Lizzy Pope is an Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Food Sciences and the Dietetics Program Director
Where are you from? I’m from Barre, VT
Tell us about your academic background and research focus/goals. My academic background is somewhat multidisciplinary as I obtained my bachelors degree in psychology from Dartmouth College, and then my Masters in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Columbia University. I then went on to earn my PhD here at UVM in Animal, Nutrition, and Food Science, and finished up my formal training with a post-doc at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. Throughout my academic journey I’ve always gravitated toward the psychology behind food and exercise decisions and why people make the choices they do. This focus brought me to the field of behavioral economics which most simply can be described as the study of irrational decision making. My current research uses behavioral economic strategies such as providing incentives or shifting default options to mindlessly promote healthy options. The overarching goal of my research is to make the healthy choice the easy choice across circumstances, populations, and environments.
What excites you about your current research? I’ve started incorporating a fair amount of technology into my current research, and it’s been very exciting for me to build partnerships with tech companies that are masters at a certain technology that I envision being harnessed to help people be healthier. The tech people I work with are always “can do” types of people and it’s exciting when a vision you weren’t even sure was possible is made reality.
What do you think are the most pressing issues facing our food system? I think food access and food insecurity are large issues for our food system right now. Many people don’t have the resources they need to eat healthfully for example. I also feel that our go-go-go culture is a challenge for our food system and encouraging healthy practices, because people are burnt out and can’t take on one more thing. Finally, I feel that the way the government subsidizes agriculture (and politics in general) is a challenge for our food system.
What surprises you about living and working in Vermont? I’ve lived mostly in VT since I was literally zero years old, so I’m not sure I’m that surprised by Vermont anymore. More and more I just feel grateful to live and work in such an awesome state. Yes, there are challenges, but there are also amazing opportunities that come about because of the sense of community, entrepreneurship, and kindness that is apparent in Vermont and the people who live here.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us? Although I really enjoy my teaching/research/advising work, I also derive great pleasure from activities I do outside of work such as running, skiing, and swimming. I belong to the Williston Edge Masters swim team, and there are many times when all the motivated people on that team help me get out of bed and into the pool at 5:30 in the morning, they are the ultimate exercise buddies! I also watch a lot of somewhat trashy TV and have a subscription to US Weekly (it was a gift!!). We all need our escapes from reality!