Behavioral Health Work

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

    • Conducted a literature review analyzing factors influencing the implementation of interventions addressing work-related safety, mental health, and well-being among small businesses.

    • Collaborated as a co-author on the manuscript, taking the lead in crafting the methods section, which encompassed the search strategy, screening process, data extraction, and data synthesis and analysis.

    • Authored a NIOSH TWH Promising Practice article, published in November 2023, discussing family-friendly workplace policies, programs, and practices to support worker and family health.

    • Received an award for leading the rebranding of the Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), guiding stakeholders through target audience analysis, competitive research, positioning, logo development, testing new names, and launch planning.

    • Performed an analysis of NIOSH Nanotechnology’s marketing strategy, website analytics, and user experience, delivering recommendations aimed at boosting website traffic and increasing public awareness of potential health risks to workers making and using nanomaterials.

    • Directed user testing for NTRC videos, improving content clarity and engagement, and established KPIs to measure impact.

    • Delivered a well-received presentation on UX and marketing frameworks at the CDC NIOSH Health Literacy Webinar, helping over 50 participants apply concepts to their work.

    • Led a division-wide initiative to optimize efficiency by creating a product portfolio, mapping workflows, and implementing effective project management practices.

    • Championed the adoption of Asana, leading a pilot program with training, iterative feedback, and process refinements. 

    • Authored strategic communication plans to articulate objectives, roles and responsibilities, ensure clear direction, address resistance, and foster cultural change to increase adoption.

    • Developed analysis methods using Asana reporting features to track progress, workload, individual performance, and bottlenecks, enabling data-driven process improvements.

    • Collaborated with cross-disciplinary teams to templatize policy development processes.

    • Identified bottlenecks such as delays in handoffs and inefficiencies such as redundant review.

    • Managed high-level and day-to-day project management, resource allocation, and timely product delivery, shortening timelines and completing key milestones ahead of schedule.

    • Earned public commendation from a senior scientist for strategic planning and project management that enabled the reduction of the overall timeline by two months.

    • Conducted occupational safety and health research on topics such as mental health, food security, age-friendly workplace training, and construction safety. Responsibilities include literature reviews, data analysis, drafting reports, dissemination, and evaluation.

    • Mentored colleagues in marketing, UX, and project management, fostering professional growth and problem-solving skills, while continually enhancing personal leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills as a mentee.

    • HHS Virtual and Hybrid Team Leadership: Developed practical techniques to foster teamwork, communication, and collaboration in virtual environments.

    • HHS Change Management for Leaders: Learned strategies to positively lead and motivate people through cultural or organizational change and effectively communicate transitions.

    • HHS Bear, Eagle, Buffalo, Mouse: Living in a World of Difference: Gained skills in leveraging diverse personalities, working styles, and cultural perspectives.

    • HHS Making Meetings Work

Papers & Presentations

  • Varela, J.F. (2022). “Employee Networks in Companies and Stress”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, HBEHED 633 Social Networks and Social Support, Cleopatra Howard Caldwell, PhD

    • Developed a measurement instrument to evaluate employee social networks and social support in corporate settings and associated effects on employee stress levels.

    • Conducted a small cross-sectional study of racially diverse women working full-time in the biotechnology and technology sectors.

    • Findings: Employees in smaller teams tended to feel more supported and connected, no matter how big their company was. Support varied across teams, showing that some work relationships are helpful while others are not. Working remotely didn’t seem to change how supported people felt. Overall, most participants reported low to moderate stress, though many said they sometimes felt mentally exhausted.

  • Varela, J.F. (2021). “Grant Proposal: Meta Substance Use Prevention Program”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Independent Study for Program Development, Paul J. Fleming, PhD, MPH

    • Created a program that prioritized and integrated Employee-Centered Systems Health Framework to prevent employee substance use used to enhance work performance and for stress release.

    • Focused on stress management, team dynamics, and workplace environment as program components.

  • Varela, J.F. (2022). “Chronic Stress and Health Discovery”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, ENTR 599, Grace Hsia, BSE, MSE

    • Conducted qualitative research for my Entrepreneurs Leadership Program capstone, interviewing parents/caregivers of children under 10 to understand stress, health, challenges, resources, and unmet needs.

    • Identified top stressors including lack of time, work overload, blurred work/life boundaries, parenting pressure, and concerns about children’s safety and future.

    • Uncovered unmet needs for more personal time, clearer work boundaries, affordable childcare, and stronger partner relationships.

    • Defined two high-potential opportunity directions: (1) a family-based program, experience, or service delivered through trusted community and healthcare channels, and (2) a workplace-based solution focused on supporting remote and hybrid parents with time-efficiency tools, burnout prevention, work/life balance programs, and employer-sponsored family wellbeing. Further research is needed to understand is work is a potential setting for a family-based intervention.

  • Varela, J.F. (2021). “Family Financial Stress, Cancer, and the Economy”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, HBEHED 629 Families and Health, Linda M. Chatters, PhD

    • Conducted a study examining the association between family financial obligations and family financial stress, with mediator variables including cancer and medical debt, and a moderating variable of economic instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • Proposed policy changes, recommendations for professional practice, and support and resources for families based on the study’s findings.

  • Varela, J.F. (2023). “Case Study: Managing Multiple Chronic Conditions”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, HBEHED 628 Chronic Illness Interventions: Midlife to Older Adulthood, Cathleen M. Connell, PhD, MS

    • Investigated a patient with multiple chronic conditions, using a combination of quantitative scales and qualitative interviews to understand their self-management behaviors, medical care quality and coordination, challenges, and barriers.

  • Varela, J.F. (2023). “Gender Gap in Adolescent Sport & Physical Activity”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, HBEHED 710.002 Women’s Health, Elizabeth J. King, PhD, MPH

    • Composed a literature review examining gender disparities in physical activity among adolescents and young adults in the United States and the impact on health outcomes of girls and women.

    • Analyzed barriers and facilitators to physical activity and the intersectionality of gender with sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, grade level, parent education level, family income, and location.

    • Assessed interventions aimed to increase physical activity, identified research gaps, and proposed recommendations for future research.

  • Varela, J.F. (2022). “UCI Center for Population Inequality and Policy Community Proposal for CBPR”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, HBEHED 733 Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), Barbara Israel, DrPH, MPH

    • Authored a proposal using CBPR approach to address concerns of safety in the community of Santa Ana, California, including issues related to homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, gang and gun violence, and general disorder.

    • Designed a comprehensive research plan that included a detailed description of the community, historical context, community-led goals and objectives, partnership engagement, data collection strategies such as secondary data analysis, photovoice, mapping, and focus groups, data analysis and feedback, dissemination, as well as the potential barriers and facilitators. 

  • Bui, Q., Domzalski R., Tubbs, D., Vandermeulen, E., Varela, J.F., Zapata, M. (2022). “Healthy Living Ambassador Program Evaluation Plan”. University of Michigan, School of Public Health, HBEHED 622 Program Evaluation, Ebony Reddock, PhD, MPH