​Meet our Team.

Dr. Matthew P. Buman
Director & Associate Professor

Dr. Buman received his PhD in applied physiology & kinesiology from the University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine in the area of epidemiology and the prevention of chronic disease. His research interests reflect the dynamic interplay of behaviors across the 24 hours - sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity - and collectively how these behaviors can be harnessed for health promotion. The majority of his work leverages personal technologies (i.e., smartphones, wearables) to intervene on behaviors across the 24 hours and promote health. Matt is married with two children and enjoys brewing beer in his free time. 

Becky Sanback (past)
Project Coordinator

Becky is the Project Coordinator for the Buman research group. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 2001 to 2005, Becky received her BA in psychology in 2009 from ASU at the West Campus. She began in research as a research assistant in her undergraduate lab (BioSocial Psychology laboratory, under the mentorship of Drs. Mary Burleson and Nicole Roberts) and since then she has worked as a clinical research coordinator/project manager in healthcare settings including the Phoenix VA and Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in areas including sleep, PTSD, brain injury, dementia (Lewy Body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease). Her main areas of interest are the intersection of mental health, homelessness, crisis intervention, and the justice system. Becky was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and moved to Arizona in 2006, she is married and has a 5 year old son. She is also a Realtor and in her spare time she enjoys camping, music, hiking, rock climbing, skating, and traveling.

Dr. Krista Leonard
Postdoctoral Fellow

Krista is a postdoctoral fellow mentored by Dr. Buman. She is originally from Portland, OR. Krista received her MS and PhD in Kinesiology - Psychology of Physical Activity with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. For her MS thesis, she examined psychobehavioral determinants of postpartum depression. Her PhD dissertation examined prenatal resting energy expenditure in relation to energy intake, physical activity, and gestational weight gain in pregnant women with overweight/obesity in an effort to understand the utility of resting energy expenditure to inform individualized energy intake and physical activity goals to manage weight gain. Her research interests also include the use of mobile health tools within the context of behavioral interventions to promote physical activity, healthy eating, and optimal weight regulation. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, watching movies, and scoping out local breweries.

Kristina Hasanaj, MS
Research Associate

Kristina is a doctoral student in the Edson College Nursing and Healthcare Innovation program. She is originally from Sterling Heights, Michigan. Kristina graduated with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Central Michigan University. During her master’s, her research focused on wearable devices, exercise, and physical activity. Her doctoral research expands upon that work and focuses on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep behaviors. While also considering the use of mHealth tools such mobile apps and wearable tech as intervention tools. Her dissertation work will stem from the StandUpTV project, examining 24 hr behaviors and health outcomes related to sedentary screen time. In her free time, Kristina enjoys spending time with her family and friends, learning new skills, DIY projects and trying to craft, jogging and being outdoors, traveling, baking/cooking to share with others, and drinking and making good coffee.

Miranda Larouche, MS
Research Associate

Miranda is a first-year doctoral student in the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences program mentored by Dr. Buman. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, where she met Dr. Buman her junior year and fell in love with research. She completed her master’s degree in the Spring of 2018 in Exercise & wellness. Her academic interests include designing interventions for reducing sedentary behavior in Veterans and older adults. She also greatly enjoys working with undergraduate students and hopes to share the research bug with them. In her free time she enjoys fishing, camping, swimming, and watching hockey.

Rachel Crosley Lyons, MS (past)
Graduate Research Assistant

Rachel just graduated from ASU's Exercise and Wellness master's program. She married her high school sweetheart and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Health Science at Wheaton College in May 2019. Her studies are focused on health promotion, and she’s passionate about translating clinical knowledge to real-life situations. She found a love for teaching in undergrad and has enjoyed researching health behaviors in Dr. Buman’s lab. Her specific research interests include the utilization of wearable devices and smartphone messaging to observe psychosocial, behavioral, and environmental determinants of health. She will be attending the University of Southern California (USC) to start her PhD studies in the fall. In her free time, she loves barre workouts, running, hiking and backpacking, baking, and all things coffee. 

Jordan Junk (past)
Student Research Assistant

Jordan is from Glendale, Arizona and is in her senior year at Arizona State University in the undergraduate Kinesiology program. She found out about the Buman lab through the Metabolic Health Translational Team (MHTT), and is helping with the WorkWell project. Her recent experience at the Buman lab was development assisting in collaboration with the Herberger Institute Design and Arts.  She hopes to one day get her doctorate in physical therapy and specialize working in pediatrics, and looks at the lab as a great opportunity to get a better understanding of how to apply research to patient interventions. Jordan currently works at a gymnastics and cheer gym as a coach for children ages 4-18, and in her off time shadows physical therapists. Her other hobbies include reading, baking and working on old tumbling skills in the gym. ​

Gillian Reynoso
Graduate Research Assistant

Gillian spent the first three years of her life in Mexico, but has been living in Phoenix, Arizona since. She is an ASU alumna, and received a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the Tempe campus in 2019. She is currently a candidate for a master’s of Medical Studies through the University of Arizona’s Pathway Scholars Program. Physical wellness plays an important role in many aspects of healthcare, and so she is excited to participate in the research that is performed in the Buman lab! During the current pandemic, she spends most of her free time watching Netflix with her parents, meditating, reading fiction novels, hiking, going on walks, and having picnics in the park. She is happy to see so many coffee lovers in this lab, because she also appreciates a good cup. Overall, she is so grateful for this opportunity and is hoping to meet everyone virtually, and eventually in person when it is safe. 

Emily Lowell
Research Technician

Emily is a research technician in the Buman Research Group. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, she moved out to Tempe for school in 2016 and fell in love with Arizona. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from ASU in May 2020 with a minor in biology. She has been involved in many types of research including genetics, social psychology, EEG, statistical methods, human geography, psychometrics, and private sector oncology. Her research interests are mainly focused on applying statistics and data visualization to many different types of data. In her free time she enjoys baking, school (yes, school for fun), road trips with friends, and surfing whenever she can get out to LA.

Gary Gorman
Administrative Associate

Gary helps Dr. Buman & the Buman Research Team to keep operations organized, efficient, and smooth. He offers a wide range of assistance, from juggling schedules, making travel arrangements, managing office supplies, and whatever else it takes to help the team be more productive. Drawing on 22 years’ experience in Church Office Administration, Gary now focuses mainly on creating order, supporting productivity, and solving logistical problems. Gary has a background in Choral Music, has been a member of the Phoenix Chorale, and has also served on their Board of Directors.