Michael Hoyt

Dr. Michael Hoyt is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He also serves as Director of the UCI Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research and the Biobehavioral Shared Resource at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on biobehavioral processes in cancer survivorship, particularly stress, coping mechanisms, and psychoneuroimmunology. Dr. Hoyt leads the Behavioral Medicine Research Lab, emphasizing interventions to improve quality of life for individuals facing chronic illnesses like cancer.

Education:

• Postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA (Health Psychology)
• Clinical residency at the University of Washington School of Medicine (Behavioral Medicine)
• PhD in Clinical Psychology from Arizona State University
• Master’s degree in Health Communication from Tufts University School of Medicine-Emerson College

Research Interests:

• Cancer survivorship and biobehavioral interventions (e.g., Goal-Focused Emotion-Regulation Therapy)
• Psychosocial factors in chronic illness, including stress and emotion regulation
• Health disparities in LGBTQ+ and Latino populations
• Salivary bioscience for biomarker research

Recent Research Trends: Dr. Hoyt’s work emphasizes translational approaches to improve mental and physical health outcomes in cancer survivors, caregivers, and vulnerable populations. His studies often integrate physiological measures (e.g., cortisol, inflammatory markers) with psychological interventions, such as prosocial writing and emotion regulation therapies.

Awards & Recognition:

• Elected Fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (2014)
• 2023 Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research Member
• 2021 Distinguished Career Contributions Award, International Society of Behavioral Medicine
• Chancellor’s Award for Research Mentoring (2021)

Grants & Mentorship: Dr. Hoyt has secured funding for studies on Latino cancer survivors, LGBTQ+ health, and the biobehavioral impact of masculinity. His mentorship focuses on training early-career researchers in interdisciplinary behavioral medicine.

Labs & Affiliations:

• Director, Behavioral Medicine Research Lab
• Affiliated with the Department of Psychological Science (School of Social Ecology)
• Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
• President-Elect of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine