Clarice N. Waters (née Chau)
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
National University of Singapore
12 Science Drive 2, Tahir Foundation Building, #08-03
Singapore, 117549
Phone: +65.6516.5783
Fax: +65.6779.1489
Mobile: +65.8393.8508
Email: ephcnw@nus.edu.sg
Research Interests
Obesity Prevention, Childhood Obesity, Community-based Participatory Research, Social-Ecological Model, Healthy Behaviors,
Behavior Change Interventions, Built Environment Assessments, Food Environment
Education
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Faculty Mentors: Falk Müller-Riemenschneider, MBBS, Msc, MD and Rob M. van Dam, Msc, PhD
2014-present
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Doctor of Philosophy, Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise
Behavioral and Community Nutrition Concentration
Dissertation: “Exploring the Food and Physical Activity Environments and Their Influence on Healthy Behaviors”
Faculty Advisor: Jennie L. Hill, PhD
2010-2013
George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Master of Science, Global Health
Graduate Certificate, Epidemiology
Thesis: “Maternal Knowledge of Dengue Fever and Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam”
Faculty Advisors: Kathryn H. Jacobsen, PhD and Lisa R. Pawloski, PhD
2007-2009
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences
Minor, Psychology
2003-2007
Additional Research Experience
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
National University of Singapore, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
Social and environmental determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviors in pre-school children
Formative research to inform intervention design of the Park Prescription Trial
Assessment of sedentary behaviors in university employees using the socio-ecological model
Neighborhood factors associated with body mass index among a multi-ethnic population in Singapore
2014-present
Graduate Research Assistant, Project Coordinator
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise,
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Built environment assessment through community-based participatory research in the Dan River Region
2010-2013
Subcommittee Member, Built Environment and Nutrition
Dan River Partnership for a Healthy Community, Danville, Virginia, United States
Collaborate with key stakeholders and community members from the region in planning and initiating
programs related to nutrition and built environments for obesity prevention
2010-2013
Co-Investigator, Increasing Movement in African Diaspora Individuals in Virginia (IMA DIVA)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise,
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Randomized control study to increase physical activity in Black college females using group dynamics theory
2010-2011
Graduate Research Assistant
George Mason University, Department of Global and Community Health, Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Demographic study of Master’s Program in Global Health
Efficacy of Health Behavior Educations Models
2008-2010
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Costa Rica, School of Human Nutrition, San Juan, Costa Rica
Evaluation of integrated nutrition education program in elementary schools
Evaluating food access and availability of Costa Rican elementary school-aged children
2009
Research Assistant
Vietnam Ministry of Health, District 4 Center of Preventive Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Infectious disease surveillance and prevention program of dengue fever and hand, foot, and mouth disease
2008
Grants
Research Grant
National Parks Board, Singapore
“The Development of Park Prescription Interventions to Promote Physical Activity and Mental Well-Being: An
Exploratory Study”
Role: Collaborator (PI: Müller-Riemenschneider F)
S$225,620; Funded
2014
Academic Research Fund, Tier 1 Grant
Ministry of Education, Singapore
“Improving diet and physical activity behaviours for the prevention of obesity in pre-school children”
Role: Collaborator (PI: Müller-Riemenschneider F)
S$129,100; Funded
2014-2016
Student Research Fellowship
Translational Obesity Research Program
“Increasing Movement in African Diaspora Individuals in Virginia (IMA DIVA): Randomized control study to
increase physical activity in Black college females”
Role: Co-Investigator
$2000; Funded
2010-2011
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Hill JL, Olive NC, Waters CN, You W, Estabrooks PA, Zoellner JM. (2015). Lack of healthy food options on children’s menus of
restaurants in the health-disparate Dan River Region of Virginia and North Carolina, 2013. Prev Chronic Dis. 12:140400.
doi:10.5888/pcd12.140400.
Davy BM, Bailey AN, Waters CN, Zoellner JM, Hill JL. (2015). Associations among chronic disease status, participation in federal
nutrition programs, food insecurity, sugar-sweetened beverage and water intake among residents of a health-disparate region. J
Nutr Educ Behav, doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2015.01.001.
Zoellner J, Hill J, Grier K, Chau C, Kopec D, Pryce B, Dunn C. (2013). Better Together: Healthy Caswell County – Findings from a
randomized control trial targeting obesity-related behaviors. Prev Chronic Dis, 10:120296. doi:10.5888/pcd10.120296.
Chau CN, Zoellner JM, Hill JL. (2013). Availability of Healthy Food: Does Block Group Race and Income Matter? J Hunger Environ
Nutr, 8:22-38. doi:10.1080/19320248.2012.758063.
Hill JL, Chau CN, Luebbering CR, Kolivras KN, Zoellner JM. (2012). Does availability of physical activity and food outlets differ by
race and income? Findings from an enumeration study in a rural health disparate region. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, 9:105.
doi:10.1186/1479-5868-9-105.
Harden SM, Allen KC, Chau CN, Parks SL, Zanko AL. (2012). Experiential Learning in Graduate Education: Development, Delivery,
and Analysis of an Evidence-Based Intervention. Creative Education, 3, 649-65. doi: 10.4236/ce.2012.35095.
Chau CN, Jacobsen KH, Vu BN. (2011). Maternal reports of child health practices in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Journal of Rural
and Tropical Public Health 10, 15–20.
Chau CN, Jacobsen KH, Vu BN. (2010). Dengue prevention in southern Vietnam. [Letter] Int Health 2(4), 278–288.
Peer-Reviewed Conference Abstracts
Waters CN, Er PL, Chu AHY, Chia A, Lim YW, Müller-Riemenschneider F. The sedentary behaviour in university employees study: a
socio-ecological approach. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2015.
C l a r i c e N . W a t e r s , P h D | page 2
Waters CN, Lim YW, Long P, Tai ES, Lim WY, van Dam RM. The relationship between individual and neighbourhood
socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI) among a multi-ethnic population in Singapore. Poster presentation at the
annual meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2015.
Hill JL, Waters CN, Kolivras KN, Estabrooks PA, Zoellner JM. Exploring rural-urban differences in the physical activity environment
in a health disparate region. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2015.
Hill JL, Waters CN, Van Engen M, Jiles K, Zoellner JM. From data to action: A community-based participator approach to respond
to identified needs following an environment assessment. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society
for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2015.
Chau CN, Zoellner JM, Estabrooks PA, Hill JL. Is the availability of healthy foods related to fruit and vegetable consumption in a
rural, health disparate region? Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition
and Physical Activity, Ghent, Belgium, May 2013.
Hill JL, Bailey A, Chau CN, Zoellner JM. Food insecurity is associated with increased BMI and reduced fruit and vegetable intake
among residents of in a health disparate region. Poster presentation at the Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health
Disparities, National Harbor, Maryland, December 2012.
Davy BM, Bailey A, Chau C, Zoellner J, Hill J. Drink Water Instead of Sugary Drinks: A Dietary Strategy for Economicallydisadvantaged Individuals Diagnosed with Obesity-related Comorbidities? Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the
Obesity Society, San Antonio, Texas, September 2012.
Chau CN, Sams L, Kolivras K, Hill JL. Contextual overview of physical activity resources in a health disparate region. Poster
presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Austin, Texas, May
2012.
Chau CN, Sams L, Kolivras K, Hill JL. Does walking proximity to resources predict physical activity in a health disparate region?
Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Austin,
Texas, May 2012.
Chau CN, Zoellner JM, Hill JL. Community-based approach to assessing the nutrition environment in a health disparate region.
Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2012. *Meritorious
Student Award recipient
Zoellner JM, Hill JL, Grier K, Chau CN, Kopec D, Dunn C. Better Together: Healthy Caswell County – Findings from a communitybased randomized controlled pilot study targeting obesity. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of
Behavioral Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2012.
Chau CN, Luebbering CR, Kolivras KN, Zoellner JM, Hill JL. Using GIS to determine environmental factors related to obesity in a
health disparate region. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity, Melbourne, Australia, June 2011.
Zanko A, Bonner J, Motley M, Chau CN, Zoellner J, Hill JL. Exploring Community Gardens in a Health Disparate Population:
Findings from a Mixed Methods Pilot Study. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine,
Washington, DC, April 2011.
Button D, Chau CN, XiMei M, Pawloski LR, Waters N. Unde et Quo? Using GIS to track participants in the Global Health Program:
Where did they come from? Where are they going? Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Association of American
Geographers, Washington, DC, April 2010.
Other Works in Progress
Waters CN, Lim YW, Long P, Tai ES, van Dam RM. The relationship between individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic status
(SES) and body mass index (BMI) among a multi-ethnic population in Singapore. In Preparation.
Uijtdewilligen L*, Waters CN*, Müller-Riemenschneider F, Lim YW. Preventing childhood obesity in Asia: an overview of
intervention programs. Under Review.*co-first author
C l a r i c e N . W a t e r s , P h D | page 3
Waters CN*, Er PL*, Chu AHY, Ng SHX, Chia A, Lim YW, Müller-Riemenschneider F. Assessing and understanding sedentary
behaviour in office-based working adults: A mixed-method approach. Under Review.*co-first author
Waters CN, Zoellner JM, Estabrooks PA, Hill JL. Is the availability of healthy foods related to fruit and vegetable consumption in a
rural, health disparate region? Under Review.
Hill JL, Waters CN, Kolivras KN, Estabrooks PA, O’Connor EF, Zoellner JM. Rural-Urban differences in the physical activity
environment in a health disparate region. Under Review.
Hill JL, Sams LK, Waters CN, Kolivras KN. Exploring the relationship between proximity to outlets, physical activity and BMI using
an environmental justice framework. Under Review.
Teaching Experience
Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Graduate Teaching Assistant, HNFE 2014: Nutrition Across the Life Span
Responsibilities included grading and administrating all quizzes, exams, in class group assignments, and
individual homework assignments and projects
Class size of 300 students, 1 section
Graduate Teaching Assistant, HNFE 3634: Epidemiologic Concepts of Health and Disease
Responsibilities included developing and presenting lectures on specific topics, grading and administrating
all quizzes, exams, and group assignments
Class size of 130 students, 1 section
Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University
Adjunct Instructor, GCH 205: International Health
Adjunct Instructor, GCH 295: Nutrition for Health Professionals
Responsibilities included preparing and presenting all lecture material, developing and administering all
assessment tools, grading and grade management, using online platform to disseminate notes and weekly
quizzes
Class size of 70 students, 2 sections GCH 205
Class size of 40 students, 1 section GCH 295
Graduate Teaching Assistant, GCH 205: International Health
Responsibilities included grading and administrating all quizzes and exams, grade management, writing
multiple choice exam questions
Class size of 50 students, 1 section
Awards
Meritorious Student Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana
Outstanding Graduate Research Award, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University
2013
2012
2009-2010
2009
2012
2009
Professional Service
Ad Hoc Reviewer
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Emerging Themes in Epidemiology
Health and Place
Professional Membership
International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2011-present
Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2011-2014
American Society for Nutrition, 2011-2012
last updated 13 November 2015
C l a r i c e N . W a t e r s , P h D | page 4