Junhan Cho

Dr. Junhan Cho is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. He directs the USC-Health, Emotion, & Addiction Laboratory (USC-HEAL), focusing on interdisciplinary research into mental health, addictive behaviors, and health-related behaviors. His work emphasizes longitudinal studies on youth health risks influenced by social and psychological contexts, including family and community factors. He holds a PhD in Human Development and Family Science, informing his methodological rigor in studying behavioral pathways and substance use trajectories.

Research Interests: Dr. Cho's expertise spans substance use patterns (e.g., e-cigarettes, cannabis), adolescent health, mental health disparities, and the intersection of social contexts with biological vulnerability. His studies address how discrimination, neighborhood disorder, and digital media impact health behaviors, particularly among marginalized populations.

Recent Articles: His 2025 work explores oral nicotine product use progression among adolescents, Instagram/TikTok influencer effects on e-cigarette perceptions, and longitudinal vaping trajectories. Earlier studies analyze cannabis-nicotine co-use, alcohol use during the pandemic, and stress responses in cancer survivors.

Lab Leadership: As USC-HEAL's Director, he leads teams examining behavioral health risks and prevention strategies. Ongoing projects investigate poly-substance use transitions, digital media's role in substance use initiation, and disparities in health outcomes.