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Globe-Trotting Foodie

Eve Puffer teaches at Duke, researches in Kenya and eats where the food is tasty

Eve Puffer, center, poses with members of her research team in Kenya. Puffer works to promote child mental health and family wellbeing, as well as HIV prevention.
Eve Puffer, center, poses with members of her research team in Kenya. Puffer works to promote child mental health and family wellbeing, as well as HIV prevention.

Name: Eve Puffer Position: Assistant professor in Duke's Psychology & Neuroscience Department, with a joint appointment at the Duke Global Health Institute Years at Duke: 1

What I do at Duke: My position mixes the worlds of psychology and global health, both of which I teach and perform research. I work on interventions that combine promoting better child mental health and family wellbeing, as well as preventing HIV. I work in developing countries, primarily in Africa measuring the impact of programs on families through economic wellbeing, emotional support and knowledge and behaviors related to HIV.

If I had $5 million, I would: I'd want to go to Africa and work in urban, rural and humanitarian settings to develop programs that work with families for the prevention of HIV and mental health treatments. A problem researchers often find is money allows us to get an immediate snapshot of what happens to people. With $5 million, we could follow youth for 10 to 15 years and see what works best in the truest sense.

My first ever job: A barker for Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in Charleston, South Carolina . It was a summer job during college. I was 20 and got to live on the beach, but for work I stood at a corner and asked people to come in for dinner and gave them free shrimp samples. I yelled a lot of lines about happy hour specials and that we had everything from chicken tenders to grilled Mahi Mahi.

My dream job: Having tenure would be nice. But if I could do something completely different, it would be amazing to be a chef and to learn to cook food from all over the world. I really enjoy cooking. I love food and love eating out. When I daydream, it's honestly often about what I want to eat for dinner that night.

The best advice I ever received: You have choices at every point in your life. Just because you're doing one thing now doesn't mean you can't do something else. You're not stuck.

What I love about Duke: The music from the Chapel at 5 p.m. every afternoon and the beauty of the camps. It takes you back in time in a way. I came to Duke when I was in high school on a college visit, and it was a campus that made a strong impression on me. It's a beautiful place to work.

When I'm not at work, I like to: Go out to eat, travel, and I'm always up for a good TV marathon. I love Breaking Bad and New Girl.

Something most people don't know about me: I'm an "elite" Yelper for the Yelp review website. It goes with eating out often. They even give you virtual badges on the site based on how many restaurant reviews you've written. I have 176 now.