Melissa J. Cox, PhD, MPH

ASSistant PROFESSOR OF health behavior
GILLINGS SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH

Melissa J. Cox, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC. Dr. Cox is a behavioral scientist with a program of research centered on the social ecology of youth and young adult alcohol misuse.

Her primary focus has been understanding the complex relationships and environments that young people occupy and that shape their alcohol use behaviors. Dr. Cox’s work represents an intersection of public health approaches, principles of developmental science, quantitative methodologies and prevention science. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to develop and evaluate innovative program and policy interventions that address high-risk social contexts to reduce the prevalence and consequences of youth and young adult alcohol misuse. She has additional research interests in the etiology and prevention of other substance use including opioids and cannabis. Her work is currently supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute on Drug Abuse.