Jung Ki Kim

Jung Ki Kim, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, specializing in biodemography, social determinants of health, and disparities in aging populations. She holds a PhD in Gerontology/Public Policy and dual Master's degrees in Gerontology and Social Work from the University of Southern California. Her work focuses on how socioeconomic status, marital status, and biological factors influence health outcomes in later life, with particular attention to disparities across racial/ethnic groups and cohorts.

Dr. Kim's research utilizes large national datasets, including the Health and Retirement Study, to investigate topics such as epigenetic aging, cardiovascular health, cognitive decline, and cross-country differences in dementia risk. She has contributed to studies addressing the impact of childhood trauma, occupational characteristics, and vaccine uptake patterns among older adults. Her work bridges demography, public health, and epidemiology to inform policies targeting health equity and aging populations.

Key research themes include the interplay between biological aging markers (e.g., epigenetic clocks) and sociodemographic factors, as well as longitudinal analyses of health trajectories in diverse populations. Her publications reflect a commitment to understanding how systemic inequities manifest in health outcomes across the lifespan.