Hunter Named OBSSR Deputy Director

Dr. Christine Hunter has been named deputy director of NIH’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.

“Dr. Hunter has been a major contributor to trans-NIH, trans-agency and professional association efforts and her work has expanded the relevance and impact of the behavioral and social sciences,” said OBSSR director Dr. William T. Riley. “She has built a strong and vibrant behavioral science research community studying diabetes and obesity.” 

Prior to joining OBSSR, Hunter served as director of behavioral research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Among her accomplishments at NIDDK, she led revision of the NIH Obesity Research Strategic Plan, developed and led the NIDDK Centers for Diabetes Translation Research and led numerous behavioral and social sciences research funding opportunity announcements.

Hunter serves on the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research, the Opportunity Network for Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, the science of behavior change and the behavior and environment subcommittee of the NIH obesity research task force. Her contributions to OBSSR have included serving on the NIH behavioral and social sciences coordinating committee and the OBSSR strategic plan working group.

Over her career, Hunter has received many public health service honors and awards including the American Psychological Association’s Meritorious Research Service Commendation, the Outstanding Service Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation. In addition, she has received several NIH Director’s Awards and NIDDK Director’s Awards.

Hunter received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Memphis and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Wilford Hall Medical Center. Prior to joining NIH in 2006, she served in the United States Air Force stationed at Keesler Medical Center, Wilford Hall Medical Center and the Air Force Medical Support Agency with the Office of the Surgeon General.