Dr. López-Cepero is a population health researcher focusing on prevention of cardiometabolic conditions among Hispanic populations, particularly obesity and type 2 diabetes. She uses a biopsychosocial approach to understand how stress influences health through behavioral and physiological adaptations, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel interventions targets to improve Hispanic health.

Her research is among the first to document stress-related eating behaviors (e.g., emotional and uncontrolled eating) among U.S. Hispanic adults and in Puerto Rico, and to examine their associations with psychosocial stressors and cardiometabolic markers. Additionally, her research explores novel resilience factors and how these may buffer the effect of stress on eating behaviors and health. 

Dr. López-Cepero is a strong advocate for minority health and health equity, and for this she has been recognized as one of the El Mundo Boston Latino 30 under 30 and a Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar.