Nancy Jao, PhD, is an assistant professor (tenure-track) in the department of psychology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Jao obtained 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 and postdoctoral training through the NHLBI T32 Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Research Fellowship at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University with Laura Stroud, PhD at the Center for Behavioral and Preventative Medicine.
Dr. Jao’s program of research focuses on utilizing translational research to understand the impact of tobacco products and characteristics, particularly menthol flavoring, on nicotine dependence and health outcomes. She is particularly interested in examining underlying biobehavioral relationships to understand the impact of smoking on chronic diseases and health disparities. An aim of Dr. Jao’s research is the understanding of the behavioral and health effects of characterizing flavors in combustible tobacco products to develop, evaluate, and support tobacco regulations in the US.