Principal Investigator

Steve Amireault, PhD 

My current research focuses on the (1) determinants of physical activity maintenance in midlife and older adults (≥ 50 years), (2) the influence of mental health and well-being (e.g., stress and purpose in life) on physical activity, and (3) physical activity behavior in the context of fall prevention through community partnerships. In addition to my work with midlife and older adults, I have conducted studies with younger adults (18-64 years), breast cancer survivors, and people with multiple sclerosis. 

I have a courtesy appointment with the Department of Public Health at Purdue University, and I am an affiliated faculty of The Methodology Center at Purdue, a member of the Center for Research on Brain, Behavior, and NeuroRehabilitation, and a faculty associate of the Center on Aging and Life Course.

Email: samireau@purdue.edu

Phone: (765) 496-0568

Emily Jakob, MS

Originally from Virginia, Emily received her B.S. in psychology from George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia) in 2017. She then continued her education at Springfield College (Springfield, Massachusetts), where she earned her M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2020. After completing a year of PhD coursework at Springfield College, Emily joined Purdue University and the Physical Activity Psychology lab in the fall of 2022. 

Emily is currently pursuing a PhD in Health and Kinesiology (exercise psychology).

Heesoo Rho, MS

Heesoo completed in 2019 a bachelor’s degree Exercise Rehabilitation and Social Welfare from Sungshin Women’s University (Seoul, South Korea) and received in 2021 a master degree (MSc) in Exercise as Medicine from Loughborough University (Leicestershire, United Kingdom). During her master’s degree, she looked at the association between parents’ and their 5 to 6 years old children’s screen time, and the moderating effect of of socio-economic status. Heesoo joined Purdue University and the Physical Activity Psychology lab in the fall of 2022. 

Heesoo is currently pursuing a dual-title PhD in Health and Kinesiology (exercise psychology) and Gerontology. 

Jenna Lynn Blake

Jenna joined Purdue’s Physical Activity Psychology Lab as an undergraduate research assistant in the summer 2025.  She assists with participant recruitment and data collection through mailed materials and remote physical activity monitoring.

Jenna is pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Biomedical Health Sciences.