Barbara Piperata's research applies life history theory and takes a bio-cultural approach in understanding human ecology, reproduction and nutrition. All of her research has been conducted in Latin America, with a particular focus on rural Amazonian populations. Topics of interest include human reproductive energetics and the effects of economic change on household subsistence strategies, diet change and food security, her research incorporates quantitative and qualitative methods and the collection of biological and cultural data in effort to understand the interplay between cultural beliefs and practices and health outcomes. She has published her work in journals such as the American Journal of Human Biology, the American Journal of Physical Anthropology and Social Science & Medicine. She is currently developing a new research project in Nicaragua aimed at identifying household-level risk factors for food insecurity in urban and rural contexts, as well as maternal strategies for coping with low food availability and their relationship to child health outcomes.