructed pediatricians to regularly screen their patients for mental health disorders. Yet gold-standard screening surveys typically rely solely on caregiver reports, which tend to under-report child symptomology. Digital phenotype screening tools using wearable devices offer a promising complement but raise critical ethical questions around access, consent, bias, data ownership, and the tension between clinical utility and the rights of young populations.
A. O'Leary, T. Lahey, J. Lovato, B. C. Loftness, A. Douglas, J. Skelton, J. G. Cohen, W. E. Copeland, R. S. McGinnis, E. W. McGinnis. Sensors 2024. doi:10.3390/s24103214
2023
The ChAMP App: A Scalable mHealth Technology for Detecting Digital Phenotypes of Early Childhood Mental Health
IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health InformaticsFirst Author
Introduces the Childhood Assessment and Measurement Platform (ChAMP), a scalable mHealth technology designed to collect multimodal biosignals from children during structured and unstructured behavioral assessment tasks. ChAMP integrates wearable physiological monitoring with smartphone-based audio, video, and movement capture to enable community-based digital phenotyping of early childhood mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
B. C. Loftness, J. Halvorson-Phelan, A. O'Leary, C. Bradshaw, S. Lunna, I. Berman, J. Torous, W. L. Copeland, N. Cheney, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. IEEE JBHI 2023. doi:10.1109/JBHI.2023.3337649
2023
Predicting the Presence of Internalizing Disorders and ADHD in Children from Postural Sway Features
IEEE Body Sensor Networks (BSN) 2023
Investigates the use of postural sway features derived from wearable inertial sensors to predict the presence of internalizing disorders and ADHD in young children. Demonstrates that balance and postural control metrics collected during structured tasks can serve as objective markers of neurodevelopmental and emotional health conditions.
J. G. Cohen, B. C. Loftness, A. S. Douglas, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. IEEE BSN 2023.
2023
Toward Digital Phenotypes of Early Childhood Mental Health via Unsupervised and Supervised Machine Learning
IEEE EMBC 2023First Author
Childhood mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD commonly go undetected into adolescence, leading to detrimental impacts on long-term wellbeing. Current parent-report assessments for pre-school aged children are often biased, increasing the need for objective screening tools. This study leverages unsupervised and supervised machine learning on multimodal wearable data from the KID Study to discover digital phenotypes of childhood internalizing disorders.
B. C. Loftness, D. M. Rizzo, J. Halvorson-Phelan, A. O'Leary, S. Lunna, C. Bradshaw, A-J. Brown, N. Cheney, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. IEEE EMBC 2023. doi:10.1101/2023.02.24.23286417
2023
Discovering Digital Biomarkers of Panic Attack Risk in Consumer Wearables Data
medRxiv (Preprint)
Explores the discovery of digital biomarkers from consumer wearable data that predict panic attack risk. Analyzes physiological signals from wearable devices alongside self-reported mood and contextual data to identify pre-attack signatures that could enable early warning systems for individuals with panic disorder.
E. W. McGinnis, S. Lunna, I. Berman, B. C. Loftness, S. Bagdon, C. M. Danforth, M. Price, W. E. Copeland, R. S. McGinnis. medRxiv 2023. doi:10.1101/2023.03.01.23286647
2023
Preterm Preeclampsia Risk Modelling: Examining Hemodynamic, Biochemical, and Biophysical Markers Prior to Pregnancy
IEEE EMBC 2023First Author
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal death globally and can lead to unplanned preterm birth. This study examines the clinical advantage of identifying individuals at risk prior to conception using pre-pregnancy hemodynamic, biochemical, and biophysical markers, when a wider array of preventive interventions are available.
B. C. Loftness, I. Bernstein, C. A. McBride, N. Cheney, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. IEEE EMBC 2023. doi:10.1101/2023.02.28.23286590
2022
UVM KID Study: Identifying Multimodal Features and Optimizing Wearable Instrumentation to Detect Child Anxiety
IEEE EMBC 2022First Author
The foundational paper for the KID Study. Identifies key multimodal features from wearable sensors (HRV, postural sway, EDA, movement) and optimizes instrumentation for detecting anxiety markers in children ages 4–8. This study established the methodology and foundational dataset underlying all subsequent digital phenotyping research in the KID Study.
B. C. Loftness, J. Halvorson-Phelan, A. O'Leary, N. Cheney, E. W. McGinnis, R. S. McGinnis. IEEE EMBC 2022. doi:10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871090
2022
Multimodal Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at a University Enables Development of a Robust Outbreak Response Framework
Med (Cell Press)Cover ArticleCo-First Author
Presents a multimodal surveillance framework integrating genomic sequencing, epidemiological investigation, wastewater monitoring, and digital proximity networks to characterize SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics at a university campus. Demonstrates how combining diverse data streams enables rapid, evidence-based outbreak response and informs public health decision-making at the community level.
B. A. Petros*, J. S. Paull*, C. H. Tomkins-Tinch*, B. C. Loftness*, K. C. DeRuff, P. Nair, ... P. C. Sabeti. Med (Cell Press) 2022. doi:10.1016/j.medj.2022.09.003
I co-led this paper and co-designed the cover art with Parvathy Nair and ThoughtCafe. This one is both a scientific and artistic milestone for me.
2022
Transmission from Vaccinated Individuals in a Large SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Outbreak
CellCover ArticleContributing author
Characterizes SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmission dynamics among vaccinated individuals during a large outbreak in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Through genomic and epidemiological analysis, provides critical early evidence of breakthrough infection that directly informed national public health policy and CDC guidance on masking and booster recommendations.
K. J. Siddle*, L. A. Krasilnikova*, G. K. Moreno*, S. F. Schaffner*, ... B. Loftness, ... P. C. Sabeti. Cell 2022. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.027
2022
Analyzing the Impact of a Real-life Outbreak Simulator on Pandemic Mitigation
Cell PatternsCover ArticleSupporting author · Supported cover design
Analyzes the impact of a real-life outbreak simulator on pandemic mitigation through epidemiological modeling. Evaluates how interactive, gamified simulation tools can improve public understanding of outbreak dynamics and inform decision-making around non-pharmaceutical interventions, testing strategies, and resource allocation during emerging infectious disease events.
I. Specht*, K. Sani, B. C. Loftness, C. Hoffman, ... P. C. Sabeti, A. Colubri. Patterns (Cell Press) 2022. doi:10.1016/j.patter.2022.100572
I supported the research and helped support the design of the cover art for this issue.
2020
Constructing an Accessible Low-Budget Stress Detection BioSensor
Colorado Space Grant ConsortiumSole Author
Describes the design and construction of BPMBox, an accessible, low-budget stress detection biosensor built from scratch as an undergraduate project. BPMBox uses Bluetooth-connected heart rate and galvanic skin response sensing to provide real-time physiological stress monitoring at a fraction of commercial device costs. Winner of the Colorado Space Grant Consortium Grand Prize.
B. Loftness. Colorado Space Grant Consortium Official Proceedings 2020.
Featured Initiative
A free, open-source curriculum to build critical thinking and conceptual understandings of generative AI tools.
Vermont AI Literacy Initiative (VALI). Co-led with Dr. Julia Zimmerman and Calla Beauregard at UVM's Vermont Complex Systems Institute.
- Understand how generative AI really works under the hood, building mental models to support informed judgment and healthy skepticism.
- Metaphors, visual cards, and hands-on activities. No coding, advanced math, or high-tech required.
- Free, open-source, and theory-grounded. Built at UVM's Vermont Complex Systems Institute, in active development.
03Biobe
Biobe (pronounced bio-be) exists because I didn't want to come out of my PhD with just a piece of paper. I wanted to build something real. I co-founded Biobe with Dr. Ryan McGinnis, Dr. Ellen McGinnis, and Dr. Nick Cheney to make screening and intervention of early childhood mental health more actionable and objective. We're building from both the University of Vermont and Wake Forest University, where Ryan and Ellen now lead the Center for Remote Health Monitoring.
We're building tools that meet families where they are and grow with them over time, starting with what's needed most today and expanding from there.
Products, team & milestones+ More
Co-founding team
Bryn Loftness
CEO & Co-Founder
Dr. Ellen McGinnis
Child Psychology
Dr. Ryan McGinnis
Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Nick Cheney
Computational Methods & ML
Plus a growing team of designers, researchers, technicians, experts, and advocates: Isabel B., Carter B., Johanna H., Maggie H., Rowan G., Hazel A., and more.
Live
Sprout
Foundations
Foundations
A caregiver-facing emotional wellness toolkit providing structured, evidence-informed strategies for families navigating child emotional and behavioral challenges. Selling direct-to-consumer and via clinic partnerships. A free personalized recommender is available at sprout.biobe.org.
In Development
Sprout
Connect
Connect
A digital companion app extending Foundations with personalized recommendations and cross-setting support. Coming soon.
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Early Development
Sprout
Sense
Sense
Child-friendly wearable monitoring for the home. Early development.
Research Program
OAK
Objective Assessment for Kids. Biobe's research program working toward objective pediatric mental health screening.
2022
Founded & incorporated
Biobe, Inc. Supported by NSF I-Corps Regional and National programs.
2023
NSF I-Corps National · Spark-VT Winner
250+ stakeholder interviews across the country.
2024
LaunchVT Grand Prize · Equalize · APA InsideTheLab
Vermont's premier startup accelerator (Grand Prize). Equalize Digital Health Track. One of 10 startups selected nationally for APA InsideTheLab.
2025
Product launch · Clinic partnerships
Sprout Foundations launched September 2025. Early clinic partnerships underway.
2026
Vermont EPSCoR SBIR Phase 0 Award
$15K supporting Phase I SBIR preparation for Sprout Sense: A Child-Friendly Home Kit for Episodic Monitoring After Pediatric Mental Health Screening.
2026
Foundational research supporting Biobe's mission publicly defended June 17, 2026. Dissertation and defense video available here.
Watch: TEDx & LaunchVT+ More
04Recognition
I've been lucky to do work alongside people who believe in it.
The recognition that means the most comes from the people closest to the work: mentors, peers, families, and the communities we're trying to serve.
Awards & fellowships+ More
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2026
UVM Inventor Hall of Fame
University of Vermont · Inducted Spring 2026
2026
Impact+ Postdoctoral Fellowship
SFU WearTech Labs (Max Donelan) · 2-year fellowship beginning February 2027
2026
Translational Research Scientist Appointment
Vermont Complex Systems Institute · part-time, August 2026 to present
2026
UVM AI Innovation Award
via VALI · Co-PI · $10K · February 2026
2026
VCSI Complexity Award
via VALI · Co-PI with Juniper Lovato · $5K · August 2026
2026
3MT CEMS Competition Winner
UVM College of Engineering & Mathematics
2025
Rising Star, 40 Under 40
Vermont Business Magazine
2025
NAMI Vermont Inspiration Award
National Alliance on Mental Illness, for creativity, dedication, and making mental health conversations more human
2025
IDeA Entrepreneurship Fellow Award
UVM Innovations iTREP Program, $4,000
2024
TEDx Speaker, Editor's Pick
TEDx University of Mississippi · "How AI can improve childhood mental health care" · 43,000+ views
2024
LaunchVT Grand Prize
Vermont's premier startup accelerator, $15,000 + $5,000 legal services
2024
Most Innovative Research 2023–24
UVM Graduate Student Senate Awards, voted by graduate student peers
2023+
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
National Science Foundation GRFP, $147,000 over three years
2023+
NCWIT AiC Stories National Ambassador
National Center for Women & Information Technology · also Collegiate Award Finalist 2022, 2023
2022
Broad Institute Excellence & Achievement Award
Extraordinary contributions, COVID Genomic Surveillance team, December 2022
2022
1st Place UVM CS Fair, Research Category
Also 1st Place 2021 · 1st Place UVM Larner Medicine Graduate Research Showcase 2021
2022
3rd Place UVM Computing Student Research Day
University of Vermont
2022
Gotham Regional I-Corps Seed Funding
NY Innovation Node, customer discovery and prototype funding
2020
UPE Scholar of the Year
Upsilon Pi Epsilon International Computing Honor Society
2020
Grand Prize, Colorado Space Grant Consortium
Undergraduate Research Symposium, "Constructing an Accessible Low-Budget Stress Detection BioSensor"
2019
AFCEA STEM Major Scholarship
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
Press & media+ More
2024
Featured, "UVM Seeks to Secure Its Future by Building Up Its Research Muscle"
Seven Days Vermont
2023
Innova802 Podcast, Biobe and digital pediatric mental health
Innova802
2023
UVM Feature, "Uncovering Digital Footprints of Anxiety in Young Children"
University of Vermont News
2021
Quoted, "The Future of Virus Tracking Can Be Found on This College Campus"
The New York Times, May 2021
2021
"Pandemic Problem: A success story"
The Maverick Magazine, March 2021
2021
"Upsilon Pi Epsilon: Honor students excel, no matter what"
ACM Inroads Magazine, March 2021
05Speaking & Outreach+ More
I care about making science feel accessible, in classrooms, clinics, conferences, and communities.
2026
We Get It! Sharing Lived Experiences as a Healing Community
Panelist, NAMI Vermont Community Conversation Series, Double E Performance Center, Essex Junction VT · August 2026
2026
Career Pathways Panel
Vermont EPSCoR SOCKS Summer Research Internship Program, University of Vermont · July 2026
2026
Talk & Practice: Child Psych Meets Modern Innovations
With Dr. Andrew Rosenfeld. Child Psychiatry SIG + Mindfulness & Meditation SIG, UVM Larner College of Medicine · June 2026
2026
From Science to Support: Turning Research into Everyday Emotional Wellness Tools
NAMI Vermont Lunch and Learn Series · February 2026 · Watch →
2025
Adaptive Digital Health Interventions for Childhood Mental Health: From Wearable Screening to Personalized Recommenders
IEEE BSN 2025, Los Angeles, Demo presentation
2025
Women's Networking Lunch, Host
IEEE BSN 2025 · 30+ women across career stages and backgrounds
2025
Youth Mental Health AMA Panelist
APA InsideTheLab Annual Conference, Austin TX · November 2025
2025
APA InsideTheLab Startup Pitch Showcase
Biobe selected as one of 10 startups nationally · ethical, scalable, evidence-based behavioral health technologies
2025
I-Corps Alumni Panel
UVM Innovations Startup School Workshop 2025
2025
Future of AI, Guest Speaker
Vermont Leadership Institute student roundtable · 50 attendees · organized by VT government representative
2025
Tech + Mental Health / Entrepreneurship
GirlCon 2025 · 50+ virtual high school students
2025
Science Communication Tutorial
Winter Workshop on Complex Systems 2025, Lombardy Italy · 50+ interdisciplinary researchers · also attended WWCS 2024, Barcelona
2025
Ethics of Innovation in Pediatric Mental Health
J.L. Fellowship in AI at UVM Hillel, students' favorite session per post-course surveys
2025
Wearable Sensor Feasibility for Pediatric Mental Health Screening
Society for Digital Mental Health Annual Meeting 2025
2024–25
Tech + Mental Health + Entrepreneurship, Invited Lectures
Colorado Mesa University (2 courses), Champlain College (5 courses), Vermont State University (2 courses)
2024
TEDx Talk, "How AI Can Improve Childhood Mental Health Care"
TEDx University of Mississippi · 43,000+ views · Editor's Pick
2024
MedTech Collaborative Panel, Innovations in Healthcare Data Sciences
Computational strategies and entrepreneurial solutions, Burlington
2024
Empowering Women Innovators: A Spotlight on NSF I-Corps
Webinar · Osage University Partners, NSF I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Region, Equalize
2023
Identifying Digital Phenotypes of Childhood Mental Health Through Biological and Behavioral Responses
Johnson Science Colloquium at Vermont State, October 2023
Community Service
2026
Co-Lead + Co-Founder, Vermont AI Literacy Initiative (VALI)
Co-designing a hands-on K-12 generative AI critical engagement curriculum with rural VT teachers, librarians, parents, and students. Funded by UVM AI Innovation Award ($10K, Feb 2026) and VCSI Complexity Awards ($5K, Aug 2026, Co-PI with Juniper Lovato).
2025+
IEEE BSN, Technical Program Committee, Chair of Outreach
Leading organization of women-in-science social events for the 2025 Annual Conference. Body Sensor Networks.
2025+
Biobe ARC Intern Program, Lead
Three UVM undergraduate interns (Hazel, Maggie, Rowan) on a year-long program, May 2025–June 2026.
2024+
NAMI Vermont, Monthly Volunteer Presenter
Ending the Silence (ETS) at Vermont middle and high schools; In Our Own Voice (IOOV) at schools, graduate programs, community centers, and nursing programs. Reached 500+ Vermonters through educational outreach in 2024–25. Goal: 1,000 by mid-2026. NAMI Inspiration Award 2025.
2023+
NCWIT Stories Ambassador, National
Amplifying real-world journeys in computing to inspire and retain girls and underrepresented individuals in technology. Storytelling, public engagement, national visibility initiatives.
2022–24
Vermont Science Olympiad, Organizer (3 years)
Co-organized annual event for 60+ high school students statewide. Communications, volunteer recruitment, emceed closing ceremony.
2021+
UVM Mentor, 3 to 20 hrs/week
Mentoring high school, undergraduate, masters, and PhD students in research, entrepreneurship, and professional development, well beyond typical scope.
2020+
Colorado Space Grant Consortium, Virtual Poster Judge
Judged undergraduate research posters at the program where I won the Grand Prize in 2020.
06Art+ More
Art is how I process what data can't articulate.
My creative practice is not separate from my scientific work. It's how I make sense of complexity: the biosignals that don't fit the model, the parts of mental health care that numbers alone can't capture, the things I need to sit with before I can articulate them. I work mostly in acrylics (some spanning multiple canvases), but also wood burn, sketch, work with clay, do graphic design, and build UI/UX for side projects.
I co-designed cover art for a Cell Press journal issue, supported cover design for another, and contributed to research behind a third. I also create scientific illustrations and graphical abstracts, and maintain an independent visual art practice. When I need to think differently, I work with my hands.
@artbybrynchristine →Personal work
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Science art & covers
Research figures & posters, scroll →
3-Minute Thesis competition
Digital phenotypes via ML
Predicting panic attacks from multimodal data
Ethics of wearable screening in children
Preterm preeclampsia risk modeling
Multimodal SARS-CoV-2 surveillance
Smart environments graphical abstract
BPMBox, low-budget stress biosensor
ChAMP App, mHealth screening platform
07Writing+ More
Translating the work into words worth reading.
Brynspiration is where the research, the founding, and the life intersect. Longer reflections on building Biobe while finishing a PhD, wearables and mental health, and what it actually takes to build something real while staying human in the process. Launched January 2026. I also share shorter posts and thoughts on LinkedIn.
brynspiration.substack.com → LinkedIn →Annual Reflection · February 2026
Looking Back on 2025
The year Biobe went from lab to families' hands, launching Sprout Foundations, generating first revenue, speaking at national conferences, seeing early clinical adoption, receiving unexpected recognition, facing setbacks, and learning what it takes to build something real while finishing a PhD. Exhilarating, messy, validating, and at times overwhelming.
Read on Substack →
Health + Wearables · 2025
More Than Tracking: Reflections on Living with Wearables for 5 Years
On wearing sensors continuously since 2019, Oura Ring, Apple Watch, CGM experiments, and what it actually means to become an expert in your own signals. The gap between data visibility and behavioral change, and where this field is going.
Read on Substack →
Let's buildsomethingworth existing.