Principal Investigators
Research Managers
Study Coordinators
Mary Ruth Wiggins enjoys hiking, camping, and taking pictures in all the beautiful places that Utah has to offer. She has always loved working with kids and has done so in many different settings including youth corrections, therapeutic group homes and K-8 schools. She is passionate about reading and literacy. Even though her own children are now grown, she can often be found leaving the library with a stack of children’s books. She is dedicated to supporting the well-being of children and is glad to be working with the Utah Children’s Project/ECHO program to better understand children’s health.
Julie Koldewyn graduated from USU with an MS in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management in 2016 and has worked on the UCP/ECHO project since 2020. In her spare time, she loves to foster rabbits for a local rabbit rescue, hike, and go to concerts.
Halle is a study coordinator with the Utah Children's Project for the Preconception to Perinatal Outcomes (PPO) study and the ECHO program. In 2022 she earned her MS in Public Health with a certificate in Statistics. She is excited to combine her passion for research and reproductive health in this role.
Angel graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Psychology and a certificate in Human Factors in 2022. He was born in Mexico and came to the United States when he was two years old. His favorite thing about Utah is all of the nature it has to offer. He has worked on the UCP/ECHO project since 2024 as a study coordinator. Angel is bilingual and works closely with Spanish-speaking patients. In his free time, he likes to go camping, dancing, and doing photography.
Alexis lives in Cache valley with her husband and kids. She graduated from USU with a BS in Biology and Biochemistry in 2014, and has worked as a project assistant for the Utah Children's Project/ECHO Cache site since 2017. She enjoys puzzles, funny movies, traveling, and reading.
Nikki Rice moved to Cache Valley in 2017 with her husband and three kids. She has enjoyed hiking, running, biking, and skiing in the mountains almost every day since she arrived. She is a former kindergarten teacher and yoga instructor with a passion for research. She completed a master’s degree in kinesiology at USU in 2021. Working for the UCP/ECHO project has been a wonderful opportunity for her to combine her interest in research, her joy for working with children, and her desire to organize!
Cecilia graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science and Health. She is a passionate and dedicated professional in the field of healthcare and research. She has contributed to the SHINE Breast Cancer Study, Thyroid Cohort Study, and the National Children’s Study during its pilot phase. Currently she works as a Study Coordinator on the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program at Utah State University. During her off-time, Cecilia is a devoted parent to three Children who enjoys skiing, nature walks and the therapeutic experiences of Japanese Onsen.
Kaitlyn graduated from Brigham Young University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. She joined the UCP/ECHO Program in 2024 as a study coordinator. Kaitlyn has experience working with children of various backgrounds, from volunteering as a youth crisis counselor to her previous work as a behavior technician/therapist. She is excited to dive deeper into her interests in research and maternal and child health. When Kaitlyn is not working, she enjoys trying new foods, reading romance & high-fantasy novels, and going on adventures with her husband.
Lab Manager
Research Associates
Sandra “Sandie” Edwards is currently a Research Associate in the Department of Pediatrics. She has over 40 years of experience in survey methods and data collection including managing research studies using mail, telephone, face-to-face, and online questionnaires. She is interested in epidemiologic methods and has been an author on numerous publications on computerized data collection, study design, and participant recruiting.
Database Analysts
Shaobo graduated from the University of Utah, with hands-on experience in data analysis and data modeling in an industry company: Haasen Tara Feed Inc.
At Haasen Tara Feed Inc., he was responsible for evaluating and improving statistical models, interpreting business logic in MySQL, and developing data quality assessment logic using EXCEL VBA, as well as creating input data UI for the company.
Shaobo has some technical background with SQL, R, and Excel VBA, and has worked with business intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI.
Administrative Assistant
Regulatory Coordinator
Graduate Students
Bryce lives in Vineyard, Utah, with his wife and three kids. He graduated with a BS in Genetics & Biotechnology in 2016 and has worked in the biopharmaceutical startup space until recently, pursuing an MSTAT in biostatistics. He loves powerlifting, yoga, reading high fantasy, and video games.
I am a graduate research assistant for PPO/ECHO. I graduated with my Bachelor's in Biochemistry from BYU in 2019 and have worked in zebrafish-based research on cyanide poisoning since 2020. I am currently an MSPH candidate at the University of Utah. I am passionate about women's health and environmental exposures. I am excited to contribute to the PPO/ECHO projects. In my free time, I enjoy serving in my church, reading high-fantasy books, and spending time with my family.
