Dusti R. Jones

Dusti R. Jones is a researcher specializing in biopsychosocial models of resilience, stress, and cancer risk behaviors. Her work focuses on deploying evidence-based interventions in real-world settings and optimizing mHealth methodologies to assess health and resilience indicators. Dr. Jones is currently affiliated with the Clinical and Translational Science’s Career Development Program and has extensive training in biobehavioral health, including a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

• Education: PhD in Biobehavioral Health (Penn State), MS in Experimental Psychology, BA in Psychology (both from Western Washington University)

Dr. Jones’ research explores how protective factors like mindfulness and emotion stability reduce harmful health behaviors (e.g., tobacco/alcohol use) and buffer stress. She utilizes ecological momentary assessment, wearable sensors, and just-in-time adaptive interventions to capture dynamic resilience processes.

Her recent publications examine tobacco lapse predictors, affect variability, nicotine patch adherence, and inflammatory markers in relation to stress and affective states. Dr. Jones has contributed to journals including Addictive Behaviors, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

• Scientific Awards: K12 scholar in Clinical and Translational Science, T32 predoctoral fellow in Pathways T32 Training Program