Nancy C. Jao, PhD

Dr. Nancy Jao (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. Dr. Jao completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Medicine/Health Psychology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She completed her clinical psychology internship at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and remained at Brown Medical School as a NIH Post-Doctoral Research Fellow funded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) T32 Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Research Fellowship.

Dr. Jao’s program of research focuses on utilizing a translational science approach to understand the impact of tobacco products and characteristics (e.g., flavoring, additives, nicotine content) on dependence and health outcomes. She is particularly interested in examining underlying biobehavioral relationships to understand the impact of smoking on biological processes to contribute to nicotine dependence and health disparities. Her work has also examined tobacco use in vulnerable and minoritized populations, including pregnant women, racial minorities, and clinical populations.

Dr. Jao’s current research focuses on understanding the behavioral and health effects of characterizing flavors in combustible tobacco products to help regulatory agencies identify and quantify the potential impact of public policies. Her current research project funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to examine the effect of menthol cigarette use on biomarkers of cardiovascular health. Utilizing biological measures and ecological momentary assessment, her study will aim to understand how a ban of menthol as a characterizing flavor in combustible cigarettes may impact individuals’ behaviors and health outcomes.

Are You a Prospective Graduate Student?

Dr. Jao is planning to accept a student for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Recent Publications (Selected)

• Jao NC, Martinez-Cardoso A, Vahora M, Tan MM. The role of smoking history in longitudinal changes in C-reactive protein between Black and White older adults in the US. Prev Med Rep. 2022 Aug;28:101885. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101885. eCollection 2022 Aug. PubMed PMID: 35855919; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9287345.
• Jao NC, Sokol NA, Vergara-Lopez C, Borba K, Scott-Sheldon LAJ, Stroud LR. Use and perceptions of menthol versus non-menthol cigarettes among pregnant women. J Addict Dis. 2022 Apr-Jun;40(2):247-253. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2021.1981123. Epub 2021 Nov 9. PubMed PMID: 34751106; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9058148.
• Stroud LR, Papandonatos GD, Jao NC, Niaura R, Buka S, Benowitz NL. Maternal nicotine metabolism moderates the impact of maternal cigarette smoking on infant birth weight: A Collaborative Perinatal Project investigation. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Apr 1;233:109358. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109358. Epub 2022 Feb 17. PubMed PMID: 35247723; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8977115.
• Stroud LR, Papandonatos GD, Sharma E, Jao NC, Goldman S, Vergara-Lopez C, Scott-Sheldon LAJ. Flavored waterpipe tobacco preferences, perceptions, and use in pregnant women: A latent factor mapping approach. Addict Behav. 2022 Mar;126:107194. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107194. Epub 2021 Nov 26. PubMed PMID: 34864479; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8926392.
• Quinn MH, Olonoff M, Bauer AM, Fox E, Jao N, Lubitz SF, Leone F, Gollan JK, Schnoll R, Hitsman B. History and Correlates of Smoking Cessation Behaviors Among Individuals With Current or Past Major Depressive Disorder Enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Trial. Nicotine Tob Res. 2022 Jan 1;24(1):37-43. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntab147. PubMed PMID: 34259871; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8666119.
• Jao NC, Gueorguieva R, Hitsman B, Sofuoglu M. Acute effects of inhaled menthol on cognitive effects of intravenous nicotine among young adult cigarette smokers. Addict Behav. 2021 Nov;122:107022. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107022. Epub 2021 Jun 18. PubMed PMID: 34174551; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8328965.
• Jao NC, Levin ED, Simon MA, Hitsman B. Differences in Cognitive Task Performance, Reinforcement Enhancement, and Nicotine Dependence Between Menthol and Nonmenthol Cigarette Smokers. Nicotine Tob Res. 2021 Oct 7;23(11):1902-1910. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntab120. PubMed PMID: 34086950; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8691064.

Please see Dr. Jao’s MyBibliography for a complete list of her published work.