Sean Doherty, Wilfrid Laurier University

Research

Read how they describe their research on their Wilfrid Laurier University profile.

Can a smartphone be a health device?How are parks making us healthier?Does your blood glucose vary over space?Can text messages make you eat more local foods?

Latest papers

Examining disparities in the accessibility of unhealthy food vendors in school neighbourhoods across Ontario: Would the implementation of new distance-based regulations improve equity?
Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique · 2026
Examining diet quality among postsecondary students: a cross-sectional analysis of personal, social, structural, and environmental correlates.
International journal of food sciences and nutrition · 2026
The Healthy Environments and Active Living for Translational Health (HEALTH) Platform: A smartphone-based system for geographic ecological momentary assessment research.
PLOS digital health · 2025

All 14 publications

Latest funding

Evaluation of a Smartphone Based Intervention for Improving Food Literacy, Food Purchasing, and Diet Quality Among Youth in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Environments
CIHR · 2018 · Co-investigator
$684,674
SMART PREVENTION: Developing smart city enabled precision public health research infrastructure for disease and injury prevention
CIHR · 2017 · Co-investigator
$10,000
Development of combined GPS-accelerometer-based monitoring and alerting system for the second generation iGO bracelet
NSERC · 2010 · Principal investigator
$25,000

All 14 grants and awards

14 publications.

01

Examining disparities in the accessibility of unhealthy food vendors in school neighbourhoods across Ontario: Would the implementation of new distance-based regulations improve equity?

Caruso O, McEachern L, Wray A, Minaker L, Doherty S, Gilliland J

Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique2026

DOI: 10.17269/s41997-026-01175-0 PMID: 41814055

02

Examining diet quality among postsecondary students: a cross-sectional analysis of personal, social, structural, and environmental correlates.

Schaafsma H, Seabrook J, McEachern LW, Haines J, Minaker L, Doherty S, O'Connor C, Stranges S, Gilliland J

International journal of food sciences and nutrition2026

DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2026.2625831 PMID: 41730514

03

The Healthy Environments and Active Living for Translational Health (HEALTH) Platform: A smartphone-based system for geographic ecological momentary assessment research.

Wray AJ, O'Bright KR, Zhong S, Doherty S, Luubert M, Long J, Reining CE, Lemieux CJ, Salter J, Gilliland J

PLOS digital health2025

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0001133 PMID: 41379795

04

How Accurate Is Multiple Imputation for Nutrient Intake Estimation? Insights from ASA24 Data.

Woods N, Gilliland J, McEachern LW, O'Connor C, Stranges S, Doherty S, Seabrook JA

Nutrients2025

DOI: 10.3390/nu17152510 PMID: 40806095

05

Does outdoor advertising correlate with retail food purchases made by adolescents? A cross-sectional study in Canada.

Wray A, Martin G, Seabrook JA, Doherty S, Gilliland J

Health promotion international2025

DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaf016 PMID: 40099960

06

Breakfast Consumption and Diet Quality of Teens in Southwestern Ontario.

Woods N, Seabrook JA, Haines J, Stranges S, Minaker L, O'Connor C, Doherty S, Gilliland J

Current developments in nutrition2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2022.100003 PMID: 37180078

07

Analyzing differences between spatial exposure estimation methods: A case study of outdoor food and beverage advertising in London, Canada.

Wray A, Martin G, Doherty S, Gilliland J

Health & place2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102641 PMID: 34344617

08

How Do Urban Environments Affect Young People's Mental Health? A Novel Conceptual Framework to Bridge Public Health, Planning, and Neurourbanism.

Buttazzoni A, Doherty S, Minaker L

Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)2022

DOI: 10.1177/0033354920982088 PMID: 33563094

09

Distinct Places to Address Intimate Partner Violence.

Piscitelli A, Doherty S, Francis S

Journal of interpersonal violence2021

DOI: 10.1177/0886260519836782 PMID: 30894047

10

Examining the Correlates of Adolescent Food and Nutrition Knowledge.

Brown R, Seabrook JA, Stranges S, Clark AF, Haines J, O'Connor C, Doherty S, Gilliland JA

Nutrients2021

DOI: 10.3390/nu13062044 PMID: 34203666

Evaluation of a Smartphone Based Intervention for Improving Food Literacy, Food Purchasing, and Diet Quality Among Youth in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Environments

Co-investigatorCIHR2018Project Grant

Principal investigators: Gilliland, Jason A

Keywords: Behaviour Change; Child And Youth Health; Dietary Behaviours; Food Environments; Food Literacy; Healthy Eating; Nutritional Messaging; Overweight/Obesity; Smartphones; Surveys

$684,674

SMART PREVENTION: Developing smart city enabled precision public health research infrastructure for disease and injury prevention

Co-investigatorCIHR2017Planning/Dissemination Grants - IPPH - ICS - Building Healthy Cities - ECI pool

Principal investigators: Minaker, Leia

Keywords: Disease Prevention; Healthy Cities; Municipal Policy; Smart Cities

$10,000

Development of combined GPS-accelerometer-based monitoring and alerting system for the second generation iGO bracelet

Principal investigatorNSERC2010Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Doherty, Sean

$25,000

Development and Evaluation of MyTrak Accelerometer Algorithm and M2 Device for Deployment on a Smartphone

Principal investigatorNSERC2010Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Doherty, Sean

$25,000

Geomatics for Informed Decisions/La géomatique pour des inerventions et des décisions éclairées

Co-investigatorNSERC2009Networks of Centres of Excellence

Principal investigators: Chrisman, Nicholas

$7,883,000

Applications of an automated activity monitoring system

Principal investigatorNSERC2009Idea to Innovation

Principal investigators: Doherty, Sean

$119,000

Integration of bio-physiological information with a point-of-care decision support system for safer patient care

Co-investigatorNSERC2008Collaborative Health Research Projects

Principal investigators: Doran, Diane

$227,655

Application of global positioning system (GPS) technologies for tracking and understanding human activity-travel patterns and decision-making

Principal investigatorSSHRC2006Standard Research Grants

Principal investigators: Doherty, Sean T.

Keywords: activity scheduling; human activity-travel patterns; computerized social survey methods; global positioning systems (GPS); travel behaviour; tourism; recreation and liesure; immigrants; social networks

$107,122

Geomatics for Informed Decisions/La géomatique pour des inerventions et des décisions éclairées

Co-investigatorNSERC2005Networks of Centres of Excellence

Principal investigators: Chrisman, Nicholas

$11,391,000

Advanced Technologies for Tracing and Understanding Human Activity-Travel Patterns

Principal investigatorCFI2002John R. Evans Leaders Fund: On-going New Opportunities Fund

Principal investigators: Doherty, Sean

Keywords: Computerized social surveys, Global positioning systemsHuman activity, Travel behaviour, Activity scheduling software

$60,833

From public funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998 with their latest competition results, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Genome Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Canada Research Chairs, the Fonds de recherche du Québec, Ontario research funding, Michael Smith Health Research BC, the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart & Stroke and Brain Canada.

Frequent collaborators

Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Geography and Environment
Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences
School of Planning
Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition
Health Disciplines
Department of Geography and Environmental Management
Other

Co-authors at Wilfrid Laurier University, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Jason Gilliland

Geography and Environment

8 shared papers, latest 2026

Colleen O'Connor

Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences

5 shared papers, latest 2026

Leia Minaker

School of Planning

4 shared papers, latest 2026

Saverio Stranges

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

4 shared papers, latest 2026

Jess Haines

Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition

3 shared papers, latest 2026

Gina Martin

Health Disciplines

2 shared papers, latest 2025

Brent Doberstein

Department of Geography and Environmental Management

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Jamie Seabrook

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

1 shared papers, latest 2026

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Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Can a smartphone be a health device? Dear Professor Doherty, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Examining disparities in the accessibility of unhealthy food vendors in school neighbourhoods across Ontario: Would the implementation of new distance-based regulations improve equity?" (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]