Giao Tran

Dr. Giao Tran is an Associate Professor with a primary tenured appointment in the Department of Psychology and a secondary appointment in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati. As an Ohio-licensed clinical psychologist, she directs the Anxiety and Alcohol Research Program and has taught numerous graduate and undergraduate courses in clinical psychology, health psychology, and research methods. Her academic career spans over two decades, beginning as an Assistant Professor at UC in 2000 and progressing to her current Associate Professor position since 2006.

Dr. Tran earned her PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology from American University in Washington, DC (1998 and 1995 respectively) and her BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania (1988). Her educational background provided the foundation for her specialized work at the intersection of psychological and biological factors in anxiety and substance use disorders. Prior to her faculty positions, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Center for Addiction and Pregnancy.

Dr. Tran's research program centers on the complex relationship between anxiety disorders and substance use, particularly examining social anxiety and alcohol use in college students. She investigates the comorbidity of psychiatric and substance use disorders with emphasis on social phobia and alcohol abuse, developing and testing cognitive-behavioral therapies and motivational enhancement approaches for treating these co-occurring conditions. Her work pays special attention to gender differences in addiction and help-seeking behaviors, and she has developed specialized brief interventions for college hazardous drinkers with social anxiety. Her research integrates social cognitive models to understand drinking behaviors in anxious individuals and has led to multiple treatment manual developments.

Analysis of Dr. Tran's recent publication record reveals a sophisticated research program focused on elucidating the bidirectional relationship between anxiety and alcohol use, particularly among young adults. Her work consistently examines mediating and moderating factors such as alcohol expectancies, drinking motives, and self-efficacy, often employing experimental mood induction techniques to uncover underlying mechanisms. A significant portion of her research tests integrated interventions that simultaneously address both anxiety and drinking, demonstrating her commitment to developing more effective treatments for comorbid conditions. Her methodological approach combines experimental laboratory studies with clinical intervention trials, contributing to both theoretical understanding and practical treatment applications.

Dr. Tran's scientific contributions have been recognized with numerous awards including multiple Mentoring Awards (2011, 2012), the Turner Scholar's Most Influential Faculty award (2009), the National Loan Repayment Plan Award from NIAAA-NIH (2004-2006), and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America Career Travel Award (2003). Her research has been consistently supported by substantial grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, particularly the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

As an advisor, Dr. Tran has mentored numerous students including McNair Scholar Jearlyn Boyd and graduate students Mariya Zaturenskaya (MA), Skyler Shollenbarger, Rachel Manning, Brittney Owens, Dawn Daulton, and Shybria Peeples. She has served on multiple thesis committees and provided research training through the UC McNair Scholars Program. Her research has been supported by significant grant funding, most notably as Principal Investigator on NIAAA-funded projects including 'Motivational and cognitive intervention for anxious and depressed hazardous drinkers' ($429,000) and 'Brief Intervention for Socially Anxious Alcohol Abusers' ($392,159), as well as collaborations on NIDA-funded research on bipolar smokers.

Dr. Tran leads the Anxiety and Alcohol Research Program at the University of Cincinnati, which maintains strong collaborations with local treatment centers and the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Her lab has developed specialized treatment manuals including the Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) and Motivational and Cognitive Intervention (MCID) specifically tailored for socially anxious drinkers. The program has contributed significantly to understanding how anxiety and drinking behaviors influence each other over time, with implications for both prevention and treatment approaches. Dr. Tran also serves on multiple editorial boards and grant review panels, contributing to the broader scientific community through peer review and professional service.