Dr. Widen's research program applies an interdisciplinary life course approach to the intersection of nutrition sciences with reproductive, perinatal, pediatric and nutritional epidemiology and behavioral nutrition. The goal of Dr. Widen's research is to develop and apply advanced analytic methods, interdisciplinary approaches and interventions to improve nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life and thereafter. 

Widen's lab at The University of Texas at Austin leads (1) a randomized controlled trials focused on infant feeding and parenting sensitivity to prevent child obesity and promote healthy growth, optimize infant nutrition and feeding practices, and support cognitive and motor development, and child self-regulation (2) a nutritional phenotyping pregnancy cohort, the Mother Infant NuTrition Study (MINT), with mother-infant follow up postpartum, and (3) several studies focused on weight or body composition trajectories among high-risk populations, including multiple gestations, people with obesity and mothers with HIV and their children in Africa.