Behavioral Measurement & Population Science

• Provides methodologic input, especially pertaining to qualitative, mixed method and community-based observational and interventional trials.
• Develops and designs study protocols, standard operating procedures, data collection instruments, and databases.

• Provides community- and clinic-based recruitment, consenting, and data collection activities.
• Project coordinators may manage staff, monitor fidelity, and implement quality control procedures.
• Ensures study timelines and tracks study progress.

• Provides analytic support for qualitative and mixed methods studies.
• Develops data collection instruments, and conducts interviews and focus groups.
• Leads qualitative data analysis using NVivo® or Dedoose software packages, a unique service in the UNMCCC

• Facilitates study accrual data are captured on CCSG Data Table 4.
• Develops and follows processes to ensure new studies initiated by CCPS members meet CCSG guidelines for accurate accrual reporting.
• BMPS leadership serves on the Population Science CWG to further integrate research and data accrual reporting needs.

• Develops and provides research tailored training events for research teams and more broadly to UNMCCC faculty, study staff, and students.
• Hosts a monthly journal club to discuss behavioral and population science research of topical and catchment area relevance.
• Provides mentored training opportunities for students and interns in collaboration with UNMCCC’s CRTECC and other UNM programs.

Director, Behavioral Measurement & Population Sciences 

Dolores D. Guest, PhD, RD (505-272-1487) is a Research Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine (DOIM) and the Director of the Behavioral Measurement and Population Science Shared Resource at The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC). She received her PhD (Nutritional Sciences, 2009) and completed her dietetic internship (Registered Dietitian, R.D., 2009) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She completed two additional years in post-doctoral training in the Department of Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology at UIUC as well as at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Dr. Guest has designed and led several qualitative research studies in a number of areas including Parkinson’s disease, pain management, and women’s health and body composition. She has conducted this research with a variety of culturally and ethnically diverse groups, including Alaska Natives and Native Americans. Her research has focused on lifestyle influences in combination with genetic variability on disease development, recovery and subsequent quality of life. Presently, her research focuses on improving access to nutrition care for patients with cancer.

Given the diversity of her previous work, she brings a broad skill set to the Shared Resource, including grant and IRB application preparation, direct clinical and community engagement, study design and execution, and database development and management expertise. She has been at the UNMCCC since 2014 where she has supported dozens of cancer-focused population-based research studies through project management, pre-award and study design assistance, regulatory support, and dissemination.

Sr. Biostatistician, Biostatistics Shared Resource

Tawny Boyce, MS, MPH has been with the Biostatistics Shared Resource since 2015 and shares a portion of her time with Behavioral Measurement and Population Science Shared Resource at UNMCCC. She has knowledge of data management and analysis of longitudinal observational clinical data for use in publications and presentations for a wide range of audiences. She has used clinical, behavioral, and quality of life data to assess health outcomes and promote disease prevention across the lifespan. Services through BMPS include 1) Case report form design and development 2) Database design and development (i.e. REDCap) 3) Data management plans and standard operating procedures.

Her educational background includes a dual Master’s degree from Tufts University focusing on epidemiology, biostatistics and nutrition. She has prior experience as a quantitative epidemiologist/biostatistician at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. She has experience with large population datasets used to illustrate health disparities in chronic conditions and health behaviors across the lifespan, with particular interest in nutrition, physical activity, obesity, people with disabilities, older adults, and data management.

Research Projects Specialist / Research Scientist 3

Ellen Burgess (505-272-4595) is a Research Projects Specialist with the Behavioral Measurement and Population Sciences (BMPS) Shared Resource at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Ellen joined BMPS in 2019 after earning her MPH (Community Health Concentration) from UNM’s College of Population Health. She has now supported more than a dozen cancer center research studies, building strong working relationships with faculty members as well as mentoring junior colleagues and students. Ellen’s skills include project planning and coordination, regulatory documentation, survey instrument development (REDCap), participant recruitment, qualitative data collection and analysis (Dedoose and NVivo), and direct clinical and community collaboration.

Ellen, who was born and raised in New Mexico, keeps participant well-being at the forefront of her work. She is dedicated to supporting BMPS’s core mission of developing and implementing cancer-focused population science, and her previous non-profit and rural county social services experiences propel her to long-term community engaged research in partnership with New Mexico’s vibrant and diverse communities.

Research Scientist 2

Mark Montoya, MPH is a Research Scientist with the Behavioral Measurement and Population Science (BMPS) shared resource at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Mark earned his BS in Psychology at the University of New Mexico. He later received his MPH with a concentration in Epidemiology from Benedictine University, before joining BMPS in 2024. Throughout his academic career, Mark has worked in different public health areas ranging from direct crisis intervention (through UNM’s Agora Crisis Center) to quantitative research.

After completion of his MPH and prior to joining BMPS, Mark worked as an Epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health’s Emerging Infectious Disease Program. Other early experiences include Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) work concentrated on different communities around New Mexico, including both metro area and remote rural communities with UNM’s Community Health Worker Initiative.

Sr Research Scientist

Judith Sheche (505-272-2274) is a tribal member of the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico and is a Senior Research Scientist Behavioral Measurement and Population Science (BMPS) Shared Resource at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC). Since joining UNMCCC in 2021, Judith has over a decade of mixed methods research experience advancing health equity.

Judith’s extensive research experience encompasses the entire research process, from study design to dissemination. She has a strong emphasis on participatory and qualitative methodologies while her project management skills facilitate the successful execution of complex community-based research initiatives. Judith engages in community outreach and fosters meaningful connections that enhance research relevance and impact primarily in Native American communities in New Mexico.

Before her role at UNMCCC, Judith contributed to the UNM Center for Native American Health. She also has experience as a research coordinator in a federally qualified healthcare center focusing on primary and secondary prevention for a diverse patient population. Her background also includes being a health promotion specialist. Additionally, she has served on advisory boards addressing critical Native American health issues.

Judith obtained her Master’s degree in Human Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of New Mexico.