Paul J Poppen

Paul J Poppen is a Professor in Applied Social Psychology specializing in HIV/AIDS research, gender studies, and cultural psychology. He has held leadership roles including Director of the Behavioral Science, Public Health, and Biostatistics Core (2010-2015) and membership on the Executive Committee of the DC Developmental Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR). His research focuses on sexual risk behaviors, HIV disclosure, and cultural influences on health decisions among Latino and LGBTQ+ populations.

Education: Ph.D. in Psychology from Cornell University (1973).

Research Interests:

• Gender and cultural dynamics in HIV prevention
• Psychosocial factors in HIV disclosure
• Sexual behavior among Latino/immigrant MSM populations
• Intersection of public health and mental health

Key Projects:

• NICHD-funded study on HIV prevalence among Colombian MSM (2010-2015)
• NIMH-funded research on HIV status disclosure among Latino gay men
• Studies on LGBTQ+ health in conflict zones

Grants & Funding: Major grants from NICHD, NIMH, and other NIH institutes. Current focus includes online intervention development for Colombian MSM populations.

Labs/Teams: Core leadership roles in multi-institutional HIV research networks including the DC D-CFAR and behavioral health cores.