Zhen Cong

Zhen Cong is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. He holds multiple concurrent positions including Senior Scientist roles at the UAB Center for Study of Community Health and the Integrative Center for Aging Research. With a PhD in Gerontology from the University of Southern California, his research focuses on disaster preparedness, aging populations, intergenerational relationships, and social vulnerability. Key areas include pandemic preparedness, disaster recovery, and cultural disparities in health behaviors.

Education:

• PhD in Gerontology, University of Southern California (2008)
• MSc in Management Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University (2003)
• Bachelor of Arts in English, Xi'an International Studies University (1997)

Research Interests:

• Disaster risk reduction and resilience
• Aging populations and intergenerational dynamics
• Social vulnerability in public health crises
• Cultural factors in disaster preparedness

Recent Work Trends: His articles emphasize age-related disparities in pandemic preparedness, the role of social support among older adults, and multilevel analyses of disaster vulnerability. He employs latent class analysis and agent-based modeling to study population-level preparedness strategies.

Advising and Grants: Currently advising students Heather K Patterson and Wenqian He. Active in teaching doctoral research and public health seminars at UAB. Involved in grant-funded projects on emergency preparedness and aging-related health interventions.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the UAB Center for Study of Community Health and the Integrative Center for Aging Research. Works on interdisciplinary projects blending gerontology, environmental health, and disaster management.