Ìϲ©ÌåÓý

Jennifer Pearson, Ph.D., MPH

Associate Professor and Center for Drug Use, Equity and Policy Studies Director
Jennifer Pearson

Summary

Jennifer Pearson’s research focuses on how regulation of tobacco and cannabis product characteristics, packaging and advertising affects consumer behavior and public health outcomes. She also investigates how e-cigarettes are used to help adult smokers quit smoking, particularly focusing on people who smoke and who use drugs. Pearson uses multiple methods, including human laboratory and experimental methods, policy review, store audits and qualitative and mixed methods. She is also the director of the Center for Drug Use, Equity and Policy Research (C-DEPR). The primary purpose of the center is to provide the research and mentorship infrastructure to enable faculty and students at the Ìϲ©ÌåÓý to conduct multidisciplinary research aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality from the use, regulation or commercialization of drugs, with a special focus on the rural West. A secondary goal is to train the next generation of substance use researchers and public health leaders by working with both undergraduate and graduate students.

Pearson has been the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on multiple National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration funded studies (See below for currently funded studies). Pearson has authored over 130 peer-reviewed scientific articles on tobacco and cannabis policy and published in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, the American Journal of Public Health, Tobacco Control and Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

Professional affiliations

  • Member, Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
  • Member, National Institutes of Health Standing Study Section, Addictions Risks and Mechanisms (ARM)

Awards and major honors

  • 2019 to 2024: Recognized by Web of Science as among the top 1% most cited researchers in social science
  • 2023: Program chair, Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Annual Conference
  • 2020 to 2023: Commissioner and Chair of the Public Health Subcommittee, Ìϲ©ÌåÓý Cannabis Advisory Commission
  • 2021: Ìϲ©ÌåÓý System of Higher Education Ìϲ©ÌåÓý Rising Researcher Award
  • 2019 to 2023: Deputy Editor, Nicotine and Tobacco Research
  • 2014 to 2019: Associate Editor, Nicotine and Tobacco Research

Classes taught

  • PBH 341: Health Policy
  • CHS 475: Public Health Impact of the War on Drugs
  • CHS 710: Grant Writing for Public Health

Students supervised

Grants

Current

National Institute on Drug Abuse (Agency)

  • Identifying No. 7R01CA231139-05
  • Title: Evaluating implementation of Tobacco 21 laws in the U.S.
  • Project period: January 2025 to December 2030
  • Role: Co-Investigator

National Institute on Drug Abuse (Agency)

  • Identifying No. 1R01DA058005-01
  • Title: Cannabis legalization's effects on youth and adult nicotine and tobacco use
  • Project period: September 2023 to  July 2028
  • Role: Co-Investigator

National Institute on Drug Abuse (Agency)

  • Identifying No. HHSN271201600001C and 75N95024C00003
  • °Õ¾±³Ù±ô±ð:  National longitudinal survey of tobacco use - Population assessment of tobacco health (PATH) study
  • Project period: February 1, 2024 to November 30 2029
  • Role: Sub-Contractor (PI: Andrew Hyland)

National Institute on Drug Abuse/Food and Drug Administration (Agency)

  • Identifying No. R01
  • Title: "Natural" and "organic" cigarette descriptors: Association with expectancies, subjective effects, topography and biomarkers of exposure among daily smokers"
  • Project period: September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2025
  • Role: Principal Investigator

Completed

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (Agency)

  • Identifying No. U54GM104944 (pilot grant from Mountain West Clinical Translational Research – Infrastructure Network )
  • °Õ¾±³Ù±ô±ð: Feasibility and acceptability of switching to e-cigarettes among cigarette smokers engaged in substance use disorder treatment
  • Project period: July 2023 to April 2025
  • Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute on Drug Abuse (Agency)

  • Identifying No. R01DA044125
  • °Õ¾±³Ù±ô±ð: Varenicline OTC trial on efficacy and safety
  • Project period: September 1, 2017 to July 30, 2022
  • Role: Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator: Scott Leischow)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (Agency)

  • Identifying No. R15DA047606
  • Title: Recreational cannabis legalization in Ìϲ©ÌåÓý: A multi-method approach to evaluating changes in adolescent cannabis use and the influence of dispensary and outdoor advertising density
  • Project period: March 15, 2019 to February 28, 2022
  • Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute on Drug Abuse & Food and Drug Administration (Agency)

  • Title: Greenwashing cigarettes: Perceptual and behavioral evidence of inaccurate modified risk advertising
  • Proposed dates: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2023
  • Role: Consultant  (Principal Investigator: Moran)

National Institute on Drug Abuse/Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products (Agency)

  • Identifying No. U54CA229973
  • Title: Examining the effects of advertising, packaging and labeling on perceptions, use and exposure of combustible tobacco products
  • Project period: September 14, 2018 to August 31, 2023
  • Role: September 14, 2018 to August 31, 2023: Co-Investigator; September 14, 2018 to present: Consultant

Competitive Pilot Funding Awarded Through Parent Center Grant (Agency)

  • Title: The “organic” descriptor and its association with expectancies, subjective effects and smoking topography: A pilot study
  • Project period: June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020
  • Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute on Drug Abuse/Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products (Agency)

  • Identifying No. K01DA037950
  • Title: EMA and lab assessment of nicotine dependence among dual ENDS users
  • Project period: September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019
  • Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute on Drug Abuse/Food and Drug Administration (Agency)

  • Title: Perceptions of nicotine and relative harm of tobacco products in U.S. young adults
  • Project period: August 1, 2017 to July 30, 2019
  • Role: Consultant (Principal Investigator: Andrea Villanti)

Selected publications

2025

  • Pearson, J., Gratale, S. K., Ganz, O., Erinoso, O. A., Ohman-Strickland, P. & Wackowski, O. A. (2025). Tobacco Control, 34 (1), 71-77.

2024

  • Drake, C., Starcevich, K., Wackowski, O., Gratale, S. K., Ganz, O., Ohman-Strickland, P. & Pearson, J. L. (2024). Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
  • Erinoso, O., Watts, T., Koning, S., Lu, M., Wagner, K. D. & Pearson, J. (2024). Addictive Behaviors, 158, Article 108104.
  • Drake, C. S.**, Sloan, K.**, Anderson, M.**, Clements-Nolle, K. D., & Pearson, J. L. (2024). Journal of Drug Issues, 54 (2), 238-252. 

2022

  • Stanton, C., Tang, Z., Sharma, E., Seaman, E., Gardner, L., Silveira, M., Hatsukami, D., Day, H., Michael, C., Goniewicz, M., Limpert, J., Everard, C., Bansal-Travers, M., Ambrose, B., Kimmel, H., Borek, N., Compton, W., Hyland, A. & Pearson, J. (2022). Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
  • Pearson, J. & Smiley, S. (2022). Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
  • Clements-Nolle, K., Lensch, T., Drake, C. & Pearson, J. (2022). Addictive Behaviors, 130. 107280.

2021

  • Pearson, J., Ganz, O., Ohman-Strickland, P. & Wackowski, O. (2021). Tobacco Control.
  • Pearson, J., Giovenco, D., Lewis, M., Moran, M. & Ganz, O. (2021). Tobacco Control.
  • Pearson, J., Watanabe, M., Sanchez, J., Mann, S., Drake, C. & Mercincavage, M. (2021). Nicotine & Tobacco Research: official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 24.
  • Marks, C., Pearson, J., Zúñiga, M., Martin, N., Werb, D. & Smith, L. (2021). Stress and Health, 38.
  • Edwards, K., Naz, T., Stanton, C., Goniewicz, M., Hatsukami, D., Smith, D., Wang, L., Villanti, A., Pearson, J., Blount, B., Bansal-Travers, M., Feng, J., Niaura, R., Manderski, M., Sosnoff, C., Delnevo, C., Duffy, K., Valle-Pinero, A., Rostron, B. & Hyland, A. (2021). Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 30. cebp.0997.2020.
  • Pearson, J., Waa, A., Siddiqi, K., Edwards, R., Nez Henderson, P. & Hooper, M. (2021). Nicotine & Tobacco Research: Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 23.
  • Wright, K., Lucero, J., Ferguson, J., Granner, M., Devereux, P., Pearson, J. & Crosbie, E. (2021). Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 60. 1-27.
  • Pearson, J., Yang, Y., Drake, C., Lensch, T. & Clements-Nolle, K. (2021). Journal of Adolescent Health, 68.

2020

  • Amato, M.S., Bottcher, M.M., Cha, S., Jacobs, M.A., Pearson, J.L. & Graham, A.L. (2020). Addictive Behaviors, 106599.
  • Amroussia, N., Watanabe, M. & Pearson., J.L. (2020). Seeking safety: a focus group study of young adults’ cannabis-related attitudes and behavior in a state with legalized recreational cannabis. Harm Reduction Journal. Accepted 11/9/2020.
  • Glasser, A., Johnson, A., Niaura, R., Abrams, D. & Pearson JL. (2020). Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
  • Iles, I., Pearson, J.L., Lindblom, E. & Moran, M. (2020). Health Communication.
  • Lensch, T., Sloan,K., Ausmus, J., Pearson, J.L., Clements-Nolle, K., Goodman, S. & Hammond, D. (2020). Cannabis use and driving under the influence: behaviors and attitudes by state-level legal sale of recreational cannabis. Preventive Medicine. Accepted 11/3/2020.
  • Pearson, J.L., Sharma, E., Rui, N., Halenar, M., Johnson, A.L., Cummings, M.K., Hammad, H., Kaufman, A.R., Tworek, C., Goniewicz, M.L., Kimmel, H.L., Tanski, S., Compton, W.M., Day, H., Ambrose, B.K., Bansal-Travers, M., Silveira, M.L., Abrams, D.B., Limpert, J., Travers, M.J., Borek, N., Hyland, A.J. & Stanton, C.A. (2020). The impact of ENDS use on smoking progression or reduction one year later among young adult ever cigarette smokers: results from Waves 1-3 (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. JAMA Open Network. Accepted 6/25/2020.
  • Pearson, J.L. & Villanti, A.C. (2020).  Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
  • Wackowski, O.A., O’Connor, R.J. & Pearson, J.L. (2020). Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

2019

  • Amroussia, N., Gustafsson, P. & Pearson, J.L. (2019). Preventive Medicine Reports.
  • Amroussia, N., Pearson, J.L. & Gustafsson, P.E. (2019). International Journal for Equity Health, 18(1), 109.
  • Leavens, E.L., Stevens, E., Brett, E., Hebert, E., Villanti, A.C., Pearson, J.L., Wagener, T.L. (2019). Addictive Behaviors. 95, 178-183.  DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.02.011.
  • Pearson, J.L., Moran, M., Delnevo, C.D., Villanti, A.C. & Lewis, M.J. (2019). Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 21(8).
  • Stanton, C.A., Bansal-Travers, M., Johnson, A.L., Sharma, E., Katz, L., Ambrose, B.K., Silveira, M.L., Day, H., Sargent, J., Borek ,N., Compton, W.M., Johnson, S., Kimmel, H., Kaufman, A.R., Limpert, J., Abrams, D., Cummings, K.M., Goniewicz, M.L., Tanski, S., Travers, M.J., Hyland, A.J. & Pearson. J.L. (2019). Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 111. 1088-1096.

2018

  • Abrams, D.A., Glasser, A.M., Pearson, J.L., Villanti, A.C., Collins, L.K. & Niaura, R.S. (2018). Annual Review Public Health, 39, 193-213.
  • Abrams, D.B., Glasser, A.M., Villanti, A.C., Pearson, J.L., Rose, S. & Niaura, R.S. (2018). Preventive Medicine. 117, 88-97.
  • Cohn, A., Johnson, A.L., Rose, S.W., Pearson, J.L., Villanti, A.C. & Stanton, C. (2018). American Journal on Addictions. 27(6), 491-500.
  • Coleman, B., Rostron, B., Johnson, S.E., Persoskie, A., Pearson, J.L., Stanton, C., Choi, K., Anic, G., Goniewicz, M., Cummings, K.M., Kasza, K., Silveira, M., Delnevo, C., Niaura, R., Abrams, D., Kimmel, H., Borek, N., Compton, W. & Hyland, A. (2018). Tobacco Control. 28(1), 50-59.
  • Collins, L., Glasser, A.M., Abudayyeh, H., Pearson, J.L. & Villanti, A.C. (2018). Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 21(1), 14-24.
  • Moran, M.B., Brown, J., Lindblom, E., Kennedy, R., Cohn, A.M., Lagasse, L. & Pearson, J.L. (2018). Beyond 'natural': Cigarette ad tactics that mislead about relative risk. Tobacco Regulatory Science, 4(5), 3-19.
  • Pearson, J.L., Reed, D.M. & Villanti, A.C. (2018). Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 21(11), 1349-1400.
  • Sawdey, M.D., Day, H.R., Coleman, B.N., Gardner, L.D., Johnson, S.E., Limpert, J., Hammad, H.T., Goniewicz, M.L., Abrams, D.B., Stanton, C., Pearson, J.L., Kaufman, A., Kimmel, H.L., Delnevo, C., Compton, W., Bansal-Travers, M., Niaura, R., Hyland, A. & Ambrose, B.K. (2018).  Addictive Behaviors, 91, 51-60.
  • Smiley, S., Kiersted, E.C., Harvey, E., Abudayyeh, H. & Pearson, J.L. (2018). Tobacco Induced Diseases, 16,54.

2017

  • Glasser, A.M., Katz, L., Pearson, J.L., Abudayyah, H., Niaura, R.S., Abrams, D.A. & Villanti, A.C. (2017). American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 52(2), e33-e66.
  • Kasza, K.A., Ambrose, B.K., Conway, K.P., Borek, N., Taylor, K., Goniewicz, M.L., Cummings, K.M., Sharma, E., Pearson, J.L., Green, V.R., Kaufman, A.R., Bansal-Travers, M., Travers, M.J., Kwan, J., Tworek, C., Cheng, Y.C., Yang, L., Pharris-Ciurej, N., van Bemmel, D.M., Backinger, C.L., Compton, W.M. & Hyland, A.J. (2017). New England Journal of Medicine, 376(4), 342-353.
  • Pearson, J.L., Elmasry, H., Das, B., Smiley, S.L., Rubin, L., DeAtley, T., Harvey, E., Niaura, R. & Abrams, D.B. (2017). JMIR Research Protocols, 6(5), e84.
  • Pearson, J.L., Hitchman, S.C., Brose, L.S., Bauld, L., Glasser, A.M., Villanti, A.C., McNeill, A., Abrams, D.B. & Cohen, J.E. (2017) Tobacco Control. Advanve online publication.
  • Pearson, J.L., Johnson, A., Villanti, A., Glasser, A.M., Collins, L., Cohn, A.M., Rose, S.W., Niaura, R. & Stanton. C.A. (2017). Tobacco Control, 26(e1): e61-e67.
  • Pearson, J.L., Johnson, A.L., Johnson, S.E., Stanton, C.A., Villanti, A,C., Niaura, R.S., Glasser, A.M., Wang, B., Abrams, D.B., Cummings, K.M. & Hyland, A. (2017). Addiction. Advance online publication.
  • Smiley, S.L., DeAtley, T., Rubin, L.F., Harvey, E., Kierstead, E.C., Webb Hooper, M., Niaura, R.S., Abrams, D.B. & Pearson, J.L. (2017). Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 20(9), 1069-1075.
  • Villanti, A.C., Feirman, S.P., Niaura, R.S., Pearson, J.L., Glasser, A.M., Collins, L.K. & Abrams, D.B. (2017). Addiction, 113(3), 391–404.

2016

  • Pearson, J.L., Smiley, S.L., Rubin, L.F., Anesetti-Rothermel, A., Elmasry, H., Davis, M., DeAtley, T., Harvey, E., Kirchner, T. & Abrams. D.B. (2016). BMJ Open, 6(4):e011717. 
  • Pearson, J.L., Richardson, A., Feirman, S.P., Villanti, A.C., Cantrell, J., Cohn, A., Tacelosky, M. & Kirchner, T.R. (2016). Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 18(8), 1749-1756.

2014

  • Pearson, J.L., Stanton, C.A., Cha, S., Niaura, R.S., Luta, G. & Graham, A.L. (2014). Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(10), 1219-27. 

2013

  • Pearson, J.L., Abrams, D.B., Niaura, R.S., Richardson, A. & Vallone, D.M. (2013). American Journal of Public Health, 103(3), 562-7. 

2012

  • Pearson, J.L., Richardson, A., Niaura, R.S., Vallone, D.M. & Abrams, D.B. (2012). American Journal of Public Health, 102(9),1758-66.

2009

  • Pearson, J.L., Windsor, R., El-Mohandes, A. & Perry, D.C. (2009). Public Health Reports, 124(Suppl 1), 134-42.

Education

  • Ph.D., Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 2011
  • MPH, Community Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, 2007
  • B.A., English, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2002