Meng Yang

Meng Yang serves as an Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University, affiliated with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES). His research bridges public health, epidemiology, and digital media to address contemporary tobacco and e-cigarette use challenges, particularly among youth and college populations.

His educational background includes:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Health from Indiana University Bloomington
• Master of Science in Applied Statistics from Indiana University Bloomington
• Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Indiana University Bloomington
• Bachelor of Medicine in Forensic Medicine from China Medical University

Dr. Yang's research examines how social media exposure influences e-cigarette vulnerability, with particular attention to mental health mediators and racial disparities. His work on stealth vaping behaviors reveals how youth circumvent tobacco-free policies through concealment techniques, while his policy analyses assess the real-world impact of smoke-free legislation on vaping behaviors. He employs advanced epidemiological methods to investigate intersections between home e-cigarette rules, youth initiation patterns, and polysubstance use during the pandemic. His findings consistently highlight critical gaps in current tobacco control strategies and inform targeted interventions for high-risk populations.

Publications spanning 2022-2025 demonstrate a cohesive research trajectory focused on digital health influences, health inequities, and policy evaluation. His interdisciplinary approach combines longitudinal population studies with behavioral analyses, yielding actionable insights for public health practitioners and policymakers addressing the youth vaping epidemic.

As a MAFES-affiliated researcher, Dr. Yang contributes to Mississippi State University's land-grant mission through applied public health research addressing community health challenges. His work extends beyond traditional agricultural contexts to contemporary health threats, leveraging the university's research infrastructure for population health impact.