Robin J. Mermelstein

Robin J. Mermelstein is a LAS Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director of the Institute for Health Research and Policy (IHRP) at the University of Illinois Chicago. She holds additional roles as Clinical Professor in the UIC School of Public Health, Assistant Dean of the UIC College of Medicine, and co-director of the UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Her research focuses on tobacco use prevention, smoking cessation interventions, and the social/emotional contexts of adolescent and young adult smoking behaviors. She has led major NIH-funded studies on smoking trajectories and policy-related research, including the Institute of Medicine’s 2015 report on tobacco age restrictions. Dr. Mermelstein’s work integrates interdisciplinary teams across public health, clinical psychology, and policy.

Her research interests include: tobacco product use patterns, youth smoking prevention, health disparities, and motivational interventions for addiction. She has pioneered methodologies in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and longitudinal studies of substance use. Notable contributions include guiding the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers and serving on NIH review committees.

• Awards: 2014 UIC Woman of the Year Award, 2006 Society of Behavioral Medicine Distinguished Clinical Mentor Award
• Grants: Multiple NIH/NCI program project grants, CDC-funded studies on youth smoking
• Labs/Teams: Leads IHRP’s research infrastructure, Methodology Research Core, and Data Management Core