Dr. Christopher Kline is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Human Development. His research focuses on the interrelationships between physical activity, sleep, and cardiometabolic risk. Specifically, research focuses on three central topics: (1) the use of physical activity as a behavioral treatment for disturbed sleep (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea) and the health consequences of these sleep disturbances; (2) how poor sleep impacts physical activity behavior; and (3) the independent and combined influences of physical activity and sleep on cardiometabolic risk. Dr. Kline also has a long-standing interest in studying the impact of sleep and circadian rhythms on athletic performance.
Born and raised in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Dr. Kline earned his BA in Sports Science from Malone College and his MS and PhD in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina. He first came to Pittsburgh as a postdoctoral scholar with the University of Pittsburgh Sleep and Chronobiology research group, and later joined the Pitt faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry. He has been faculty in the School of Education since 2015.
Dr. Kline’s ExerSleep research group is always looking for motivated students. Please contact Dr. Kline for additional information about current openings. If you are a Pitt undergraduate or MS student who is interested in gaining volunteer research experience with our group, please contact Dr. Kline. The minimum commitment expected is 5-10 hours per week for at least 2 semesters. Students will gain hands-on experience at all stages of the research process, including sleep assessment methodology (e.g., actigraphy, polysomnography).