Globe-Trotting Foodie
Eve Puffer teaches at Duke, researches in Kenya and eats where the food is tasty
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.