Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Jessica Watterson is a Senior Research Fellow at Action Lab in the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University Australia, and an adjunct Senior Lecturer at Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. Her research focuses on the design and evaluation of digital health technologies, particularly for underserved populations. Her previous research has included studies on text messaging programs to help low-income, Latinx patients with diabetes to better manage their health and to encourage pregnant women in Samoa to attend antenatal care. Dr Watterson also conducted research to contribute to the development of a mobile app solution to improve immunization rates in India, and has studied how electronic medical records can facilitate health care team communication in the United States or improve HIV care in Rwanda.
Prior to joining Monash University, Dr Watterson used human-centered design methodology to develop health innovations as a Senior Design Researcher at IDEO. She also previously worked with the World Health Organization, Oxfam, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders and other organizations with a focus on improving health.
Dr Watterson earned her PhD in Health Policy and her Master of Public Health from University of California, Berkeley. Her undergraduate degree was in Biochemistry at New York University.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Health Policy, PhD, University of California Berkeley
Award Date: 11 May 2018
Public Health, Master of Public Health, University of California Berkeley
Award Date: 17 May 2013
Biochemistry, Bachelor of Arts, New York University
Award Date: 16 May 2009
Research area keywords
- Digital Health
- Human Centered Design
- Health Promotion
- Health Equity
- mhealth and ehealth
- chronic disease prevention and management
- Women's health
- Participatory Design
- Mixed methods research
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Enhancing Deaf Healthcare Access and Outcomes through Inclusive Health Research
Palanisamy, U. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Wong, K. S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lay Ki, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Olivier, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Chong , A. A. V. Y. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Appalasamy, J. R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Selvaraj, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ramadas, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Thanzami, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Alshehri, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Watterson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/08/25 → 31/07/29
Project: Research
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Intake24 Open Nutrition Network: Developing in-country capacity to collect low-cost, high-quality, granulated data on individual dietary intake across Africa and Asia
Lietz, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Bradley, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tessema, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Pongcharoen, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abdulgalimov, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Foster, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Olivier, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wangge, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Misra, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zyl, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nyirenda, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Adu-Afarwuah, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Thuy, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ivaturi, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Watterson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Monash University – Internal Faculty Contribution
1/04/25 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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(Monash Malaysia Costs) Developing in-country capacity to collect low-cost, high-quality, granulated data on individual dietary intake acrossAfrica and Asia
Lietz, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Bradley, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Misra, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tan, S. S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Olivier, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Watterson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ivaturi, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Pongcharoen, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tessema, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wangge, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nyirenda, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Adu-Afarwuah, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Thuy, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/04/25 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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WHinc: from Community Observatory to Women’s Health INCubator
Watterson, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Su, T. T. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Olivier, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jones, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Maisarah, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Angela, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jayanthi, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lay Ki, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Selva Raja, D. B. R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tan, S. S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lim, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Kulkarni, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Alshehri, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Boyle, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/24 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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WAge: Healthy Working environments for all ages: An evidence-driven framework
Wong, K. S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Lay Ki, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lim, C. H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Chun Yong, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Watterson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Olivier, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gonzalez, V. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Sanchis, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Carnide, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Pape, L. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Merhi Auar, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Roman-Liu, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cairney, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Alshehri, T. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/12/23 → 30/11/27
Project: Research
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An evidence-based digital prescription opioid safety toolkit for national dissemination: co-design and user testing
Waddell, A., Watterson, J. L., Basur, D., Prawira, C. O., Picco, L., Lam, T., Olivier, P., Seguin, J. P., Kay, L. & Nielsen, S., 11 Jul 2025, In: Frontiers in Digital Health. 7, 16 p., 1600836.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Community-based heat adaptation interventions for improving heat literacy, behaviours, and health outcomes: a systematic review
Johar, H., Abdulsalam, F. I., Guo, Y., Baernighausen, T., Jahan, N. K., Watterson, J., Leder, K., Gouwanda, D., Letchuman Ramanathan, G. R., Lee, K. K. C., Mohamed, N., Zakaria, T. A., Barteit, S. & Su, T. T., Jul 2025, In: The Lancet Planetary Health. 9, 7, 16 p., 101207.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access6 Citations (Scopus) -
Healthcare access and outcomes for refugee women in transit: a scoping review of facilitators and barriers in South and Southeast Asia
Fernando, G., Khafiyya, A. N., Tricesaria, A. A. I. D., Watterson, J. & Puspita, S. S., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Mapping multilevel adaptation response to protect maternal and child health from climate change impacts: A scoping review
Bhandari, D. (Leading Author), Robinson, E., Pollock, W. E., Watterson, J. L., Su, T. & Lokmic-Tomkins, Z. (Leading Author), 21 Mar 2025, In: iScience. 28, 3, 17 p., 111914.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
A novel approach to co-design of digital health interventions for implementation and dissemination: Co-design of a digital Prescription Opioid Safety Toolkit
Waddell, A., Watterson, J. L., Basur, D., McMaugh, J., Boogs, M., Picco, L., Lam, T., Seguin, J., Olivier, P. L. & Nielsen, S., 2024. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
Open Access
Prizes
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Development and relative validation of Intake24 for Malaysia.
Ramadas, A. (Recipient), Watterson, J. (Recipient), Chun Wie, C. (Recipient), Olivier, P. (Recipient), Abdulgalimov, D. (Recipient), Foster, E. (Recipient), McCaffrey, T. (Recipient), Page, P. (Recipient), Steer, T. (Recipient), Amoutzopoulos, B. (Recipient) & Collins, D. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Other distinction
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Good Design Australia Award - Gold
Waddell, A. (Recipient), Basur, D. (Recipient), Prawira, C. (Recipient), Nielsen, S. (Recipient), Picco, L. (Recipient), Lam, T. (Recipient), Olivier, P. (Recipient) & Watterson, J. (Recipient), 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Ke Arah Komuniti Bebas Diabetes: Collective action on diabetes prevention and management in the workplace.
Watterson, J. (Recipient), Ramadas, A. (Recipient), Zain, D. A. Z. M. (Recipient), Geok May, K. (Recipient) & Nailah, N. (Recipient), Jun 2021
Prize: Other distinction
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School Seed Grant 2023 - JCSMHS, MUM
Maisarah, S. (Recipient), Mohan, D. (Recipient), Warren, N. (Recipient), Robinson, L. A. (Recipient), Watterson, J. (Recipient) & Ramachandram, D. S. (Recipient), 15 Apr 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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The Incubator Grant: Bolster Category
Watterson, J. (Recipient), Su, T. T. (Recipient), Boyle, J. (Recipient), Olivier, P. (Recipient), Keng, S.-L. (Recipient), Jones, E. (Recipient), Maisarah, S. (Recipient), Angela, N. (Recipient), Jayanthi, T. (Recipient), Lay Ki, S. (Recipient), Selva Raja, D. B. R. (Recipient), Tan, S. S. (Recipient), Lim, S. (Recipient), Yap, M. (Recipient), Leder, K. (Recipient), McCaffrey, T. (Recipient) & Warren, N. (Recipient), 15 Nov 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)