Jonathan Wright

Jonathan Wright is an Assistant Research Professor at the College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, specializing in prevention science at the intersection of data science, policy, and public health. He leads the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), a statewide initiative providing actionable data on youth risk and protective factors for substance use prevention. His work integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) to analyze policymaker discourse and public sentiment, bridging research evidence with policy outcomes.

• Education: PhD in Linguistics (University of Oregon), Postdoctoral training in behavioral and neuroscience approaches to language processing (Penn State)
• Key Collaborations: Grant-funded projects in public health, social science, and AI ethics
• Current Focus: Enhancing evidence-based policymaking through AI-driven data translation

Dr. Wright’s research emphasizes translating complex data into practical tools for policymakers, communities, and researchers. His multidisciplinary approach combines behavioral neuroscience, machine learning, and AI ethics to address substance use prevention and youth development. He contributes to national dialogues on emerging technologies in prevention science and is based at the Prevention Research Center (PRC) at Penn State.

He is affiliated with the Prevention Research Center and works on initiatives like the Innovation Ecosystem Project, leveraging AI to strengthen research-policy linkages. His expertise spans grant-funded collaborations and training the next generation of prevention scientists.