headshot of Dr. von Ranson

Dr. Kristin von Ranson

Ph.D., R.Psych.
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Affiliations

Full Member

Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Full Member

Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education

Member

O'Brien Institute for Public Health

Child Health & Wellness Researcher

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute

Contact information

Web presence

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-7085

Location

Office: AD272

For media enquiries, contact

Submit a media request

Preferred method of communication

kvonrans@ucalgary.ca

I'm looking for...

Research partners

For the 2026-2027 academic year, I am accepting applications for a clinical psychology graduate supervisee, but I am not accepting applications for a psychology honours supervisee.

Background

Credentials

Registered Psychologist, College of Alberta Psychologists, 2001

Educational Background

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology/Clinical Science, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 1998

Postdoctoral fellowship Pediatric Psychology/Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 2000

Research

Areas of Research

Eating Disorders
Body Image
Psychopathology
Activities

My expertise lies in eating disorders and body image across the lifespan. In the Eating Behaviours Laboratory, we use various methods to understand and reduce the burden of eating pathology on individuals and society. We study eating pathology symptoms in children, adolescents, and adults.

Our research emphasizes three main areas: 

  1. Bridging the gap between researchers' recommendations and practitioners' psychotherapy choices
  2. Investigating whether eating disorders or symptoms such as binge eating are forms of addiction
  3. Examining theorized risk and maintenance factors for eating disorders, including comorbid psychopathology (substance misuse, anxiety, depression, childhood externalizing disorders), emotion dysregulation, personality, and attentional biases.

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
PSYC 503 Special Topics in Psychology: Eating Disorders Fall 2025
PSYC 501.23 SEC 01 S01 Eating Disorders Honours Seminar Winter 2024
PSYC 750.11 Eating Disorders Winter 2023

Awards

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies My SupervisorSkills GREAT Supervisor Award, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary. 2016
  • Feminist Mentoring Award, Section of Women and Psychology, Canadian Psychological Association. 2016
  • Nominee, Supervisory Excellence Award, Graduate Students’ Association, University of Calgary. 2016
  • Fellow, Academy for Eating Disorders. 2005
  • Huffman-Capraro Award, North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 2000
  • Conference Trainee Travel Award, Eating Disorder Research Society. 1997

Publications

In the News

  • The Body Project. 660 News. (2018)