Rice University · PsychologyLab for Food Insecurity and Health Disparities
Luz Maria Garcini · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Luz Maria Garcini's research lab at Rice University focuses on understanding how food insecurity, particularly among Latino immigrants, affects cardiovascular health and psychological well-being. The lab conducts longitudinal studies to explore the relationship between food insecurity, trauma, and health disparities, while identifying cultural factors that may protect against these risks. By integrating biological and behavioral approaches, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that can inform effective interventions and policy changes for marginalized communities.
food insecurityimmigrant healthcardiovascular healthtraumapsychological well-beingLatino immigrantsbiobehavioral researchchronic stressresilience
Research Aims
3AIM 01Characterize food insecurity patterns among Latino immigrants with varying migration contexts.
AIM 02Examine how food insecurity and trauma influence cardiovascular disease risk and psychological well-being over time.
AIM 03Identify individual and cultural factors that may mitigate the health effects of food insecurity and trauma on Latino immigrants.
Skills the Lab Values
longitudinal study designbiological marker analysismixed methods researchnutrition assessmentdata collection in community settingsstatistical analysiscommunity engagementcultural competencypsychological assessment
Output against the department
Publications270top 19% of dept.57th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.0kbottom 18% of dept.242nd of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.