Erik Willis, PhD

ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST
DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S HEALTHY WEIGHT RESEARCH GROUP
DIRECTOR, OBSERVATIONS FOR WELLNESS AND LEARNING LAB

Dr. Erik Willis is an Associate Research Scientist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. In this role, he leads both the Children’s Health Weight Research Group and the Observation for Wellness and Learning Lab, with expertise in physical activity, nutrition, weight management, and biostatistics.

Dr. Willis’s research is dedicated to understanding the complex relationships between physical activity, nutrition, and weight, and their impact on health and chronic diseases.  His research spans diverse populations, encompassing typically developing children, adults, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a principal investigator, Dr. Willis has successfully secured research funding from both federal and foundation entities, including the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Apart from his research, Dr. Willis is actively involved in both academic and community activities. He helps lead the Compendium of Physical Activity international working group and is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Willis also reviews articles, conference submissions, and grant applications, focusing on advancing our knowledge of health promotion. Additionally, he serves on the board for Bike Durham, a local advocacy non-profit group that is dedicated to promoting equitable transportation through walking, biking, and public transit.

Dr. Willis holds a master’s and doctorate degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Kansas, respectively, in addition to a Master of Public Health from Yale University. Dr. Willis completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute prior to joining the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.